Guilin Attractions Guide for German Visitors: Tickets & Tips

Quick answer

Bottom line: Guilin's attractions are affordable — roughly 30-80 RMB for major sites — and generally open from about 8 am to 5 pm. Two things surprise visitors: real-name ticketing means you need your passport, and the walking is more demanding than the ticket prices suggest.

German visitors tend to plan carefully and appreciate knowing distances, times, and conditions in advance, so this page focuses on exactly those details. The good news is that costs are modest and the sites are well organised. The things worth preparing for are administrative and physical rather than financial.

Tickets and real-name entry

Site	Typical ticket	Notes
Longji Rice Terraces	about 80 RMB	Plus internal shuttle in some areas
Silver Cave	65-80 RMB	Guide and walkway included
Elephant Trunk Hill	about 55 RMB	Short city-centre visit
Moon Hill climb	about 30 RMB	Roughly 800 steps
Li River cruise	from about 215 RMB	Varies by boat class and season

Real-name ticketing is standard: your passport is the ticket at many sites. Carry the physical document rather than relying on a photo. During national holidays, timed-entry slots apply and advance booking becomes worthwhile; for the rest of the year, gate purchase is normal.

Opening hours

Most sites open around 8 am and close around 5 pm, with last entry in the mid-afternoon and extended hours during peak holidays. The practical consequence is that an early start pays twice: you avoid both the crowds and the heat. This is especially true for Longji in summer and for the Li River cruise in the first week of October.

Walking and terrain

Longji Rice Terraces: stone and earth paths, often damp, with long stair sections between viewpoints. Proper shoes matter.
Moon Hill: roughly 800 steps with little shade — avoid midday in summer.
Silver Cave: a paved but wet walkway with stairs throughout; cool and around 20 C year round.
Elephant Trunk Hill: short and mostly flat, the easiest of the group.

If you want accurate distances and conditions site by site, the attractions guides cover each one individually, including the Longji terraces and Silver Cave.

The main sites

Li River: the classic cruise or a riverside drive — the region's defining landscape.
Yangshuo and the Yulong River: cycling, rafting, and village lanes; the best base for several days.
Longji Rice Terraces: hiking and viewpoints, best in May when flooded or late September when golden.
Guilin city sites: Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise, both easy half-day options.

Planning tips

Carry your passport — it is the ticket at many sites.
Wear shoes with real grip; several sites are wet and stepped.
Start early to beat both crowds and heat.
Avoid the first week of October unless you booked ahead.
Check the month-by-month weather before fixing dates, and pack accordingly.

Written by the TripWayes editorial team, based on the questions we most often receive from visitors from this country. This is a planning guide, not a traveler review, and it contains no user-generated ratings. Last updated: 2026-10-16

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Usually not, except during national holidays. Booking becomes important in the first week of October and around Spring Festival, when sites fill and timed entry applies. For most of the year, buying at the gate is normal.

Many Chinese attractions use real-name ticketing, so your passport is the ticket. This is routine rather than a security concern — carry it, since a photograph on your phone is not always accepted.

More than visitors expect. Longji involves stone terrace paths with long stair sections, and the Moon Hill climb is roughly 800 steps. Footwear with real grip matters more than fitness at either site.

Generally around 8 am to 5 pm, with last entry in the mid-afternoon and longer hours during peak holidays. Sites start early, so an early arrival both avoids crowds and matches the local rhythm.