Plan at a glance
The city waterway and ways to explore it
The Two Rivers and Four Lakes route links the Li and Taohua rivers with Rong, Shan, Gui, and Mulong Lakes through central Guilin. You can walk along the banks or take a boat; the lakeside walks are free, while cruises are ticketed by route and departure.
How much time to allow
Allow 1–2 hours for a walk in the city, then decide whether to continue toward Mulong Lake. Recent schedules list the Night Cruise on Two Rivers and Four Lakes at about 90 minutes and the Night Cruise of Four Lakes at about 50–60 minutes. Piers, directions, and departure times change, so follow the confirmed details on your ticket.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Bridges, an old city gate, and the pagodas
Start by viewing the Sun and Moon Pagodas from around Shan Lake, then walk toward the Ancient South Gate and the Twin Banyan Bridges by Rong Lake. If you have more time, continue toward Mulong Lake and the old city wall. The shoreline works well as a series of short walks, with stops at bridges, gardens, and waterside views before you return to the city streets.
See more of the waterway by boat
A cruise is a good option if you want to walk less and see several stretches of the waterfront in one trip. The Night Cruise on Two Rivers and Four Lakes usually takes about 90 minutes and runs one way between Xiangshan Fisherman’s Wharf and Wenchang Bridge Wharf. The Night Cruise of Four Lakes takes about 50–60 minutes and returns to Riyuewan Wharf. The routes cover different areas and use different boarding and landing arrangements, so choose based on your available time and where you want to finish.
Build your day
A short lakeside walk
Start by Shan Lake, view the pagodas, then follow the shore toward Rong Lake and the Ancient South Gate. Stop by the Twin Banyan Bridges or another nearby section of the bank, then leave from the city-center side. This walk suits visitors focused on the lakes and old city gate. To include Mulong Lake, add another stretch along the water and use a map to plan your return to the city.
Extend the walk or take a cruise
For a longer walk, continue north from Rong Lake toward Mulong Lake and the old city wall, then return to the city by a nearby road. Allow 1–2 hours; there is no single required gate or fixed loop. For a cruise, check the route and the boarding and landing piers on your ticket: the run from Xiangshan Fisherman’s Wharf to Wenchang Bridge is one way, while the Four Lakes route returns to Riyuewan Wharf.
Connect with nearby sights
If you want to add Elephant Hill to your walk, see the Elephant Hill guide for its gates and hill paths, and allow separate time for the visit. For the pagodas’ history, access rules, and interiors, see the Sun and Moon Pagodas guide. Seeing the towers from a boat or the lakeshore does not include entry inside them.
Get there
Navigate by pier or landing point
There is no single entrance for a lakeside walk. You can use Riyuewan Wharf, the Ancient South Gate, or the Twin Banyan Bridges as a map destination, then join the waterfront path that suits your plan. For a cruise, navigate to the pier shown on your confirmed ticket. Night cruises commonly run one way between Xiangshan Fisherman’s Wharf and Wenchang Bridge Wharf; Four Lakes cruises commonly return to Riyuewan Wharf.
Buses and city connections
The lakes are all in the city, but there is no metro. The official daytime Four Lakes ticket information lists buses 99, 10, and 100 to Central Square, followed by a walk of about 10 minutes to Riyuewan Wharf. For other piers, use the location on your ticket and check live maps for current bus routes and stops. A taxi can take you to the pier shown on your ticket; for a walk, join the waterfront from the city center.
Know before you go
Departures, piers, and ticket requirements
Schedules change by date, and the boarding or landing pier for the same route may vary by departure time. Water levels can also affect service. The official real-time ticket page currently requires a mainland Chinese resident ID card and a mainland mobile number for online purchases. If you are traveling on a foreign passport, ask the scenic area in advance which ticket channel, ID, and boarding checks you can use; board at the pier shown on your ticket.
Walking by the water at night
After dark, stay on the paths and bridges, and watch for steps, the water’s edge, and passing e-bikes when taking photos. The lakeside can be slippery after rain. With older adults or children, shorten the walk or choose a cruise after confirming the pier and return point.
Pagoda visits and ticket coverage
Viewing the pagodas from the bank, entering the towers, and taking a lake cruise are separate activities. A cruise ticket covers the route and piers shown on the ticket. If you want to enter a tower, check the Sun and Moon Pagodas guide for the day’s opening status and ticket arrangements.