---
title: "Where to stay in Guilin (2026): a first-timer's guide to 4 areas"
url: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-guilin
site: Staylist World
---
# Where to stay in Guilin (2026): a first-timer's guide to 4 areas

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Where to stay in Guilin: the city centre for a first trip (hotels typically about $33 a night), Qixing for a quieter, newer hotel (about $34), and Guilin Station to spend less (about $24).
We compared 79 hotels in 4 areas of Guilin on typical price, guest score and what guests praise and complain about. By Ziad, Staylist founder (https://staylist.world/about); guide updated 31 October 2026, hotel data 6 November 2026. Page: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-guilin

## Quick answer
- **First trip, one or two nights:** the city centre (about $33 a night). The lakes, the pagodas, East-West Alley and the night food streets on foot.
- **Families and longer stays:** Qixing (about $34 a night). Calmer streets, Seven Star Park and newer, roomier hotels, the centre across the river.
- **Early train to Yangshuo or onward:** Guilin North (about $20 a night) and Guilin Station (about $24 a night). The high-speed station, or the central station with buses and trains.

## The areas at a glance
| Area | Known for | Typical price a night | Transit (1-5) | Evenings (1-5) | Average hotel score | Hotels |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Two Rivers and Four Lakes (city centre) | Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, East-West Alley, Elephant Trunk Hill | $33 | 3 | 5 | 9.4 | 35 |
| Qixing (Seven Star Park) | Seven Star Park, the east bank, newer hotels | $34 | 3 | 2 | 9.3 | 15 |
| Guilin Railway Station | trains, buses, value | $24 | 5 | 2 | 9.2 | 14 |
| Guilin North Railway Station | high-speed trains | $20 | 4 | 1 | 8.9 | 15 |
Typical price: the median nightly rate of the area's hotels on Staylist World. Transit and evenings are our own ratings of rail links and nightlife after about 9 pm.

## 4 rules before you choose an area
1. **Decide first: Guilin or Yangshuo.** Guilin is the city; Yangshuo is the small town about 60 km down the Li River, where the karst countryside, the Yulong River and the cycling are. Most first trips sleep one or two nights in Guilin and two or three in Yangshuo. Stay longer in Guilin for the city sights, Reed Flute Cave and a day trip to the Longji rice terraces.
2. **Plan the night after the Li River cruise.** The cruise runs one way, downstream, from piers outside the city (Mopanshan for 3-star boats, Zhujiang for 4-star) and ends in Yangshuo about four hours later. Book your Yangshuo hotel for that night and travel light. Check whether your ticket includes a hotel pickup; otherwise a taxi to the pier costs about ¥100.
3. **Pay for a view only if the room has one.** "River view" and "lake view" in a hotel's name do not mean every room faces the water. Choose the room type that names the view, and read the reviews that mention it.
4. **Check the hotel accepts foreign guests.** Mid-range and upscale hotels almost always do; some small and budget hotels cannot register foreign passports. Trip.com shows this on the hotel page, and our hotel pages flag it.

## 1. Two Rivers and Four Lakes (city centre): best for a first trip
**Why stay here.** Guilin's walkable centre, ringed by the Li River, the Peach Blossom River and four lakes. Zhengyang Pedestrian Street and the restored lanes of East-West Alley are here, the Sun and Moon Pagodas are lit up on Shanhu Lake at night, and Elephant Trunk Hill, the rock arch where the Peach Blossom River meets the Li River, is at the south end. Hotels near the river and the hill sell rooms with views.

**The catch.** It is crowded and loud on holiday evenings, and many hotels are older. Street-facing rooms can be noisy, and only some rooms in "view" hotels face the river or the hill.

