Guilin Liangjiang Airport serves one of China's most famous natural destinations, renowned for its karst landscape with limestone peaks along the Li River, about 28 km from the centre.
Guilin and nearby Yangshuo are among the most photographed tourist destinations in the country, often depicted in traditional Chinese painting.
How to get to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to KWL
Parking near Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
The parking area, of modest size, is located a few minutes' walk from the terminal.
The parking is not staffed but is monitored by cameras, with reasonable costs.
How to get to Guilin City from KWL
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Car rental at Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Not all car rental companies are represented: only some have a desk here.
Most visitors explore the area with organised tours, taxis, or the celebrated Li River cruise.
Hotels near Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Liangjiang airport area
Both hotels are about 23 minutes by car from the terminals, with a shuttle available on request.
Best for: Short layovers and dawn departures, when an extra hour's transfer to town isn't worth the saving.
- Airport shuttle included, handy for anyone arriving without their own car
- Closer to the terminals than any hotel downtown, useful for morning flights
- An isolated area, with no restaurants or shops apart from those at the hotel
- Visiting Guilin or the Li River still requires a 30-40 minute transfer
Recommended hotels
- Venus Royal Hotel Guilin Airport 23 minutes from the terminals, with a shuttle and pickup service also from the railway station; 414 rooms, built in 2016. View availability
- Vienna Hotel Guilin AIrport Road Rongshan A budget Chinese chain 23 minutes from the airport, with a score of 9.5/10 from over 400 reviews. View availability
Li River waterfront and Elephant Trunk Hill
35-40 minutes by car from the airport to central Guilin.
Best for: Anyone who wants Guilin's old town, with Elephant Trunk Hill and the Li River just steps away.
- Within walking distance of Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Mountain and the promenade along the Li River
- The area with Guilin's highest concentration of restaurants and evening life
- A longer transfer from the airport than the terminal area
- On weekends the Zhengyang Road pedestrian street can get very crowded
Recommended hotels
- Shangri-La Guilin On the banks of the Li River, 10 minutes from the centre and 35 from the airport; rooms with views of the river and karst mountains among the most spacious in the city. View availability
- Sheraton Guilin Hotel & Elephant Trunk Hill & Li River Scenic Area 800 metres from Elephant Trunk Hill and 500 from downtown, on the banks of the Li River; 408 recently renovated rooms. View availability
Xingping and Yangshuo
About 90 minutes by shuttle bus (50 CNY) or almost 2 hours by taxi (260-350 CNY); alternatively, a taxi to Guilin's bus station (50 minutes) followed by a bus to Yangshuo/Xingping (over an hour).
Best for: Anyone who wants the 20-yuan-banknote scenery on the Li River and the village life of Yangshuo, almost two hours from the airport.
- Just steps from the Li River cruise pier at Xingping and the 20-yuan banknote photo spot
- Karst mountain scenery impossible to see by staying in Guilin city
- A long transfer with more changes than any other area in this guide
- Not very practical for short layovers or for anyone with only one day available
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal is adequately sized for strong tourist traffic. From check-in to gate you generally walk 15 minutes.
Customs control times are variable: for international flights, a margin of at least 3 hours is prudent.
Map of Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is it better to stay in Guilin or Yangshuo?
Guilin is convenient as a logistical base near the airport; Yangshuo, further south along the Li River, offers a more relaxed atmosphere immersed in the karst landscape, the region's true postcard image.
Q. How do you take the Li River cruise?
With tourist boats departing from Guilin or an intermediate pier towards Yangshuo, admiring the famous limestone peaks along the way: book ahead during high-traffic periods.
Q. What to try as soon as you arrive in Guilin?
Mifen, rice noodles seasoned with meat and local spices, are the city's quintessential specialty, found on every corner well beyond the restaurants near the Li River.
Q. Is Guilin's landscape really like traditional Chinese paintings?
Yes, the area's limestone peaks have been a subject of traditional Chinese painting for centuries and remain among the country's most iconic landscapes.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
