Guilin Train Stations: Where and How to Take a Train?

Did you know that Guilin still doesn't have a metro system, even in 2026? The city's karst landscape, riddled with caves, has unfortunately delayed the original construction schedule once again.

The result: the city is organised entirely around three completely separate train stations, with no rail connection between them whatsoever! If you choose the wrong station, a simple transfer can quickly turn into a taxi ride of over an hour.

Don't panic, Trip.com is here with a complete guide to the train stations in Guilin – from Guilin Central to Guilin North and Guilin West – to help you avoid any nasty surprises.

The 3 Key Train Stations in Guilin

Three railway stations share the train traffic in Guilin, each with its own unique features and different destinations:

• Guilin's main railway station, right in the city centre, historic and convenient for classic trains;
• Guilin North Railway Station, the city's true high-speed hub!
• Guilin West Railway Station, located a little way out, but the only station with a direct connection to Hong Kong.

This division into three different locations is no coincidence: Guilin Railway Station (city centre) has existed for decades, while Guilin North and Guilin West were built or expanded to cope with the exploding high-speed traffic volume in Southern China, without, however, ever having been connected to each other by a common line.

Guilin Railway Station (City Centre)

Built in the Xiangshan district, right on South Zhongshan Road, this station remains the one closest to the historic centre and the Li River. Expect a journey of barely 20 minutes to reach the banks of the river or the foot of Elephant Trunk Hill. Pretty handy, right?

It primarily receives classic T, K, and Z trains to Beijing, Shanghai, or Wuhan, often night trains with sleeper carriages, as well as a few high-speed connections. A three-storey building, more modest than the city's other two stations: don't expect a huge station concourse.

How do you get there?

💡 The Trip.com tip: This is the only train station in Guilin where a taxi from the city centre almost always costs less than 20 CNY. From Liangjiang Airport, however, you should allow about 40 minutes for the 30-kilometre journey, as there is no direct bus.

The services available at Guilin City Centre Railway Station

• 🍜 A limited range of food options: just a few stalls and a snack bar, with not much choice
• 🧳 Luggage storage open from 7 am to 9 pm, between 10 and 20 CNY depending on size
• 🏥 A waiting room with an area for families with toddlers on the 2nd floor
• 🎫 Counter on the ground floor, with a special counter for foreign travellers
• 🏧 A cash machine near the entrance hall, foreign cards are accepted
• 📶 Free Wi-Fi, though the signal can sometimes be weak in the basement waiting areas

The most important train connections from Guilin (city centre)

Guilin North Railway Station

This is where the majority of the city's traffic takes place. Guilin North Railway Station was rebuilt and reopened in December 2014 in the Diecai District, about ten kilometres north of the city centre. It covers nearly 100,000 m² and features 9 platforms and 18 tracks.

It is by far the most modern train station in Guilin, with a large supermarket and several restaurants right next door!

It is also the starting point for the vast majority of G and D high-speed trains heading towards:

• Guangzhou,
• Shenzhen,
• Guiyang
• Or perhaps Kunming,

And this is also where the fastest shuttle to Yangshuo departs from.

The station also acts as a multimodal hub: the long-distance bus terminal, car rental agencies, and a large car park are all located in the same place – a real advantage if you're combining different modes of transport in a single day.

How do you get there?

👉 Since there is no metro, the airport shuttle remains the easiest option: allow for about an hour's travel time for 25 CNY between Guilin North and Liangjiang Airport.

From the city centre, a taxi takes 20 to 30 minutes and costs 15 to 30 CNY. Bus line 100 also serves the station for 2 CNY, but takes a little longer.

How do I buy my ticket?

Three options that apply to all train stations in Guilin:

1. On Trip.com (the most recommended option): an online booking in English, an electronic ticket, no time wasted at the counter – in short, a quick, affordable, and convenient solution!
2. Via the 12306 app: the official Chinese ticket portal, which is comprehensive and now offers a fully functional English version
3. At the counters: There are about fifteen counters at Guilin North, although usually only three or four are open during the day. Self-service machines may primarily support Chinese ID cards, and staffed counters are available for foreign passport holders.

The services available at Guilin North Railway Station

• 📶 Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
• 🧳 Luggage storage for bulky items with a porter service (Approx. 10 CNY per item)
• 💼 A premium waiting area for business and 1st class tickets
• 🅿️ A large outdoor car park, with over 400 spaces
• 🏧 Cash machines on levels -1 and 2, foreign cards are accepted without any issues

The most important train connections from Guilin North

Guilin West Railway Station

Many guidebooks portray it as "remote", 30 or 35 km away from the centre: in reality, it is barely further away than Guilin North, in the township of Dingjiang in Lingchuan County, about 8 km from Guilin North and 10 to 13 km from the main railway station. The confusion likely stems from its reputation as a secondary station, not from its actual distance!

Small and quiet, with only 4 platforms and 6 tracks, it has just two counters and a single access control point, which can lead to waiting times during peak hours.

Your real trump card? It is the only station in Guilin with a direct connection to Hong Kong, with 3 daily trains to West Kowloon. It also serves Guangzhou, Guiyang, Chengdu and Chongqing.

How do you get there?

Only city buses (lines 22, 303 and K307) serve the station, but they run rather infrequently. By taxi, you should allow 30 to 40 minutes from the city centre (40 to 80 CNY).

From the airport, a shuttle bus runs hourly between 9:30 and 17:30 for 30 CNY.

The services available at Guilin West Railway Station

• 🍜 Virtually no food options available: just a small shop on-site, so stock up on snacks before you arrive!
• 🧳 No luggage storage worth mentioning, unlike at the other two stations
• 🎫 Only two counters, often with a queue when trains arrive
• 📶 Free Wi-Fi in the waiting area, though high speeds aren't guaranteed

The most important train connections from Guilin West

Guilin to Yangshuo by Train: Which Station is Best?

For the majority of Guilin visitors, Yangshuo with its Li River landscapes remains THE highlight that you simply cannot miss! Good news: from Guilin North, the fastest journey takes just 20 minutes, with around 32 trains per day and prices starting from approximately £3.

🚨A classic trap that many travellers only discover too late: Yangshuo railway station is not actually in Yangshuo! It is located near the village of Xingping, about 33 km away from the pedestrian zone in the town centre.

Afterwards, allow for 45 minutes to over an hour for the taxi or shuttle ride to reach the centre of Yangshuo, depending on traffic.

Train Stations in Guilin: Which One Fits Your Route?

Everything depends on your exact travel route:

• Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guiyang or Kunming: Head to Guilin North! This is where almost all high-speed trains with the best connections in the city are concentrated.
• Night train to Beijing, Shanghai or Wuhan: Guilin Railway Station remains the most convenient, just a stone's throw from the hotels and the Li River.
• Ticket to Hong Kong: Only Guilin West Railway Station can take you there, despite its slightly more remote location.

In any case, you should check the exact name of the station on your ticket before booking a taxi: the three stations look similar on paper, but they are kilometres apart and there is no direct connection between them.

Fancy discovering the Li River? Explore all Trip.com excursions for a magical moment in one of China's most iconic locations!

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