- Good for: first-timers, short stays, couples, evening walks and food
- Not ideal for: light sleepers on holiday weekends
- By the numbers: 35 hotels, typically about $33 a night (most $18 to $54), average score 9.4

Best hotels in the city centre:
1. [GangShe Rooftop View Hotel l (Guilin Two Rivers And Four Lakes Elephant Trunk Hill)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-2921527) — guest rating 9.8 from 13,624 reviews · 4-star · typically $39/night · area: Xiufeng District · parking, airport shuttle
2. [Li River Hotel (Guilin Two Rivers and Four Lakes Xiangshan Scenic Spot)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-17526083) — guest rating 9.8 from 6,573 reviews · 5-star · typically $164/night · area: Xiufeng District · pool, spa, gym
3. [Lijiang Moon View · Quiet Holiday Lakeside Hotel (Guilin Two Rivers & Four Lakes Area)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-122476915) — guest rating 9.8 from 6,017 reviews · 4-star · typically $51/night · area: Xiufeng District · pool, spa, gym

## 2. Qixing (Seven Star Park): best for a quieter, newer hotel
**Why stay here.** The east bank of the Li River, across the bridges from the centre: Seven Star Park with its karst peaks and cave, the convention and exhibition centre, and newer hotels, often for less than in the centre. The centre is 15 to 25 minutes on foot across the river.

**The catch.** There are fewer restaurants and less to do in the evening than in the centre.

- Good for: families, longer stays, value seekers
- Not ideal for: nightlife
- By the numbers: 15 hotels, typically about $34 a night (most $17 to $56), average score 9.3

Best hotels in Qixing:
1. [Orange Hotel (Guilin Convention and Exhibition Center Lijiang Road)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-129930348) — guest rating 9.7 from 582 reviews · 4-star · typically $33/night · area: Qixing District · gym, parking, airport shuttle
2. [Dongjiang Courtyard Hotel](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-130269177) — guest rating 9.7 from 444 reviews · 4-star · typically $35/night · area: Qixing District · gym, parking, airport shuttle
3. [Ji Hotel Guilin Qixing Convention and Exhibition Center Fuxing Road](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-133132850) — guest rating 9.7 from 376 reviews · 4-star · typically $34/night · area: Qixing District · gym, parking

## 3. Guilin Railway Station: best for trains and value
**Why stay here.** Zhongshan South Road around Guilin Station, the central railway station, with chain hotels and the city centre about 25 minutes' walk north. It suits a night before a train, or an early start for Yangshuo.

**The catch.** Station streets are busy and plain, and the cheapest hotels can be dated. Read the bad reviews before you book.

- Good for: train trips, value seekers, one-night stays
- Not ideal for: a scenic base
- By the numbers: 14 hotels, typically about $24 a night (most $13 to $28), average score 9.2

Best hotels near Guilin Station:
1. [Versailles Hotel (Guilin Two Rivers and Four Lakes Railway Station Branch)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-6232494) — guest rating 9.7 from 5,278 reviews · 4-star · typically $24/night · area: Xiangshan District · 910 m to Guilin Railway Station · parking
2. [Guilin Railway Station Atour Hotel (Yingtai Building)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-132012832) — guest rating 9.7 from 909 reviews · 4-star · typically $41/night · area: Xiangshan District · 680 m to Guilin Railway Station · gym, parking
3. [Metropolo Jinjiang Hotels (Guilin Railway Station The Mixc)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-116987954) — guest rating 9.6 from 4,448 reviews · 4-star · typically $29/night · area: Xiangshan District · 860 m to Guilin Railway Station · spa, gym, parking

## 4. Guilin North Railway Station: best for early high-speed trains
**Why stay here.** Guilin's main high-speed station, about 6 km north of the centre, with trains to Yangshuo in about 20 to 25 minutes and to Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

**The catch.** It is far from the river and the sights, so it suits one night before an early train, not a whole stay.

- Good for: early trains, one-night stopovers
- Not ideal for: sightseeing
- By the numbers: 15 hotels, typically about $20 a night (most $16 to $22), average score 8.9

Best hotels in Guilin North:
1. [Mehood Hotel (Guilin North Railway Station High-speed Railway Plaza)](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-64264987) — guest rating 9.6 from 2,600 reviews · 3-star · typically $21/night · area: Diecai District · 460 m to Guilinbei Railway Station · gym, parking, airport shuttle
2. [Atour Hotel （Guilin North Railway Station North Zhongshan Road）](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-29923555) — guest rating 9.6 from 1,825 reviews · 4-star · typically $35/night · area: Diecai District · 790 m to Guilinbei Railway Station · gym, parking, airport shuttle
3. [Guilin North Railway Station Hua Residence Licheng Hotel](https://staylist.world/hotels/trip-6549850) — guest rating 9.5 from 373 reviews · 4-star · typically $25/night · area: Diecai District · 490 m to Guilinbei Railway Station · gym, parking

## Staying a week? Split your stay
Two nights in Guilin and two or three in Yangshuo suit most first trips: arrive in Guilin, take the Li River cruise to Yangshuo, and add a day for the Longji rice terraces, about two to two and a half hours north by road, if you have time.

