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Guilin airport to the city: the right bus makes a difference
The city airport bus is worth considering for Guilin station or Civil Aviation Mansion hotels, with an adult reference fare of CNY20. For an onward train, distinguish Guilin, Guilin North and Guilin West. Guilin station is on the city route, while North and West use a separate service; the wrong bus means an extra cross-city journey.
Finding the bus at Terminal 2
- After baggage collection, find the airport-bus counter beside Door 6 on the first-floor arrivals level of T2.
- Show your hotel’s Chinese address or the complete station name on your train booking.
- Board outside Door 6 and establish your stop before leaving. The city bus uses a stop near Guilin station rather than taking you into the railway concourse.
Published fares and useful journey times
| Journey | Published fare | Journey information |
|---|---|---|
| Airport → central Guilin | CNY20 per person | 40–50 minutes to Jinjiang Metropolo; 50–60 to Civil Aviation Mansion |
| Airport → Guilin West | CNY30 per person | About 60 minutes on the road |
| Airport → Guilin North | CNY30 per person | About 80 minutes on the road |
| Civil Aviation Mansion → airport | CNY20 per person | About 60 minutes |
| Guilin station → airport | CNY20 per person | About 50 minutes |
Use these bus fares and road times as a planning reference, then confirm your departure at the ticket desk. The North/West station service costs CNY25 towards the airport, so the outward and return fares differ. Add baggage collection, waiting and railway security to the driving time.
Choose the stop for your hotel
The airport’s mobile guide lists about 40–50 minutes to Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel near Guilin station and 50–60 minutes to Civil Aviation Mansion. It advises allowing 80 minutes in rush-hour traffic. The separate sightseeing connection through Elephant Trunk Hill and East-West Alley is marked suspended, despite older airport pages showing central attraction stops. For those hotels, plan a short onward taxi or hotel transfer from the ordinary city route. Jinjiang Metropolo is described as about 150 metres from the railway station, with a further walk to its entrance.
With several travellers, compare all the bus tickets plus the last connection against one vehicle quote. A taxi or reserved transfer is convenient for a hotel away from the route, substantial luggage or a late arrival. Enter the full address when getting a price. A central-Guilin quote is not automatically valid for Yangshuo or Longji.
Evening arrivals and the return trip
The city route’s published afternoon arrangement uses rolling departures after 15:30, normally leaving within 40 minutes of the first passenger boarding, or when full at busy times. Its late-flight provision does not apply to every airport route. For a late arrival bound for Guilin North or West, use the station route only if a suitable departure is actually on sale; otherwise take a signed airport taxi or an arranged vehicle.
For the airport-bound city bus, the Civil Aviation Mansion sells tickets at the hotel front desk and boards outside. Guilin station has its own bus sales point in the forecourt. Allow the published road time, your airline’s reporting margin and extra room for traffic. The arrival bus stop is not necessarily the departure stop for your flight home.
Frequently asked questions
Do Guilin and Guilin North use the same fare?
No. The CNY20 city bus stops near Guilin station; the airport-to-North service is separately listed at CNY30.
Can I use the airport bus directly to East-West Alley?
The airport’s mobile guide marks the sightseeing connection suspended. Plan an onward local ride from the ordinary city route unless that connection is sold again for your date.
Can an evening flight connect to the last train from Guilin North?
Calculate from the time you can leave arrivals. Add the bus wait, roughly 80 minutes on the published North route and railway entry, or price a direct vehicle; flight touchdown is not bus departure.