Guangxi Guilin Forest Park represents the surreal scenery along the Li River between the cities of Yangshuo and Guilin City. The unique karst limestone hills have deep depressions between the peaks and contain numerous caves. Months of April and May/September and October are the best times to visit the national park. It is important to avoid traveling during summer months and Chinese holidays due to the extremely popular nature of this national park to natives.
How I Booked Flights to Beijing
I used 50K Alaska miles to book the Cathay Pacific business class flight with a free stop-over in Hong Kong (HKG) on my way to Beijing. Alaska Airlines recently made the Cathy Pacific award to be bookable online (see the example booking below).
Flight to Guilin
It is easy to find nonstop flights from several major cities in China to Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL). Air China regional flights tend to be expensive and it is easy to book them with Star Alliance partners (United or Aeroplan for 7.5-8K miles).
Guilin Airport to Guangxi Guilin Forest Park
Guangxi Guilin Forest Park Accommodations
We stayed in Hampton by Hilton Guilin Lingui, which is located halfway between the Guilin airport and the Guangxi Guilin Forest Park. It is easy to arrange day trips with private guides and taxis for very reasonable prices. I recommend visiting the Guangxi Guilin Forest Park one day and the Yangshuo national park the next day, followed by a Li River Day cruise.
Guangxi Guilin Forest Park & Li River Scenery
I posted some of the best professional pictures I could find below since average phone cameras do not do justice to this national park.
Summary
A trip to the Guangxi Guilin & Yangshuo national parks along with a Li River cruise must be on the short list of any traveler to China. Award flights to China are easy to book with credit card points, which can also be used to book expensive intra-China connecting flights.
I can’t seem to take my eyes off that featured image of Guilin national park. Is it really that beautiful when you visited or the colors are touched up by the photographer?
Either way, nice post about a place I never heard about before. I enjoyed reading all your China posts and can’t wait for them to open the country for international tourists again.
Kaitlin
Thank you for reading the post. The national park is breathtakingly beautiful at sunset if you are lucky to be up on the hill with few tourists. I did not see the blue water color and there is a possibility that it was touched up for dramatic appearance during post-processing.
I am also waiting for China to reopen, before my 10-yar multiple entry visa expires!