Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin
Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiangbi Shan) has been free to enter since 31 January 2022, but you still need a free real-name booking for a time slot. Book through the 桂林市象山景区 WeChat account or apps such as Ctrip, Meituan or Amap, or scan the code at the ticket window when you arrive. The park is in central Guilin where the Taohua River joins the Li, at 1 Minzhu Road, and an hour or two is enough. Go early in the morning or after 15:00. The late-morning to mid-afternoon window is when the tour groups arrive.
It is the obvious first stop in the city, the day before the Li River cruise. The rest of the trip is in the Guilin travel guide.
Booking and gates
Real-name timed entry began on 1 March 2024 because the free park was getting too crowded. The rules from that notice, which still match current listings:
- Online booking opens the day before, in three slots: 07:00 to 12:30, 12:30 to 17:30 and 17:30 to 21:00.
- On-site booking is by QR code at the ticket window, in two-hour slots. Each slot's tickets are released 20 minutes before it starts.
- One phone number can book up to three free tickets. Enter each visitor's ID correctly, and bring the passport you used.
- Holidays (Spring Festival, May Day, National Day) bring extra crowd control, and bad weather or events can close routes. The WeChat account posts these.
The park has three gates, and they don't all work the same way:
| Gate | Hours | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gate 1 | 07:00 to 18:00 | Entry and exit |
| Gate 2 | 07:00 to 19:00 | Exit only |
| Gate 3 | 07:00 to 21:30 | Entry only before 19:00, entry and exit after |
For an evening visit, Gate 3 is the one still open. Tickets sold by touts outside the gate are pointless for a free park. Use the official channels only.
What to see
The hill takes its name from its shape. Seen from the riverbank, a limestone mass leans into the water like an elephant drinking, and the arch between "trunk" and "legs" is Water-Moon Cave (水月洞). On a calm day the arch and its reflection form a full circle. That riverside view of the trunk and the arch is the picture everyone comes for, and it needs no climbing.
The Puxian Pagoda stands on the elephant's back. A path climbs to the top for a view over the rivers and the city, and Love Island and the riverside walkways give other angles on the trunk. Along with the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, the hill has been part of a national 5A scenic area since 2017, and it is the city's emblem.
A sensible order: the riverside view of Water-Moon Cave first, while the light is soft and the crowd is thin, then the climb if you have the legs for it, then out. When a tour group stops at the main viewpoint, wait a minute. They move on quickly.
The limestone steps get slippery after rain, so shoes with grip matter even on a short visit.
Getting there
From Guilin railway station, buses 2, 16 and 23 stop at Elephant Trunk Hill. Most central hotels are within walking distance or a short taxi ride. From the airport, take the airport bus to the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) and change to bus 16.
Fitting it into a Guilin day
Morning here, and in the afternoon either Duxiu Peak inside Prince Jing's Mansion, for the Ming history and the famous inscription, or Diecai Hill, for a higher city panorama. Doing all three in one day is a lot of steps in Guilin's humidity. In the evening, the Two Rivers and Four Lakes boat passes the floodlit hill. That is a separate ticket with its own schedule, booked on the scenic area's official channels.
Keep this visit on the day before the cruise. Once you are in Yangshuo, coming back for it costs two hours of road.
Before you go
- A booking for your time slot, under the ID you'll carry.
- Which gate is open for when you plan to arrive or leave.
- Any holiday or weather notices on the WeChat account.
- Shoes with grip if it has rained.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elephant Trunk Hill free?
Yes. Entry has been free since January 2022, but you need a free real-name booking for a time slot, made online the day before or at the gate.
How long do you need at Elephant Trunk Hill?
One to two hours: the riverside view of Water-Moon Cave, a walk along the bank and, if you want, the climb to the pagoda.
Can you visit Elephant Trunk Hill at night?
Gate 3 is open until 21:30. The hill is floodlit, and the evening Two Rivers and Four Lakes boat passes it.