Route
Guangzhou to GuilinGuilin to Guangzhou: take the train or fly?
Two and a half to three hours takes you from the Pearl River Delta to the karst country around the Li River. It's the usual way in to Guilin and Yangshuo for anyone starting from Guangzhou or Hong Kong.
Guangzhou 广州
Guangzhou South
Guilin 桂林
Guilin
- 2nd class
- from ¥186 ≈ $26
- business to ¥538
- Departures
- ~65/day
- 07:00–19:00
- Train types
- G · D
- Flight
- no flights — too short
Sixty-plus high-speed trains a day cover the 480 km in about 2h on the fast G-services. There are flights, roughly an hour in the air, but once you add Baiyun airport and the transfers the door-to-door time is close, and the train can drop you at central Guilin station. Fly only if the schedule or the fare clearly wins.
Should you take the train or fly?
Take the train unless a flight clearly wins on time or price. It’s 480 km. The fast G-trains do it in about 2 hours; the cheaper D-trains stop more and take closer to 3–4 hours. Around 60 to 75 high-speed services run each day, roughly from 07:00 to 19:00, all from Guangzhou South.
There are flights — about an hour in the air — but Guangzhou Baiyun is a long way from the city and Guilin’s airport is a 30–40 minute drive from town, so the real door-to-door difference is smaller than the flight time suggests. The train also has the option of finishing at central Guilin station. Fly only if the timing or the fare is clearly better on the day.
Stations, tickets and what to expect
Which stations. Trains leave from Guangzhou South (Guangzhounan), on metro lines 2, 7 and 22. Guilin has three high-speed stations:
- Guilin — the central station, closest to the city, the Li River pier area and Elephant Trunk Hill. Book this one if your trains offer it.
- Guilin North (Guilinbei) — in the northern suburbs; buses and taxis into town.
- Guilin West (Guilinxi) — further out again.
Many G-trains use Guilin North or West rather than the central station, so check the arrival station when you book and allow 20–40 minutes to reach the centre if it isn’t Guilin central.
Carrying on to Yangshuo. From Guilin it’s about 1–1.5 hours by bus to Yangshuo, or a short high-speed hop to Yangshuo station, which sits roughly 30 minutes from West Street. If Yangshuo is your base, you can ride through without stopping in Guilin.
Booking. Trip.com or the 12306 app, passport as the ID type, electronic ticket scanned at the gate. Second class is fine for the journey. Fares and schedules vary through the year and by train type — confirm on 12306 or Trip.com when you book.
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FAQ
Common questions
How long is the train from Guangzhou to Guilin?
About 2 hours 7 minutes on the fastest G-trains, and 3 to 4 hours on the slower D-trains that stop more often. Around 60 to 75 high-speed services run each day.
How much does it cost?
Second class is about ¥186 on the G-trains and less on the D-trains (the overall range across train and seat types is roughly ¥140–320). First class is around ¥298 and a business seat about ¥538.
Which station in Guilin should I use?
There are three: Guilin (central, best for the city and the Li River pier area), Guilin North (Guilinbei, northern suburbs) and Guilin West (Guilinxi, further out). Many G-trains use Guilin North or West rather than the central station, so check your arrival station and factor in a 20–40 minute transfer if it isn't the central one.
Should I fly instead?
It's a genuine choice at this distance. The flight is about an hour, but Guangzhou Baiyun is large and far from town and Guilin's airport is a 30–40 minute drive out, so door-to-door the train's 2–3 hours is competitive — and it can leave you in the centre. Fly if a convenient or cheap fare comes up; otherwise take the train.
Can I carry on to Yangshuo?
Yes. From Guilin, Yangshuo is about 1 to 1.5 hours by bus or by a short high-speed hop to Yangshuo station (which is itself about 30 minutes from West Street). Many travellers ride straight through and base themselves in Yangshuo.
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