Guilin · Visitor Guide
Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbí Shān)
"\"Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiàngbí Shān) is the most photographed and instantly recognisable natural landmark in Guilin: a 100-metre-wide karst peak whose central arch forms a perfect elephant's trunk dipping into the Li River. The arch is accessible at low-to-mid water levels (you can boat through it) and has been celebrated in Chinese poetry and painting for over 1,200 years. The surrounding park is free to view from the riverbank; full entry to the water-level area costs ¥100. It is best seen from the water at dawn or dusk when the limestone is lit golden.\".".
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Quick Answer
Is Elephant Trunk Hill worth visiting?
Guilin's skyline icon — a karst peak with a natural arch resembling an elephant drinking from the Li River. Free to view from the riverside park; ¥100 to enter the scenic zone. 1–2 hours.…
Quick facts
| Ticket | Park entry ¥100 (as of 2026) covers the entire scenic zone including the water-level arch access. Free viewing from the riverbank outside the fence. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 06:30–18:30 (April–October), 07:00–18:00 (November–March). Night illumination (river cruise lights) runs 19:30–21:30. |
| Recommended duration | 1–2 hours. |
| Best time to visit | Sunrise (06:30–08:00) for golden light on the limestone and empty paths. Evening (17:00–19:00) for the same effect in reverse. Avoid midday — the karst looks flat and grey in harsh overhead sun. Any season with clear skies. |
| How to get there | From Guilin city centre (Zhongshan Road), Bus 16, 23, or 57 to Xiangbi Shan station (象鼻山站). Or take the tourist ferry from Zhengyang Pedestrian Street wharf — ¥80 for a round-trip river tour passing the hill. A DiDi from anywhere in Guilin costs ¥15–25. |
| English signage | yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | limited |
| Height | ~55 m above river level |
| Arch formed | ~100 million years of karst erosion |
| Best view | From the Li River at dawn or dusk |
| River level access | Possible when water is below 141 m (usually April–October) |
| UNESCO status | Part of the South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Boat through arch | ¥40–60 per person (negotiated with local boat operators, not official) |
What to expect
Elephant Trunk Hill is not one peak but two karst formations connected at the base, separated by the arch whose underside has been hollowed out by the Li River over millions of years. At low-to-mid water levels (roughly April to October), you can take a small bamboo raft or rowboat from the dock below the hill directly through the arch — a genuinely surreal experience, as the limestone walls close in on both sides and then open suddenly into the river pool on the other side. At high water (summer flood season), the arch passage is submerged and only the top of the trunk is visible above water.
The hill has been a pilgrimage site for Chinese poets and painters since the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). The arch is inscribed with a poem carved in the Song dynasty, still readable on the limestone. The water-eroded hole in the middle of the "trunk" gives the hill its shape; the "legs" are the two side peaks, the "body" the plateau between them. The hill sits at the confluence of the Li River and the Taoying River, so the reflected view from across the water shows a near-perfect elephant silhouette.
The park surrounding the hill has been upgraded and now includes paved walking paths, bilingual interpretive signs, and a glass viewing platform over the water. A new pedestrian bridge connects the hill to Nanmen Bridge on the city side. The night illumination (from 19:30) shows the hill in changing coloured lights from the river; the river cruise boats pass by and use it as a photo backdrop. The surrounding Binjiang Road is popular with local joggers and has several tea houses.
How to get there
From central Guilin (Zhongshan Road pedestrian zone), walk south to the river and follow Binjiang Road east for 20 minutes — the hill is visible from the road. Bus 16, 23, or 57 stops directly outside the scenic zone gate. A DiDi from anywhere in Guilin costs ¥15–20. The river ferry from Zhengyang Pedestrian Street wharf (¥80 round-trip) is a scenic alternative that also visits other Li River karst peaks.
Best photo spots
- From the Li River itself — a bamboo raft or river cruise boat passing through the arch gives the most dramatic and unusual angle
- From the Binjiang Road viewing platform directly across the river — captures the full elephant silhouette against the water
- From the hilltop at sunrise — the Li River winding away through the karst peaks in the golden morning light
- The inscription carved on the arch wall (Song dynasty, readable if you get close in a boat) — a photo with historical context
Tips
- The free riverbank view from Binjiang Road is actually almost as good as the paid entry — arrive at sunrise or dusk and you get the same atmospheric shot without the ¥100 ticket
- If you want the boat-through-arch experience, April–October (low-to-mid water) is the season; August–September often brings flood-level water that submerges the arch
- Combine with a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (4–5 hours, ¥200–300) — Elephant Trunk Hill is usually the first major peak you pass after departure
- The night illumination is free to view from Binjiang Road and is genuinely atmospheric — arrive around 19:30 for the lighting change
- If you do pay to enter the park, go to the water level at low tide for the most dramatic close-up of the arch erosion
Scams to avoid
- Bamboo raft operators at the unofficial dock below the hill quoting ¥80–120 per person for the arch passage — the official rate is ¥40–60; agree the price before boarding and confirm it includes going through the arch
- "Photography guides" near the entrance offering to take you to a secret angle for ¥50 — the best angle (from the river) is obvious; there are no secret spots
- Souvenir vendors inside the park selling "karst rocks" claimed to be from Elephant Trunk Hill — these are ordinary river rocks, not from the hill, and are sold at markets across Guilin for ¥5–10
Frequently asked questions
Is Elephant Trunk Hill worth paying ¥100 to enter?
Partially. The free view from Binjiang Road across the river is nearly as good for photography. The ¥100 ticket is justified if you want to walk to the water level and potentially take a boat through the arch. For most visitors, a combination of the free riverside walk and a Li River cruise (which passes Elephant Trunk Hill) gives better value.
Can I take a boat through the arch?
Yes, when the Li River water level is below 141 m — typically April to October. Small bamboo rafts operated by local boatmen (negotiate directly at the dock) charge ¥40–60 per person for the round trip through the arch and back.
What is the best time of day to photograph Elephant Trunk Hill?
Sunrise (06:30–08:00) or dusk (17:00–19:00) in any season. The limestone turns golden in both lights. Midday sun is harsh and the karst looks flat.
Is Elephant Trunk Hill part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes — it is part of the South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2007. The karst formations of Guilin and Yangshuo are considered some of the finest examples of karst landscape in the world.
Is the hill wheelchair accessible?
Limited. The upper park paths are accessible, but the water-level arch access requires steps and uneven stone paths. The Binjiang Road viewing platform across the river is fully accessible.
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