Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Liangjiang Airport is quite far from central Guilin, about 28 km to the southwest: a taxi takes 40 minutes (up to an hour during rush hour) and the shuttle bus can take over an hour. For this reason the hotels next to the terminals are mainly worthwhile for short layovers or dawn departures, while anyone with more time aims for the Li River waterfront, in the heart of Guilin, or heads all the way to Yangshuo, nearly two hours by car but an almost unmissable destination for those who make it this far.

Liangjiang airport area

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.

Pros

Airport shuttle included, handy for anyone arriving without their own car
Closer to the terminals than any hotel downtown, useful for morning flights

Cons

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 in this area

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.
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.

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Li River waterfront and Elephant Trunk Hill

City centre · 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.

Pros

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

Cons

A longer transfer from the airport than the terminal area
On weekends the Zhengyang Road pedestrian street can get very crowded

Recommended hotels in this area

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.
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.

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Xingping and Yangshuo

Nearby town · 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.

Pros

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

Cons

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

Recommended hotels in this area

Mercure Guilin Yangshuo Xingping: 190 metres from the Li River cruise pier at Xingping, on the stretch of river shown on the 20-yuan banknote; a score of 9.6/10 from over 900 reviews.

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