Travel in China
The visit follows a single lit walkway of roughly 500 meters and takes about an hour at an easy pace. Arrive close to opening to stay ahead of the tour groups, and watch the walls as well as the formations - the Tang-dynasty inscriptions are easy to miss.
Suggested Itinerary
- Getting There
Buses 3 and 58 run from central Guilin to the cave, 5 km northwest of downtown; a taxi or Didi takes about 15 minutes. Guilin has no metro. - The Underground Loop
Follow the lit walkway past the Crystal Palace, Lion Ridge in Morning Glow and the Coiled Dragon Pagoda, pausing where guides gather to narrate the formations. - Exit and Return
Emerge on the hillside by the entrance, refuel at the snack stalls, then catch the bus back downtown - the whole visit rarely takes more than an hour.
What to See
Crystal Palace
The largest chamber, its still pool doubling the floodlit columns in mirror reflection.
Lion Ridge in Morning Glow
Lion-shaped rock formations lit in dawn colors on a sloping ridge.
Coiled Dragon Pagoda
A banded stalagmite tower resembling a pagoda with a dragon coiled around it.
Tang-Dynasty Inscriptions
Faint ink writings on the cave walls, the earliest dated 792 AD.
Named Formations
Curtains, columns and 'stone forests' along the walkway, each with its own name and light show.
Reed-Fringed Entrance
The cave mouth, shaded by the reeds that gave the site its name - a natural photo stop on the way in.
Photo Gallery
Tips from Real Travelers
Food & Drink
Local restaurants
Nearby dining options.
Street food
Local snack stalls.
Cafes
Coffee and light meals.
Regional specialities
Try the local cuisine.
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