Short answer
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) sits roughly 28 to 30 km southwest of the city centre, which keeps the transfer short by Chinese airport standards. There is no metro line and no rail station at the airport, so the coaches do the work. They run to the city centre, to Guilin North and Guilin West railway stations, and directly to Yangshuo.
Fares are low. City and station lines cost around ¥15-20; the coach to Yangshuo runs roughly ¥50-70 depending on the service. A taxi or DiDi into the centre is commonly quoted as a flat ¥80-110 and takes 40 to 55 minutes. Yangshuo by road from the airport is about 90 minutes.
The timing trap is onward travel. Allow three hours between landing and any train you have booked, because immigration, baggage and the trip into town consume most of it, and the morning and evening arrival waves from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou all queue at the same coach desk.
Where the airport is, and where the coaches leave from
Liangjiang Airport has one active passenger terminal, Terminal 2, handling domestic and international flights, with English signage at the arrivals level and staffed desks for the coach services.
The coaches leave from the airport bus station outside the arrivals hall, on the level you exit into. Tickets come from the desk there, so buy them first, before the SIM card and the ATM queue.
Two kinds of service run: the city line, which departs as flights land, and the station line and Yangshuo coaches, which keep fixed daily timetables with a handful of departures. Printed boards are indicative. Confirm the day's times at the desk when you land.
Every transfer option at a glance
| Destination | Best option | Time | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| City centre, around Zhengyang pedestrian street | Airport coach, city line to the Civil Aviation Building | 40-60 min | ¥15-20 |
| Guilin Station (central railway station) | Same coach, then a short taxi | 50-70 min | ¥20 plus short taxi |
| Guilin North railway station | Airport bus North Station line | 60-85 min | Around ¥20 |
| Guilin West railway station | Same line, which calls at West station first | 50-70 min | Around ¥20 |
| Yangshuo Bus Station | Airport intercity coach | About 90 min | Around ¥50 |
| Yangshuo West Street entrance | Business shuttle coach | About 90 min | Around ¥70 |
| Any city hotel, door to door | Taxi or DiDi | 40-55 min | Metered, commonly ¥80-110 |
Treat these as published guide prices rather than fixed tariffs. Coach pricing on this route has been stable, but the airport controls tickets on the day.
The coach services, line by line
| Service | Route | Departures | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| City line | Airport to the Civil Aviation Building, Anxin district | Rolling, tied to flight arrivals; city departures roughly every 30 min from early morning | ¥15-20 |
| Station line | Airport to Guilin West, then Guilin North | Hourly, roughly 09:00-21:00 from the airport; North station departures from mid-morning to early evening | Around ¥20 |
| Yangshuo coach | Airport to Yangshuo Bus Station | Limited to a few a day, finishing early to mid afternoon | Around ¥50 |
| Yangshuo business shuttle | Airport to Yangshuo Bus Station and the West Street end of town | Limited daily departures | Around ¥70 |
| Wanfu Square line | Airport to the Wanfu Square area | Timed departures through the day | Around ¥20 |
Coaches have luggage holds and take standard holdalls without fuss. On the way back to the airport, build in a buffer: the coach sits in the same traffic as everything else, and the city pickup points are not always obvious from the street.
Which railway station you actually want
From Guilin North, high-speed trains reach Yangshuo in 23 to 27 minutes for ¥24-38 in second class. Yangshuo's station is at Xingping, roughly 25 km from the town, so 40 to 60 minutes of shuttle or taxi follows the train. Book seats on 12306 with your passport; the train ticket guide covers registration and the waitlist.
Going straight to Yangshuo from the airport
For most itineraries this is the right call. Yangshuo holds the landscape and the rafting, and the airport sits on the western side of Guilin, which trims the detour through the centre.
- Standard coach to Yangshuo Bus Station, about 90 minutes, around
¥50, then a short taxi or a 15-minute walk into town. - Business shuttle coach, which also sets down near the West Street entrance, about 90 minutes, around
¥70. - Private car or DiDi, roughly 1.5 hours. A car arranged through your hotel is the usual answer for late arrivals; ask for a quote in advance.
