Things to do in Xing'an County

No. 18 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guangxi

Mao'er Mountains

Maoershan Mountain's main peak stands at 2,141.5 meters, making it one of the highest peaks in South China. Often referred to as "the crown of the Five Ridges and the summit of South China," this area is also...Li River and Zi RiverThe birthplace of [product name], connecting the Yangtze River and Pearl River systems. The scenic area features vast forests with ancient, intertwined trees, presenting pristine wilderness scenery. It's also home to precious hemlock trees, a rare species surviving from the Ice Age. From April to June each year, the mountains are covered in blooming azaleas, creating a breathtaking sea of flowers that resembles clouds and rosy sunsets from afar. Beyond its natural beauty, Maoershan Mountain also features historic red tourism sites, including the Laoshanjie Pass crossed by the Red Army during the Long March and the WWII-era American plane crash site. For reaching the summit of Maoershan Mountain, we recommend taking the attraction bus directly up the mountain, which takes about 1 hour. The bus makes stops at several key scenic spots along the way, such as Laoshanjie and the Iron Fir Park. After getting off the bus, you'll need to walk along a hiking trail to reach the peak. The sunset, sunrise, and sea of clouds here are absolutely breathtaking. There are hotels and guesthouses at the summit where you can stay overnight to enjoy the stunning sunrise the next morning. Maoershan Mountain is a nature reserve where hiking is prohibited.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Xing'an County

Lingqu Canal

Lingqu is located in Xing'an County in the north of Guilin City. It is called Qin Chi Canal and Xing'an Canal. It is the Qin Dynasty water conservancy project with the same name as Dujiangyan. Qin Shihuang used these tens of kilometers of waterways to begin the journey of integrating Nanyue into China. Now walking along the Lingqu River, you can still feel the ambition and wisdom of the ancients. The size balance, the mouth and the water street are the main attractions of the spiritual channel.

Mao'er Mountain · Wonangpiao Resort

Guilin's Xing'an county Mao'er mountain attraction boasts the ecological advantage of being the highest peak in South China, with 98% forest coverage and rare "jelly water" gentle water system resources at the Li river source. Rich in natural views like mountains, waters, and bamboo forests, it provides an ideal foundation for water-based outdoor activities. During the 14th five-year plan period, the attraction broke through traditional sightseeing models by focusing on "light adventure and heavy healing", innovatively launching the "wocang drift" water sports project to create a new integrated format of "outdoor sports + rural cultural tourism". It became a benchmark for lightweight integration of culture, tourism, and sports in Guangxi. In 2025, this project won multiple honors for cultural-tourism integration innovation, achieved over 100 million exposures across platforms, and became a phenomenal outdoor sports IP.

Headwaters Lijiang River Grand Canyon

The Lijiang Source Grand Canyon is located at the foot of the Mao'er Mountain Scenic Area, the pinnacle of southern China. It has beautiful mountains and clear waters, winding paths and winding paths, and a natural ecology with a primitive style. It has a high content of negative oxygen ions and is a natural oxygen bar. This is the source of the Li River, with clear and delicious flowing water, rich in minerals, and the growth of the national second-class protected animal, the giant salamander. There are more than ten scenic spots in the scenic area, including Yingbin Waterfall, Qifu Pavilion, Fairy Pool, Tea Garden, Bajie Pond, Jiutian Feipu, Longtan, Rhinoceros Back, Swan Lake, dangerous rocks and towering rocks, and Zhongliu Pillar.

Laoshanjie Longtanjiang Scenic Area

Located in Huajiang Yaozu Township, Xing'an County, Laoshanjie Longtan Scenic Area is a national 4A-level Attraction. The Attraction is famous for its clear water, spectacular waterfalls and dense forests. It is one of the birthplaces of the Lijiang River, the mother river of Guilin.

Guilin Mao'er Mountain Scenic Area - Observation Deck

The observation deck at Guilin's Mao'er Mountain Scenic Area, perched atop South China, offers breathtaking panoramic views of three provinces. Ascending here rewards visitors with a soul-stirring sunrise over a sea of clouds—at dawn, the crimson sun bursts through rolling mist, casting golden hues over the deep valleys where the Li River originates, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale. During alternating clear and rainy weather, rare Buddha's halo phenomena often grace the sky; at night, the unpolluted starry expanse dazzles with the Milky Way. To the east, the Li River meanders like a ribbon; to the west, primeval forests veil historic Long March sites at Laoshanjie; northward gaze reveals the Yuechengling mountain range, while southern vistas showcase terraced villages straight from a painting. Nearby stand the Red Army Pavilion and WWII Flying Tigers memorials, etching wartime history into the landscape. Visitors must take the scenic area bus for an early morning ascent, bundled against the cold, ready to embrace this peak adventure blending natural wonders and human resilience amid the mountain's ever-changing weather.

