Guilin Travel Forum

Hi!

Am planning to travel to Yangshuo from Guilin this fri. Flight is touching down around 10pm, will it be too late to catch the bus running from the Guilin airport to Yangshuo?

1) how long is the bus ride?
2) how much does it cost?
3) how frequent is it?

Thanks!!

Bus ride from central Guilin to Yangshuo is about 90 minutes. Cost is Y10. However, not sure that a) you will be able to go direct from the airport to Yangshuo on one bus, probably have to change in centre of town, or that b) you will be able to continue on to Guilin that night. There is an international YHA across from the main train station. Clean dorm rooms Y40.

Click on: http':community.travelchinaguide.com/d_forum2.asp?pp=1&i=942 for an interesting exchange re the buses.

Don't forget to take water with you.

Why not investigate going by boat down the river to Yangshuo.

Hey, thanks for the info.

Since I'll only be staying for the weekend and leaving on Sunday, am quite keen to get to Yanshuo on Friday and start off early on Sat morning. Sounds like the bus ride can be dangerious at night, so will be looking to hire a car to pick us up at the airport instead.

May be will take the bus for the return journey. Is there actually much to see in Guilin city?

Not sure that you would be able to take a car from Guilin airport..i mean as a foreigner, I dont think your drivers licence is valid in China, but thats somethng to think about. And the Chinese arent really into the car hire thing yet..there a few places in Beijing that hire out cars, but its not something that has hit China big time yet. The airport is quite a distance from the city centre..but at the time youre arriving, should take about 30-40mins to get to the city. Need to ask other VTers as to whether there actually ARE buses from the airport into town?! Ive always had someone come meet me when flying into Guilin. The roads in China are dangerous day and night..its up to you to choose when you want to go! but at that time of night, it will be tricky to go anywhere unless you have your own personal ride. I could contact someone i know down there to ask for details?

So sorry..i just re-read your post...you dont want to hire a car to drive yourself..ive just realised..sorry! I can still contact my friend though if you would like? He works in the travel industry and actually has a bar and rest. in Yangshuo that I am sure he would be happy to show you! Let me know!

I agree, taxi about the fastest way but, you might have difficulty language wise in Guilin.
Why not spend the night in Guilin and take the boat over in the morning? Guilin not that much to look at - although we enjoyed the open air market, the caves, elephant hill, etc. but agree Yangshuo much nicer.
As you'll be landing late anyway, just get a cheap room, rest up and start out early. That is my vote, enjoy the scenery on the way up.
YES, buses very dangerous and scary on way up/back, we were hanging on and freaking and we're not the nervous types.

Yes that last post sounds like good advice! It will be easy to find a place in Guilin..book online first though or ring up and then start off early on saturday. Its only an hours bus ride to Yangshuo and you can get there in time for breakfast when all the cafes are making fry ups for their clientele...oh sorry did you think you were going to China!!! Ha ha!

Have fun, take lots of pictures and make sure you put it in the right VT file as several people spell it wrong and they go to a place called Yangshou!

S.

Just this July 11th, I opted for the driver with sign to pick me and girlfriend up at Guilin Airport and go straight to the Magnolia. Arranged through Alf for $220 at the Magnolia (Great new hotel just a block off West Street). Driver zipped us there in about 80 minutes. Flight landed at 2:00PM Checked into the Magnolia by 3:30PM. The busses looked a bit confusing as I was escorted to my car and again as we were going through Guilin and turning off for Yangshuo. You've got to transfer in Guilin if you're taking public transport to Yangshuo.

I had a great 3 days in Yangshuo then toured through Guilin on the way back to Guilin Airport hiring a driver for 7 hours ($300 from 2PM to 9PM) on our way to an 11PM flight to Chongqing (Yangtze River Cruise).
Stopped at Yuzi Paradise art colony, Elephant Trunk and Fobo hills and strolled around the city and and had dinner at Rosemary's.

you paid a driver $300.00 for a 10 hour tour? That can't be correct...?!?

Hi Homanded,
It was actually 7 Hours. We checked out of the Magnolia at 2PM and were at the airport at 9PM. The 300 Yuan driver was arranged by the hotel also. It wasn't really a guided tour. We just figured out the 4 places for him to stop mainly on the way to the airport.

We were introduced to a wonderful young lady named Jesse who works as a guide with Alf at the Yangshuo. She arranged the 300 Yuan Driver and also helped us out with biking (Dragon Bridge), rafting down and biking/Hiking Moon Hill one day. A walk, float from Yangdi to Xingping the next day (best way to see the Li is to float on your back when the current's running good and it's hot out. Then a hot air baloon ride the morning of the third day when we checked out and met the driver.

OK, lol, sorry about that, thought you meant $=Dollars! OK, Yuan makes sense and good for you!
I heard on a Vietnam forum someone being charged (and gullible enough) to have paid a driver almost 200.00 for a day's driving!

My god I got a fright too, I thought this cant possibly be....but why do people still insist on calling every currency under the sun 'dollars'? Just because its easier to say?! You'll have people out there keeling over with heart problems if you write $ on a china forum..they'll think you've really been ripped off!

But on another note, your trip sounds absolutely wonderful..relaxing and worth every 'cent'!

Sorry for the confusion on the almighty $ sign.
Glad you think the Yangshuo trip sounded nice.
My girlfriend and I did manage to spend $300 each for our 3 plus days in Yangshuo.
Outrageous by Yangshuo standards, but we had an amazing time.

I detailed the Yangshuo trip on my home page (scroll down it a bit if you're interested)

Hey, am back from the trip and Yangshuo was just great. Ended up hiring a car+driver to pick us up at night, the drive took almost 2 hours, was worried there wont' be any shop or food place that open when arrive in Yangshuo, and was thinking would have to sleep with an empty stomach, but then found out my worry was just for nothing. Arrived at the main West Street of Yangshou and had never seen so many people just "walking" around the street at 12am. It was GREAT!!

Only stayed for a weekend and was definitely not enough. Am looking to go back some other time.

Does Yangnshuo gets very cold in winter??