Last updated: May 2026. Check official site for tickets and opening hours.
The Li and Taohua rivers meet at the foot of the hill; a rock formation stretches into the water like an elephant’s trunk drinking—Guilin’s symbol and the image from the textbooks. Inside the park you can walk to the trunk and take photos from different angles, or view the full hill from the opposite bank or near Jiefang Bridge. The site is small; under an hour is enough. Many combine it with Two Rivers Four Lakes and Zhengyang Pedestrian Street on the same day, as the first or last stop in Guilin.
What Makes it Worth It
Elephant Trunk Hill is Guilin’s most recognisable landmark—a single karst hill that looks like an elephant, not a vast range. Good for anyone who wants to “tick” the classic view. Inside the park you get close to the trunk and the river; from the opposite bank you get more of the river and city. If you’re short on time, the free view from across the river is enough to say you’ve seen it. It’s in town with Reed Flute Cave, Prince City and the Li piers, so easy to string into a day.
What to Expect
Crowds: Busy in peak season and holidays; the spot by the trunk can queue. Mornings or weekdays are quieter.
Scale: Small park—the hill and riverside path are the main sights; under 1 hour, minimal walking, low effort.
Tickets: Paid entry; viewing from the opposite bank is free but you can’t walk under the trunk. Check official prices.
Photos: Trunk with reflection, trunk with boats—classic shots. Best angles are beside the trunk or from the opposite bank.
Don’t Miss
Trunk and water — You can walk through “Water Moon Cave” between the trunk and the river and look out at the water and opposite bank; the outer side of the trunk is the classic photo spot.
Riverside path — A short walk along the river gives views of the Li and the city skyline; different from the boat tour, and free.
View from the opposite bank (no ticket) — If you skip the ticket, you can see the full hill from Jiefang Bridge or Binjiang Road. Good if you’re short on time or only want “seen it.”
Practical Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tickets | Paid entry; check official prices |
| Booking/Tickets | Official site or Trip.com (confirm on venue) |
| Suggested time | 0.5–1 hour |
| Opening hours | Check official site; usually daytime |
| Transport | Several bus routes; taxi to “象鼻山 Xiàngbí Shān” or “象山景区” |
Tickets at official or authorised outlets; opposite-bank viewing is free. Payment is mostly by scan; have How to Pay in China ready. If your app doesn’t support English, show the driver a map pin or ask your hotel to write “象鼻山” for the driver.
Getting There
Bus: Several lines stop at Elephant Hill Park or nearby; follow signs to the entrance.
Taxi / ride-hail: Ask for “象鼻山 Xiàngbí Shān” or “象山景区”; if the app doesn’t support English, show a map pin or ask your hotel to write “象鼻山” for the driver. From downtown about 10–20 minutes.
Combining with Two Rivers Four Lakes / Zhengyang Street: Elephant Hill in the morning, Two Rivers Four Lakes or Zhengyang in the afternoon (or the other way round); evening by the river for the hill and sunset.
Common mistake: thinking you must enter the park to “see” it—you can view from the opposite bank; if you only want the shot or are in a rush, the free view is enough.
Elephant Trunk Hill is Guilin’s icon. Inside the park you get close to the trunk and the Li; from the opposite bank you get the full view for free. Small site, short visit—easy to pair with other city spots in half a day; if your trip includes the Li cruise and Yangshuo, the hill works well as an opener or closer in town.
If you only want "one shot of the hill" and are short on time, the opposite bank is enough. If you want to walk under the trunk and through Water Moon Cave, an hour inside the park does it.
Related Guides:
- Guilin City Guide — Complete city guide
