Guilin, China

This beloved local institution on Zhengyang Road serves Guilin's most celebrated rice noodle soup with a broth simmered for over twelve hours until deeply aromatic. Topping options include braised pork, pickled vegetables, and crispy soybeans that add irresistible texture to every spoonful. Arrive early because locals line up eagerly each morning and the best cuts of meat sell out quickly.

Dining here means eating beside the world's largest man-made waterfall as it cascades dramatically down the hotel facade each evening. The Cantonese and Guilin fusion menu highlights steamed river fish with ginger, beer duck, and beautifully presented dim sum. The theatrical setting somehow never overshadows the food, which stands confidently on its own merit.

Located near the famous outdoor light show, this restaurant celebrates the cuisine of the Zhuang ethnic minority with recipes passed down through generations. The bamboo-tube sticky rice and smoked pork with fermented black beans are absolute standouts on a menu full of bold, earthy flavours. Eating here feels like a genuine cultural immersion rather than just a meal before or after the show.

Tucked inside a beautifully restored courtyard near the city centre, Old Guilin Kitchen serves honest home-style cooking that tourists rarely discover on their own. The signature horseshoe cake dessert and stir-fried water bamboo shoots with chilli are simple but unforgettable dishes. The low prices and warm, family-run atmosphere make this spot feel like a genuine local secret worth sharing.

Perched along the Li River, the Shangri-La delivers sweeping karst mountain views from nearly every room. Elegant interiors blend contemporary design with subtle Guangxi cultural touches, creating a genuinely refined atmosphere. The riverside infinity pool at sunset is an experience you will carry home long after checkout.

Nestled among rice terraces and bamboo groves outside the city, Rosewood Guilin feels like a private village carved into a fairytale landscape. Each villa comes with its own plunge pool and panoramic windows framing those iconic limestone peaks. The attentive staff anticipate your every need while keeping the mood relaxed and unhurried.

This mid-range gem sits just steps from the Li River embankment, making morning walks along the water effortlessly lovely. Rooms are spacious and decorated with local Zhuang embroidery patterns that add genuine character. The breakfast buffet showcasing local rice noodles and fresh tropical fruit is a wonderful way to start any day.

Centrally located and wonderfully affordable, the Bravo Hotel puts you within walking distance of Elephant Trunk Hill and the main shopping streets. Rooms are clean and comfortable with friendly staff who genuinely enjoy helping guests navigate the city. It strikes a perfect balance between value and comfort for travellers who plan to spend most of their time exploring.

Drifting along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo is widely considered one of the most beautiful boat journeys on earth, and it absolutely lives up to that reputation. Mist-softened karst peaks rise from both banks like ink-wash paintings brought magically to life around every gentle bend. Book a morning departure to catch the river in its most ethereal morning light and avoid afternoon crowds.

This stunning natural limestone cavern stretches nearly 500 metres into the earth, filled with stalagmites, stalactites, and underground pools of glassy stillness. Colourful lighting transforms every formation into something otherworldly, from crystal palaces to ancient stone forests. The cave has been a beloved destination for over 1,200 years, and the inscriptions left by Tang dynasty visitors on the walls add a profound sense of history.

Guilin's most iconic landmark rises from the confluence of the Li and Peach Blossom rivers in the shape of a giant elephant drinking from the water below. The natural stone arch at its base frames a perfect circle of river that photographers and painters have chased for centuries. Climbing to the small pagoda on top rewards you with a panoramic view over the city's rooftops and surrounding limestone peaks.

About two hours from Guilin, these breathtaking terraced rice fields cascade down mountainsides like enormous green and gold stairways built over 700 years of patient farming. Each season transforms the landscape dramatically, from the flooded silver mirrors of spring planting to the blazing gold of autumn harvest. Staying overnight in a Zhuang or Yao village homestay turns a day trip into one of the most memorable experiences in all of southern China.