## Where not to stay in Guilin
- Guilin for the whole trip if you came for the countryside: Yangshuo is an hour or more away each way.
- Guilin North for a whole stay: it is about 6 km from the river and the sights.
- Budget hotels whose bad reviews mention damp rooms or noise from the street.

## Tips for booking a hotel in Guilin
- **Book the Li River cruise before you book Yangshuo.** Fares depend on the boat: sources in 2026 give about ¥215 for 3-star boats and ¥320 to ¥360 for 4-star. Buy from an official channel or a known agency, check which pier is on your ticket, and expect about four hours on the river.
- **Yangshuo Station is not in Yangshuo town.** High-speed trains from Guilin North or Guilin West take about 20 to 25 minutes, but Yangshuo Station is about 25 to 34 km from West Street: allow about an hour by shuttle bus, or about ¥100 to ¥115 by taxi. Direct buses from Guilin to Yangshuo's bus station, next to West Street, take about 75 to 90 minutes. [Where to stay in Yangshuo](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-yangshuo).
- **Read the bad reviews before you book.** Guilin is humid, and the complaints are specific: damp rooms, musty smells and street noise in the centre. Every hotel below links to its 1-2 star reviews. [Check any hotel's bad reviews](https://staylist.world/bad-reviews).
- **Set up payments before you fly.** Link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay: taxis, cruise tickets and street food are paid by QR code. [How to set up Alipay as a foreigner](https://staylist.world/alipay-for-foreigners).
- **Sort out mobile data.** Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked on Chinese networks; a roaming plan or a travel eSIM bought before you fly keeps them working, and maps work offline only if you download them first.

## Questions
**Is it better to stay in Guilin or Yangshuo?**
Both, for most trips. Guilin is where you arrive and where the Li River cruise starts; Yangshuo, where it ends, is the place for the karst countryside, cycling and the Yulong River. A common plan is one or two nights in Guilin and two or three in Yangshuo. If you only have two nights, spend them in Yangshuo and see Guilin's centre on the way.

**Where should I stay in Guilin for the first time?**
In the centre, around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Zhengyang Pedestrian Street and East-West Alley: the lit pagodas, the night food streets and Elephant Trunk Hill are on foot. Staylist World compares 35 rated hotels there, typically about $33 a night.

**Where to stay in Guilin with kids?**
Qixing, on the east bank: calmer than the centre, next to Seven Star Park, and its hotels are often newer and roomier. Staylist World compares 15 hotels there, typically about $34 a night.

**How many nights do I need in Guilin?**
One or two nights in the city is enough for most visitors, plus two or three in Yangshuo. Add a night if you want a day trip to the Longji rice terraces.

**How far are the Li River cruise piers from Guilin?**
Roughly 25 to 30 km from the centre, about 40 minutes by car. Mopanshan pier serves the 3-star boats and Zhujiang pier the 4-star ones; check which pier is on your ticket and whether it includes a hotel pickup.

**Can foreigners stay in any hotel in Guilin?**
Most hotels on international booking sites accept foreign guests, but some small and budget hotels cannot register foreign passports. Check that the listing says it accepts guests from all countries before you pay.

## Our verdict
For a first trip, stay in Guilin's centre around the lakes and Zhengyang Pedestrian Street for a night or two, then take the Li River cruise and spend the rest of the trip in Yangshuo. Choose Qixing for a quieter, newer hotel, the railway station to spend less, and Guilin North only before an early train.

## More
- All hotels in Guilin: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guilin-cn
- China travel guide (visa, payments, apps): https://staylist.world/china-travel-guide

How we compared: each hotel belongs to its nearest area centre (within walking distance) and is counted once. Prices, scores and guest praise or complaints come from Staylist World's data and AI overviews of guest reviews.
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