Guilin Transportation

Travelers to and from Guilin city have a wide range of transportation options by air, train, and bus. And transportation within the city and around Guilin's trouist attractions are very convenient also with taxi, tourist bus, city bus and even bicycle.

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) connects Guilin to all of China' s major cities, and to a number of international destinations.

The city' s two railway stations provide direct links to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Kunming, Nanning, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and also to Hanoi in Vietnam. The road network connects Guilin to all parts of Guangxi province, and provides smooth access to the major cities in the Pearl River Delta: Dongguan, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai.

 
By Air to and from Guilin

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is 28 km from the city center, and connects Guilin with most domestic cities as well as Japan, Singarpore, Thailand, Korea, Macao and Hong Kong. Flight times to major domestic and international cities: Beijing - 2.5 hours; Qingdao - 4 hours; Chongqing - 1 hour; Guangzhou - 1 hour; Hangzhou - 2 hours; Shanghai - 2 hours; Hong Kong - 1 hour; Shenzhen - 1 hour; Bangkok - 2 hours; Macau - 1 hour; Fukuoka - 5 hours; and Seoul - 4 hours.

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) Guilin Liangjiang guoji jichang
Airline Schedule Inquiry Tel: 0773-3843936, 3808888
Airport Inquiry Tel: 0773-2845114
Airport Ticket Office: 0773-2845297
Airport Complaint Tel: 0773-2834067

The airport shuttle bus runs between the airport and the Aviation Building located at 18 Shanghai Road at a cost of RMB 20. The bus departs the airport following flight arrivals, and leaves the city for the airport every 30 minutes between 6:30am and 8:00pm. The journey time is about 40 minutes. The taxi fare between the city and the airport is about RMB 80.
Shuttle Bus Service Tel: 0773-3843936, 3808888

Ticketing service:
Ticket Office at the Airport Terminal Tel: 0773-2845297
Free Ticket Delivery Tel within Guilin City: 0773-3843936
Ticket Sales (24 hours): 0773-3843922

CAAC ticket Office
Add: 1F, Aviation Building, 18 Shanghai Lu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2843922

Zhongshan Zhonglu Ticket Office
Add: Gate of Tianlian Hotel, 12 Zhongshan Zhonglu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2821002
Fax: 0733-2834061

Guilin Air Ticket Net
Add: 3F, Huadu Hotel, 42 Zhongshan Beilu, Guilin
24-hr hotline: 139 7835 8925
Tel: 0733-2176070 (daytime)

 
By Train to and from Guilin

There are two railway stations in Guilin: Guilin Railway Station and Guilin North Railway Station. Guilin Railway Station (South Station) is to the south of the city center but is more conveniently situated than the North Station. Rail journey times to major destinations: Nanning - 6hrs; Liuzhou - 2.5hrs; Shenzhen - 13hrs; Beijing - 15hrs; Chengdu - 13hrs; Zhanjiang - 8hrs; and Shanghai - 10hrs. Trains from Beijing to Hanoi, Vietnam, stop in Guilin every Tuesday and Saturday. Note: It is not easy to buy sleeper tickets at the Guilin sales office, as the city is a mid-route stop rather than a terminus. Therefore it is best to make reservations five days in advance or even 10 days prior to travel during holiday weeks. The booking service fee is between RMB 20 and 50 per ticket.

Guilin Railway Station Guilin huoche zhan
Destinations: Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, Nanning, Shanghai, Changsha, Kunming, Hanoi
Add: intersection of Shanghai Lu and Zhongshan Nanlu, Guilin
Inquiry and Ticket Booking Tel: 0773-2152222, 2164722
Bus route: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 22, 27, 99, 100

Guilin North Railway Station Guilin Huo Che Bei Zhan
Destinations: Nanning, Nanjing, Kunming, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Zhanjiang, Chengdu, Maoming
Add: Near Lingchuanbali Jie, Yanshan District, North Guilin
Tel: 0773-2162222
Bus route: 18, 32, 99