Direct departures are limited to a few a day, with the last one in the early to mid afternoon on most timetables. Land in the evening and the practical route is the station line plus a high-speed train, or a pre-arranged car.
Taxi and DiDi
Taxis wait outside arrivals and are metered in principle, but the run into Guilin is frequently sold as a flat fare instead, with reported prices clustered around ¥80-110. Fix the figure before the bags go in the boot, or take a DiDi through its app or inside Alipay, which quotes the price up front and works in English.
DiDi pickups have a designated kerb at Terminal 2. Follow the signs rather than accepting an offer from someone approaching you inside the hall. The trip to the centre is 40 to 55 minutes in normal conditions, and considerably longer in rain or on a Friday evening.
After landing: the setup that saves time
Two things are worth having working before the flight, because the airport is a poor place to discover a problem.
- Mobile data. An eSIM activated before departure means the ride-hailing app, the map and the translation app all work the moment the phone switches on. See eSIM options for China.
- Payment. Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card bound and passport verification finished at home. The coach desk takes cash and QR payments; the taxi driver will not want a foreign card. The payment guide covers the setup.
Carry a few hundred yuan in cash as a backstop. There are ATMs in arrivals, and exchange counters at poor rates. Save the Chinese place names you will repeat to drivers as screenshots in advance: the Civil Aviation Building, Guilin North, Guilin West, Yangshuo Bus Station.
Late arrivals and the last coach
Frequently asked questions
Is there a metro or train from Guilin airport to the city?
No. Guilin has no metro system and the airport has no rail station of its own. The options are the airport coaches, a taxi or DiDi, or a pre-booked car. The city coach is the standard choice for anyone arriving alone.
How much is the airport coach into Guilin?
Around ¥15 to ¥20 on the city line, and about ¥20 on the line serving Guilin North and West railway stations. Buy the ticket at the bus desk on the arrivals level and confirm the current fare there.
How long does the transfer take?
The city centre is 40 to 60 minutes by coach and 40 to 55 minutes by taxi. Guilin North station takes 60 to 85 minutes by coach, and Yangshuo about 90 minutes.
Can I go straight from the airport to Yangshuo?
Yes, by coach to Yangshuo Bus Station in about 90 minutes for roughly ¥50, or on the business shuttle that also serves the West Street area for roughly ¥70. Direct departures are limited, so check times on arrival. Otherwise take the station coach to Guilin North and a 23 to 27 minute train to Yangshuo Station at Xingping, then 40 to 60 minutes into town.
How much is a taxi from the airport to Guilin?
Commonly quoted as a flat fare in the region of ¥80 to ¥110 rather than on the meter. Fix the price before setting off, or use DiDi, which shows the fare up front. Tolls and luggage are usually included in the quoted figure.
What is the last coach of the evening?
The station line runs until roughly 21:00, and the Yangshuo coaches finish earlier in the day. The city line's later departures are tied to flight arrivals rather than a fixed clock. Check the board when you land, and treat anything after 21:00 as a taxi job.
Which Guilin railway station do I want for Yangshuo?
Guilin North for most high-speed services and Guilin West for several others. Both are served by the airport station coach line. Yangshuo's own station is at Xingping, about 25 km from the town.
Is the airport coach manageable with large luggage?
Yes. The coaches are full-size with luggage holds underneath. On the intercity coach to Yangshuo, keep an eye on your bag at the intermediate stops.
Related reading
Coach routes, fares and service windows follow Guilin Liangjiang International Airport's published Terminal 2 coach information and third-party airport bus timetables, checked September 2026. Fares and departure times are indicative: the airport sells tickets on the day and timetables move with the season and with flight schedules. Taxi figures are widely reported ranges rather than an official tariff. Confirm everything time-critical at the airport bus desk before you travel.