Getting to Yangshuo: Flights to Guilin and transfers from there

Given that China is so vast, flying between cities can be a good option to make the most of valuable time. This page is intended to let you know when flights to Guilin would be advantageous, and how to get from Guilin airport to Yangshuo with less fuss, whatever your budget.

Flights to Guilin

From the north

There are flights from Beijing and Xi'an direct to Guilin. These are useful for those with limited time in China but most travellers will find something of interest to do along the way.

From the east

Guilin has good connections with the cities of the east coast as these are a rich source of domestic tourists. You can get direct flights from:

• Hangzhou;
• Nanjing;
• Shanghai;
• Wuhan; and
• Xiamen.

Some international flights to Japan show as from Guilin but actually go via Wuhan.

The train from Shanghai, for instance, takes about one full day and it is worth considering a flight on this section. There are often heavily discounted tickets on the late night flights.

From the south

Flights from the south are perhaps the least beneficial as they are the shortest and there are good cheap alternatives (bus and train). That said, there are many options and this leads to considerable discounting outside of the peak travel seasons. Fares from Guangzhou can be cheaper than the train or bus (excluding the cost of getting to/from the airports, which can be considerable).

The cities in the south with flight connections to Guilin are currently:

• Guangzhou;
• Haikou;
• Sanya;
• Shenzhen; and
• Zhuhai.

From the west

The west of China offers some of the most interesting options for travellers. Much overland travel is required in the remote areas and so the odd flight connection is often a welcome change. You can continue you travels after Guilin by flying to:

• Chengdu;
• Chongqing;
• Guiyang; or
• Kunming.

International flights

It is no longer necessary to enter the Chinese mainland with an international flight into one of the big cities such as Beijing or Shanghai. Currently, there are international flights to Guilin from:

• Bangkok;
• Hong Kong;
• Kuala Lumpur; and
• Macau.

For anyone coming from Hong Kong we recommend crossing the border and flying from Guangzhou or Shenzhen. The flights from here can be one third the price, or even cheaper when discounted.

The same does not apply so much to Macau. Zhuhai may be just a walk across the border but its airport is nearly 150 km out of town. You would be better off going to Shenzhen airport if coming through Macau.

If you haven't already booked your flights, we recommend: Vayama.com - International Travel Solved!

Transfers from there

There are two main options:

Private Transfer

By far the most convenient option is to pre-arrange a private transfer from Guilin airport straigh to your accommodation in Yangshuo. Most hotels offer this service. Otherwise you can book one through a local travel service.

Public Transport

There is a shuttle service from Guilin Airport to Guilin city operated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This costs just 20 yuan but only takes you to the CAAC offices which is not the most convenient spot. You could walk from there to the train station or bus station but it is almost always better to take a local taxi. This should cost less than 10 yuan and will save you from getting hot and sweaty.

You can read about buses from Guilin to Yangshuo elsewhere. These leave from the bus station or from outside the train station.

We do not recommend taking a taxi from Guilin Airport to Yangshuo; these often refuse to use the meter and therefore overcharge. If you do find yourself with no choice but to take a taxi from the airport, only take it as far as Guilin city centre. Get out there then get another taxi (or bus) to Yangshuo.

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