By air
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is 30 km west of the city. The airport bus runs to the city centre and to the railway station in about 40 minutes for around 20 yuan; a taxi is 100–130 yuan and takes 40 minutes. There are direct flights from most major Chinese cities, plus seasonal services from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
By rail — and this is where people go wrong
Guilin has three stations and they are not interchangeable. Guilin North handles most high-speed trains, including services from Guangzhou (about 2.5 hours), Guiyang (2 hours), Changsha (3 hours) and Shanghai. Guilin Station (桂林站) is the old central station, closer to the city hotels, with slower trains and some regional services. Guilin West (桂林西) is further out and best avoided unless your ticket says so.
Check which station your ticket names before you book a hotel — arriving at Guilin North and staying near Guilin Station is a 30-minute cross-town trip.
Getting to Yangshuo
There are three ways and they suit different trips. The Li River cruise is the scenic option: four to four and a half hours from Zhujiang or Mopanshan pier, arriving in Yangshuo in the early afternoon. It is the best half-day in the region and the most expensive way to cover 80 km.
The high-speed train to Yangshuo station takes about 40 minutes, but the station is at Xingping, 27 km from Yangshuo town — add a 30–40 minute taxi at the other end. It is fast, not convenient.
The direct bus from Guilin's Qintan bus station takes about 1.5 hours and costs around 30 yuan, dropping you in Yangshuo town. This is what locals use, and for a simple transfer it is the best value.
Getting around locally
Yangshuo is a cycling town: bikes and e-bikes are rented by the day for 30–80 yuan, and the Yulong River loop and the lanes towards Moon Hill are the reasons to have one. Taxis are scarce after dark; DiDi works.
In Guilin city, the two lakes and the Sun and Moon pagodas are walkable, and the karst hills at Diecai and Elephant Trunk Hill are a short taxi apart. A half day covers the city sights, which is why most itineraries treat Guilin as a transport hub and spend the time in Yangshuo instead.