Elephant Trunk Hill: Guilin's Riverside Landmark
Elephant Trunk Hill stands at the junction of the Li River and the Taohua River in Guilin, Guangxi. It is the city's best-known landmark and the image most people carry away from a trip to this part of southern China. The hill takes its name from its shape: a large arch has been worn through the rock at the water's edge, and the remaining stone reaching down into the river looks like an elephant drinking with its trunk.
What You See
The hill itself is small and low, and the walk around it takes well under an hour. The famous view is from the opposite bank or from a boat on the Li River, where the full silhouette of the elephant — body, head and trunk — is easiest to read. The arch beneath the trunk is called Shuiyue Cave, or Water Moon Cave. When the river is calm, the opening and its reflection form a near-complete circle, which is where the name comes from.
On top of the hill sits Puxian Pagoda, a brick pagoda built in the Ming dynasty. It is modest in size but gives a good view over the river and the city rooftops. A short flight of steps leads up to it, and the climb is easy enough for most visitors.
Visiting
The site is a public park, and the grounds are pleasant to walk through — paved paths, old trees along the bank, and benches facing the water. Mornings are quieter and the light on the hill is better for photographs; late afternoon is also good, when the sun comes from behind the viewer on the far bank. In the evening the hill and the pagoda are lit up, and the riverside becomes a popular place for a stroll.
- Location: at the confluence of the Li River and the Taohua River, in central Guilin, walkable from much of the city centre
- Best view: from the opposite bank of the Li River, or from a boat on the river
- On the hill: Shuiyue Cave (Water Moon Cave) and Puxian Pagoda at the summit
- Time needed: about one hour for the park and the short climb to the pagoda
- Good to combine with: a Li River cruise or a walk along the riverside in Guilin
How It Fits into a Trip
Elephant Trunk Hill is usually a short stop rather than a half-day outing.