Transcendental Scenic Area·Human Drifting

Nestled among the lush mountains and crystal-clear waters near Guilin, Chaoranpai Scenic Area offers a unique water experience—body rafting. Participants wear professional life-saving gear and float downstream along the natural riverbed of a pristine Li River tributary. The gentle current allows for leisurely appreciation of the karst landscape's towering peaks reflected in the water, while occasional faster sections add refreshing excitement. Unlike traditional rafting, body rafting lets you feel the water's embrace and the rocks beneath more intimately, creating a profound connection with nature. With professional safety measures in place, this activity offers an extraordinary way to reconnect with nature and rejuvenate both body and mind.

Qin Imperial Palace Scenic Area

Lingqu Water Street Scenic Area

Xing'an Scenic Area is located in Xing'an County, Guangxi. With its mild climate, pleasant scenery, fertile land, and abundant local products, it is a comprehensive destination that combines sightseeing, leisure, and eco-tourism. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of Guilin rice noodles here.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Guilin

Elephant Hill Scenic Area

The Elephant Hill Scenic Area is located in the heart of Guilin, at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River. It derives its name from its resemblance to a giant elephant stretching its trunk to drink from the sweet waters of the Li River. In his work "Records of Elephant Hill," Shu Shu, a Qing Dynasty official from the Ministry of Works, wrote: "The marvels of Guangxi lie in its mountains; the marvels of Guangxi's mountains lie in their rocks, and the elephant-shaped hill facing the provincial capital is the most marvelous of all." With its lifelike form, the attraction captivates visitors and stands as a quintessential representation of Guilin's landscape. In 1995, it was designated as the city emblem of Guilin. The main attractions in the scenic area include: Elephant Hill and Water Moon, Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua Liquor, Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Love Island, and Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Yunfeng Temple Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Exhibition Hall. Elephant trunk hill and water moon cave "Elephant trunk hill and water moon" is a spectacular wonder here, as described in the poem by Ji Bei Hermit of the Song Dynasty.Harmony of water, moon and caveThe poem reads: "The moon is beneath the water, the moon floats upon the water. The water flows but the moon stays, the moon departs yet the water still flows." On a moonlit night, visiting the Water Moon Cave at the Elephant Trunk Hill attraction presents a magical scene where the moon in the sky, the cave, and the water reflect each other beautifully. Inside the cave, you can find the "Poem and Preface of the Morning Sun Pavilion" by Zhang Xiaoxiang from the Song Dynasty and works by Fan Chengda.Inscription on the water and moon caveAnd over 50 precious cliff carvings including Lu You's poetry manuscripts. Xiangshan scenic area - Puxian pagoda Winding up along the rocky cliffs, you can see the Puxian pagoda standing tall amidst the greenery from afar. Built during the Ming dynasty, this 13.6m-high solid brick lama-style pagoda has a history of over 400 years. On the northern side of the pagoda, there is a line-engraved bluestone statue of a bodhisattva, with the mantra "Namo Puxian Bodhisattva" inscribed above it, hence the name Puxian pagoda in the Xiangshan attraction. Buddhist scriptures record that Puxian bodhisattva's mount is a six-tusked white elephant, making the pagoda's location atop Xiangshan mountain a perfect embodiment of this scripture. Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua liquor This is a natural wine cellar, with two-thirds of the mountain being hollow. It stays warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining a constant temperature of 19°C and humidity above 90% year-round. Since the Song Dynasty, it has served as an official cellar for storing Sanhua wine. Sanhua wine is colorless and transparent, with a fragrant yet spicy taste. It drawsLi RiverWith the essence of the mountains and the soul of the Li River, it has become a representative of China's rice-aroma liquor. The cellar liquor was designated as a tribute to the imperial court as early as the Northern Song Dynasty and is one of the three treasures of Guilin. To date, nearly a thousand tons of liquor are stored in the caves. Love island Love island is located on the north side of the attraction, adjacent toLi RiverIt is another scenic viewpoint for distant viewing. The island boasts a beautiful environment and lush vegetation, making it a popular dating spot for locals in the 1970s, hence the name "love island". Today, it serves as an outdoor photography base for wedding celebrations against the backdrop of Guilin's landscape, where couples make their vows of love under the witness of the elephant trunk hill and the moon reflected in the water.