Ticketing service:
Guilin Railway Station Ticket Booking Tel: 0773-2152222, 2164722
There are many Tietong (China Railcom) offices in Guilin city and all can sell train tickets. Visitors can also book tickets through travel agencies.
Ticket Hotline for Tietong Guilin: 0773- 95105105

Guilin Qixinglu Tietong Office
Add: 18 Qixing Lu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2188000
Office hours: 8:30am - 8:30pm

Guilin Zhongshanlu Tietong Office
Add: 241 Zhongshan Zhonglu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2158000
Office hrours: 8:30am - 8:30pm

By Bus to and from Guilin

The most useful bus station is the Main Bus Station, located at 427 Zhongshan Nan Road, 10 minutes' walk from Guilin North Railway Station. This is the departure point for cities in Guangxi, Guangdong and Hunan provinces.

Travel time from Guilin to Liuzhou is two hours, and buses leave every 20 minutes. Frequent buses go to Nanning (4hrs) and Guangzhou (8hrs). Daily sleeper buses to Shenzhen (10 hrs) leave at 1:20 pm, 3:30pm and 5:40pm.

Main Bus Station Qi Che Zong Zhan
Destinations: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongwan, Sanya, Wuhan
Add: 427 Zhongshan Nanlu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-3822666
Bus route: 2, 3, 10, 11, 99, 100

 
Guilin City Transportation

Guilin is served by a convenient network of public buses that covers the whole city. A unique feature of Guilin' s transport system is the free tourist bus service to some scenic spots - although the buses can be very crowded at times. Taxis are an important part of the city' s transportation system, and fares are lower than in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Water transport along the Li River is another option for tourist, and an inexpensive road option is the motor tricycle: fares are negotiable, the base price for a trip within the city being RMB 5. But with the city' s flat and gorgeous terrain, nothing beats the bicycle as the ride of choice on a sunny Guilin morning.

Bus

The fare on most public buses is RMB 1.2, with a 90 per cent discount for IC cards. The fare on number 98 and 99 buses is RMB 2, as they are air-conditioned. There are also eight free bus lines (numbers 51 to 58) which serve major tourist destinations. The buses are colored red for easy recognition, and operate from 7:00am to 7:00pm every day. This is a popular service, so the buses can get very crowded between 9 am and 5 pm.

Guilin Public Transport Group Co., Ltd.
Add: 214 Huanchengxiyi Lu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-3841333

Taxi

The taxi fare in Guilin depends on the vehicle type, and is charged by distance and includes a per-journey oil price surcharge of RMB 1. The distance fare is RMB 7 - 8 (depending on vehicle type) for the first 2 kilometers, and RMB 1.4 - 1.6 per kilometer for the next 2 km, rising to RMB 2 per kilometer beyond that. Rates are slightly higher between 11.00pm and 6.30am.

Guilin Tourism Corporation Taxi Company
Add: Ludi Lu, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2613259

Tourist boat

A trip on a cruise boat down the Li River to Yangshuo is a popular activity in Guilin. The vessels depart in the morning and take about eight hours to complete the journey. Depending on seasonal water levels, the boats can either be boarded in the city center or further downstream at Mopanshan Wharf and Zhujiang Wharf. Zhujiang Wharf provides an English tour service. Tickets are available at the Guilin Li River Sightseeing Dispatch and Ticketing Center at 38 Fuwang Garden, near South Gate Bridge (tel 0773-2825502, 0773-2826484). Tickets can also be bought at the information desk of travel agencies or hotels.

Zhujiang Wharf Zhujiang Ma Tou
Add: 22 kilometers southeast of Guilin
Getting there: The ticket office will arrange buses to the wharf for a fare of RMB70.

Li River Sightseeing Dispatch and Ticketing Center
Add: 38 Fuwang Jie, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2825502.

Bicycle

Guilin' s compact layout makes bicycle touring a pleasant option. Bicycles can be rented by the hour or the day at most hotels and at other locations around the city, especially Zhongshan South Road. The daily rate is approximately RMB 15, with a deposit of RMB 100 - 300.