Guilin Chinese Textbook Experience: Follow the 20 Yuan View

The textbook landscapes of Guilin

Chinese language textbooks have long used Guilin as the canonical example of beautiful mountain-and-water scenery. The most famous line, 桂林山水甲天下 (Guilin's mountains and waters are the finest under heaven), is drilled into schoolchildren nationwide. For international visitors with an interest in Chinese culture, visiting the actual places behind those textbook images adds a layer of meaning beyond the standard sightseeing loop.

The three images that show up most often are:

• Elephant Trunk Hill — the Guilin city landmark shaped like an elephant drinking from the Li River.
• The Li River bend near Xingping — the view printed on the back of the 20 RMB banknote.
• The Yulong River and karst countryside — the green fields and stone bridges that illustrate essays about rural Guangxi.

The 20 yuan banknote viewpoint

The 20 RMB note carries a Li River view taken near Xingping, an ancient town about 25 km southeast of Yangshuo. The official riverside viewpoint is a short walk from Xingping's old ferry area. In late afternoon, when the sun lights the far bank, the real scene lines up almost exactly with the engraving.

For the classic banknote shot, stand at the official viewpoint and hold the note in the lower foreground so the printed peaks match the real ones. The best photos need clear weather; after rain, low mist can hide the background, but when it clears the scene is even more dramatic. Our Yangshuo photography guide covers timing and lenses.

Other textbook check-in spots

Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin city

The most recognisable Guilin landmark sits where the Li and Taohua rivers meet in the city centre. The hill looks like an elephant drinking from the water, hence the name. It appears in almost every primary-school geography and language text about Guangxi. Entry is roughly ¥55 as of September 2026; the classic photo is from the riverside path on the southern bank. Visit our Elephant Trunk Hill guide for parking and access.

Fubo Hill and Diecai Hill

These two city hills also feature in older textbook photos of Guilin. Fubo Hill gives a straight-on city-and-river view; Diecai Hill offers a wider panorama of the karst ring around Guilin. Either is a good backup if Elephant Trunk Hill is crowded.

Yulong River stone bridges

The Yulong River's arched stone bridges — especially Fuli Bridge and Gongnong Bridge — appear in many 'rural China' textbook essays. They are easy to reach by e-bike or bicycle from Yangshuo and pair naturally with the Yulong River cycling route.

Self-drive planning for textbook spots

A self-drive loop is the easiest way to string the textbook spots together without depending on tour-bus schedules. From Guilin city, the drive to Xingping takes about 1.5 hours via the G65 expressway and county roads, and the stretch between Xingping and Yangshuo is one of the most scenic short drives in the region. Allow a full day if you want to visit Elephant Trunk Hill in the morning, reach Xingping by mid-afternoon, and catch the 20-yuan viewpoint at golden hour.

Parking is straightforward in Guilin city but limited near Xingping's old ferry area. Many visitors leave their car at the Xingping visitor parking area and walk the last few minutes to the riverbank. If you are continuing to Yangshuo, the G321 riverside road offers several informal pull-offs where you can stop for additional textbook-style photos of the Li River bend. Make sure your rental has GPS or an offline map app, because mobile signals can dip between karst peaks.

Suggested textbook check-in routes

One-day route (Guilin → Xingping)

Start in Guilin city: photograph Elephant Trunk Hill from the southern riverside path in the morning. Drive or take a bus to Xingping (about 1.5 hours from Guilin, 40 minutes from Yangshuo). Spend the afternoon at the 20-yuan viewpoint and walk the old town before returning.

Two-day route (with Yulong River and sunrise)

Day one: Guilin city sights and drive to Yangshuo. Day two: sunrise at Xianggong Mountain for the textbook Li River panorama, then a morning Yulong River cycle to Fuli Bridge and the countryside. Finish with the 20-yuan viewpoint at Xingping in late afternoon.

Source & verification: Prices are approximate as of September 2026. Banknote viewpoints and riverside paths are free; attraction entry fees vary by season.

Photo tips

• Lighting: the Xingping 20-yuan view faces west, so late afternoon / golden hour gives the warmest light.
• Banknote alignment: hold the note low in the frame and focus on the real background; the note itself can be slightly soft.
• Mist: clear weather is best for the banknote match, but a thin layer of morning mist adds atmosphere at Xianggong Mountain.
• Crowds: Xingping gets busy by mid-morning; arrive before 08:00 for a clear riverside path.