Some maybe useful info from a trip last week

Question

A friend and I took a 5d 4n trip to Guilin last week, and hope that at least some of the information below can be useful to others. We are both senior ladies, caucasian, and do not need visas for trips of up to 15 days. Our start and end point was Hong Kong.

We travelled by high speed rail, a 3 hour trip. Even mid-morning on a weekday, the crowds going through China immigration at West Kowloon station were crazy long - fortunately we arrived more than an hour before our train departed. Note that the "special lane" for elderly, mobility impaired and families with young children is situated on the far right of the immigration hall. We noticed that this is the normal position of the special lane no matter whether it's a train station or immigration hall.

The 2nd class seats in the train are much like economy airline seats except you can't stretch your feet under the seat in front. It was bearable for 3 hours but if I take a longer journey I hope I can go 1st class for more width and leg room.

On arrival at Guilinxi, we were confronted by some of the most aggressively touting drivers I've seen in China. Even the taxis lined up at the rank did not appear to have meters, and the rate they were quoting to take us downtown was about 4 times that of the Didi drivers, so either ensure that Didi is working for you or organise a hotel pick-up (still chepaer than the taxis).

We stayed at the Eeril Hotel, on the west side of Central Square. This turned out to be a great choice with beautiful views and within walking distance to major sites within city limits. The possible downsides for some people would be the need to walk up and down lots of steps to get to the other side of the main road and that it is a "smart" hotel with no printed information, only a Chinese-only menu interactiveTV screen for figuring out what's what.

Changing money - Alipay didn't always work, and for some reason Wechat refuses to install on my phone, so it was off to the local Bank of China branch, located on the other side of the square. Only two tellers, and it took nearly an hour. At least they had enough seats for all the customers waiting! I had forgotten that ATMs at many Chinese banks do not accept foreign ATM cards and this is one of them - sigh!

One day we walked to Solitary Beauty peak and the prince's compound and after that to Seven Star Crags. While returning to our hotel we stumbled into the main food/ night market area, which is between the eastern side of Central Square and the river.

The next day we joined a Li River cruise. The scenery was totally amazing to the point where my brain simply refused to process the sight of so many incredible karst features. The commentary was all in Chinese but that hardly mattered. In the evening we returned to Guilin in a shared van (RMB50 per person) that can be booked through Didi but this might not work for non-Chinese speakers because after some discussions among the 12 or so passengers the driver ended up stopping at totally different places from those originally listed. Fortunately I could follow well enough to learn that the second stop would be just outside our hotel - hurray!

On day 3 we wandered all around the Elephant Trunk scenic area, Sun & Moon pagodas and the 4 lakes. Apparently local tour groups don't visit the Rong and Osmanthus lakes so that part of the walk was wonderfully quiet and laid back for late afternoon.

Next day was quick trip to buy some local souvenirs and then onto the train back to Hong Kong.

TLDR version - a wonderful time with fantastic scenery and history as well as lots of friendly and helpful people!

Answer

Thank you for sharing your detailed experience in Guilin. Here’s a summary and some additional tips for travelers planning a similar trip:

Travel and Immigration:

High-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Guilinxi is convenient and fast (~3 hours), but allow plenty of time for China immigration as queues can be long, even mid-morning on a weekday.
The “special lane” for elderly, families with young children, or mobility impaired is always located on the far right of immigration halls and train stations.

Train Travel:

2nd class seats are similar to economy airline seats; adequate for shorter journeys but may be tight on longer trips. 1st class provides more width and legroom.
Booking tickets online or via official railway apps can save time and stress.

Transport in Guilin:

Taxis at Guilinxi station can be aggressive and overpriced. Ensure Didi is working on your phone or arrange hotel pick-up in advance to avoid being overcharged.
Shared vans for Li River cruises or airport transfers are affordable (around RMB50 per person) but may have limited English communication.

Accommodation:

Eeril Hotel, near Central Square, is a great location for sightseeing with good views and walking access to major city sites.
Some potential downsides include navigating steps to cross main roads and using interactive TV for hotel services, which may be in Chinese only.

Money and Payments:

Alipay and WeChat may not always work for foreign visitors. Bank branches like Bank of China can handle currency exchange, but expect long wait times.
Many Chinese ATMs do not accept foreign cards, so always check in advance or carry some cash.

Sightseeing and Activities:

Day 1: Solitary Beauty Peak, Prince's Compound, Seven Star Crags, then visit the main food/night market near Central Square and the river.
Day 2: Li River cruise. Spectacular scenery, even if commentary is only in Chinese. Shared van transfers can be booked for return.
Day 3: Elephant Trunk Hill area, Sun & Moon Pagodas, 4 Lakes. Exploring Rong and Osmanthus Lakes offers quieter, more relaxed walks as many tour groups skip these areas.
Day 4: Souvenir shopping and preparation for departure.

General Tips:

Plan transportation ahead, especially for taxis and airport/train connections.
Be prepared for some language barriers; basic Chinese phrases or translation apps can help.
Traveling as seniors, consider comfort when choosing train classes and hotel locations.
Enjoy the mix of natural scenery, historical sites, and local food markets, which Guilin excels at.

Overall, your 5-day trip offers a balanced mix of cultural experiences, scenic highlights, and practical insights for other travelers. Guilin is very senior-friendly if planned carefully, and the combination of high-speed rail, local transport, and sightseeing makes it a rewarding destination.

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