Guilin attraction guide
Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin Entrance and Visitor Guide
象鼻山
Visit Guilin Elephant Trunk Hill with current entry guidance, Li River viewpoints, park routing, Two Rivers and Four Lakes pairing and photo timing.
- Allow
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Ticket
- Current public-access rules apply
- Access
- Central Guilin / Xiangshan
- Bring
- Passport if reservation applies
Elephant Trunk Hill is Guilin’s city symbol, a karst arch beside the Li River that is easiest to combine with the central lakes and waterfront.
For foreign visitors, the useful plan is not only what to see but which entrance, identity document, transport connection and exit make the visit work. Save “象鼻山” in Chinese before leaving your hotel.
Quick answer
Use the official Xiangshan scenic-area entrance, check current reservation or capacity rules and walk the river-facing viewpoints before continuing into central Guilin.
Photo guide
What Elephant Trunk Hill looks like
Elephant Trunk Hill beside the Li River in Guilin (view 1)
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Elephant Trunk Hill beside the Li River in Guilin (view 2)
Photo: 螺钉. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Elephant Trunk Hill beside the Li River in Guilin (view 3)
Photo: ogwen. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tickets, reservations and passport checks for Elephant Trunk Hill
Check the official current access and reservation notice. Free admission can still involve capacity control or real-name registration on busy dates.
Check the official channel for your exact date and choose passport as the identity type when real-name booking is required. Keep the confirmation, admission window and entrance instructions available offline.
A boat view, park entry and private photo platform are different products. Do not pay a reseller for public access without checking.
A practical route through Elephant Trunk Hill
- Enter through the official Xiangshan park gate.
- Walk to the main river-facing view of the arch.
- Continue along the permitted park loop and waterside paths.
- Use elevated steps only when open and suitable.
- Exit toward Shan Lake or the central riverfront.
How to fit Elephant Trunk Hill into a Guilin itinerary
Pair Elephant Trunk Hill with Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Duxiu Peak or an evening lake cruise.
Early morning and late afternoon offer softer light. River levels affect the classic arch reflection.
Keep a workable backup
- Use the opposite riverbank viewpoint when internal access changes.
- Walk Shan and Rong lakes during crowd controls.
- Return at another light condition without buying an unnecessary tour.
- Choose Reed Flute Cave during severe rain.
Personalized Guilin travel support
Explore Guilin your way. Tell us what you want—we’ll help make it happen.
From must-see attractions and local food to reservations, transport, and last-minute changes, send us your requests. We’ll take care of the practical details so you can focus on experiencing Guilin.
Plan My Guilin TripFrequently asked questions
Is Elephant Trunk Hill free?
Access policies have changed over time. Check the official current notice because free entry may still use reservations or capacity controls.
Can foreign visitors enter Elephant Trunk Hill with a passport?
Major Guilin attractions generally support valid foreign passports, but the sales channel and gate workflow vary. Bring the original passport used for any real-name booking.
How much time should I allow for Elephant Trunk Hill?
Plan about 1.5–2.5 hours, plus transport, security and queues. Mountain, river and outlying attractions need extra buffer for weather and internal transfers.
Official information used for this guide
Operational details last checked August 15, 2026. Tickets, hours, transport, closures, and passport workflows can change; confirm final details with the venue.
