How to Visit Elephant Trunk Hill (Tips, Photos & Map)

Elephant Trunk Hill Scenic Area

Standing at the confluence of Li River and Taohua River in Guilin, Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山)is one of the iconic landmarks of Guilin, a big draw for its first-time visitors.

The location of Elephant Trunk Hill (Google Map)

As far as I could remember, many years ago people could come here for a free glimpse of the hill which resembled an elephant drinking water by hist trunk.

Elephant Trunk Hill Scenic Area is recognized by Google Map as “Xiangshan Scenic Area”. “Xiangshan” here literally means “Elephant Hill”.

Xiangshan Scenic Area Address: No.1 Binjiang Road, Xiufeng District, Xiangshan District, Guilin
Tel: 0773-2235151;0773-2800315
Official website: www.glxbs.com
Entrance Fee: Free of Charge ( starting from Jan 31, 2022)

Best Place for a Bird’s-Eye View of Elephant Trunk Hill

So if you are only attracted to a look at the hole in a stone on a river during your Guilin tour, you have a delightful choice to head for the nearby hotel known as Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel 桂林璟象精品酒店 and go up to the roof-top patio for a glimpse of so-called Elephant Trunk Hill over a drink, more relaxing and comfortable. At night the Elephant Trunk Hill looks gorgeous!

Viewed from the roof-top patio at Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel (Image Credit: http://www.jvbhotel.com)

Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel Guilin 5-star hotel
Address: No. 8 Binjiang Road, Xiangshan District, Guilin, China
Tel: 0773-2325888

Today, the 55 yuan entry ticket doesn’t only allow you to have a glimpse of the moon-like hole in the rock hill, but also to hike the whole Elephant Trunk Hill along the stairs of stone steps to the top of the hill for panoramic views of Guilin city.

Folded Brocade Hill is a good alternative for a panoramic view of the city with much cheaper entry fee. But if you still want to invent your time, money and muscle at the Elephant Trunk Hill, well it is not a very bad idea though the entrance ticket is a bit exorbitant and the walk takes much longer time due to the size of the park.

Virtual Tour of Elephant Trunk Hill Park

Follow me to walk though Elephant Trunk Hill Park. There are three entrance gates – No.01, No.02 and No.03. Basically you’d better enter the park through the No.03 Gate which is closer to the hill itself, easier for you to climb up. If you only want to see the hole of the hill, you should go through either the No.01 or No.02 Gate.

Starting to hike up along the stone stairs of steps.

Looking at the west from the hillside, you can see Taohua River.

Looking at the west from the hillside, you can see Taohua River.

Looking at the north, you are able to see the confluence of the two rivers – Taohua on the left and Li River on the upper right.

Taohua on the left and Li River on the upper

Snap some pictures on the summit where you can have clear views of the Li River, karst hills and the city.

The Li River, karst hills and the city

Li River on the south of Elephant Trunk Hill.

Li River on the south of Elephant Trunk Hill.

The apartment blocks below at a distance seen from the top of the hill.

The apartment blocks below at a distance seen from the top of the hill.

You are also able to walk to the north side of the hill on the open top where you have the chance to look at Huo Hill and Folded Brocade Hill to the north of the hill.

Huo Hill and Folded Brocade Hill seen from the north of the hill.

Backtrack after hiking around the hilltop and walk down. Then cross Taohua River along the stone bridge linking the two banks. Continue to walk for a  good spot where you can clearly see the Elephant Trunk Hill protruding from the bank of Li River.

Crossing Taohua River along the stone bridge linking the two banks.

You should walk across the stone bridge linking the two banks of Taohua River and move on to the place where you can clearly see the hole in the rock – Elephant Trunk Hill protruding from the bank of Li River.

Try to locate a good spot for an iconic photo of the hill.

The Elephant Trunk Hill

A group of foreign tourists come afar for visiting the trunk hill.

A group of foreign tourists

Posed like a fishing man, grasping a bamboo pole with two cormorants and putting on a straw rain cap.

Posed like a fishing man

A complete picture of Elephant Trunk Hill.

A complete picture of Elephant Trunk Hill

The park is more attractive to the domestic tourists due to the added entertainment in the park.

The park is more attractive to the domestic tourists.

Tip:  Hassle-free Guilin Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for organized tours to Guilin:

Guilin Tour
Guilin Private Tour
Guilin Group Tour
Guilin Layover Tour
Beijing Guilin Tour
Hong Kong Guilin Tour
Guilin Car Rental with Driver
Guilin Customized Tour

Further Readings


Guilin Tour – Top 10 Things to do Guilin
Best time to visit Guilin
Where to stay in Guilin
Top 10 Guilin Luxury Hotels
Top 10 Guilin Boutique Hotels
Top 10 Guilin Budget Hotels
Guilin Tourist Scams, Tourist Traps in Guilin
Guilin Taxi

How to Visit Elephant Trunk Hill
Folded Brocade Hill (Diecai Hill)
Jingjiang Princes’s City to be Skipped
Stroll around Shan Lake and Rong Lake in Guilin
Yangshuo Taxi: Yangshuo Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones

Li River Cruise
How to Visit Xingping
Impression Liu Sanjie Mega Performance in Yangshuo
Biking through Shili Scenery Gallery in Yangshuo
Yangshuo West Street
Bamboo Rafting on Yulong River in Yangshuo

How to Visit Longji Terraced Rice Fields
Visit Huangyao Ancient Town from Yangshuo or Guilin
Daxu Ancient Town
How to Visit Chengyang Wind & Rain Bridge

Any questions, just drop a line.

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