What Makes This Cave Special?
Guilin is famous for its karst peaks and river scenery, but one of the most amazing places you can visit here isn’t above ground—it’s underground. Reed Flute Cave is one of the largest and most spectacular cave systems in southern China, and it’s been open to visitors for more than 1,200 years. Walking through it feels like stepping into another world—a world of glowing stalactites, towering rock formations, and huge underground chambers that make you feel tiny.
The cave gets its name from the tall, thin reeds that grow all around the entrance. For generations, local people have harvested these reeds to make simple flutes, and even today you’ll hear street vendors playing soft melodies on them as you walk up to the entrance. It’s a nice introduction to the magical atmosphere you’ll find inside.
I’ve been to quite a few caves in China, and I have to say—this one is my favorite. A lot of caves overdo it with bright neon lights in every color of the rainbow, which can feel a bit tacky. But at Reed Flute Cave, they’ve done the lighting really well—soft warm and cool lights that highlight the natural beauty of the rock formations without overpowering them. When you walk in, everything just seems to glow from within.
A Brief History Of The Cave
People have known about this cave for a very long time. The earliest inscriptions left by visitors date back to the Tang Dynasty, over 1,200 years ago. Back then, it was already a popular place to visit for scholars and poets who would come to marvel at the rock formations and write poems about them.
The cave was rediscovered in the 1940s by a group of local farmers who were hiding from bandits inside. After the war, they cleared out the entrance and started guiding visitors through. It really became famous in the 1960s when it started receiving foreign dignitaries—everyone from Richard Nixon to Deng Xiaoping visited here, and you can still see photos of their visits on the wall near the exit.
Geologically, the cave formed over millions of years. Limestone rock is slowly dissolved by slightly acidic water, and over time, that creates these huge underground chambers and passageways. The stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (growing up from the floor) are still growing today—they grow about one centimeter every hundred years, so what you see today took millions of years to form.
How To Get To Reed Flute Cave
Reed Flute Cave is located about 7 kilometers northwest of Guilin’s city center. It’s not too far, and getting there is pretty straightforward:
- By public bus: Bus number 58 goes directly from the city center to the cave entrance. The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs 2 yuan.
- By taxi: From downtown Guilin, it should cost you between 25 and 35 yuan. It’s a 15-20 minute ride.
- By tour bus: Most city tours include Reed Flute Cave as one of their stops, so if you’re on an organized tour, they’ll take you there directly.
- By car: There’s a large parking lot at the entrance, so if you’re renting a car, it’s easy to park.
What To Expect Inside The Cave
The cave is about 240 meters deep, and the total walking path is about 1 kilometer long. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to walk all the way through, depending on how much time you stop to look at the formations. The path is paved and well-maintained, with handrails everywhere, so it’s accessible even if you don’t do a lot of walking.
Every major formation has a name, and the local guides will tell you stories about each one. Some of the most famous ones are:
Lion Welcoming Guests
This is the first big formation you see when you walk in. It’s a large stalagmite that looks just like a lion sitting at the entrance, welcoming you inside. It’s a fun way to start your walk through the cave.
Crystal Palace
This is the biggest chamber in the cave, and it’s absolutely spectacular. It’s over 30 meters high, and big enough to hold hundreds of people. In the middle, there’s a huge stalagmite that looks just like a throne, and it really does feel like you’re standing in the palace of a fairy-tale king.
The Dragon Tree
This formation is amazing—it looks exactly like a giant tree growing up from the floor of the cave, with branches spreading out towards the ceiling. And what’s really cool is that water is still dripping slowly from it, building up the stalagmite even more every year.
Virgin Forest
This is an area with hundreds of small stalagmites all packed together, and it really does look like a forest of stone trees from a distance. It’s one of the most photographed spots in the cave.
Things To Know Before You Go
- Temperature: The temperature inside the cave stays between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius (61-64°F) year-round. That means if it’s a hot summer day outside, it’s going to feel really cold inside. Bring a light jacket or sweater—trust me, you’ll need it.
- Entrance Fee: 80 yuan per adult for adults. Children under 1.2 meters are free. Students get a discount with ID.
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM every day.
- Photography: Photography is allowed, and you don’t need a tripod. The lighting is pretty good, but you’ll want to have your phone or camera set to a higher ISO because it is underground.
- Guides: If you want a guide, they have them available in multiple languages. A guide will really help you appreciate all the formations and learn the stories behind them.
- Accessibility: The path is mostly flat, but there are a few small sets of steps. It’s okay for people with moderate mobility issues, but if you’re in a wheelchair, some parts might be difficult.
Final Thoughts
A lot of people come to Guilin and just spend all their time looking at the mountains and the river from above ground. But if you have time, I really recommend making the trip out to Reed Flute Cave. It’s a completely different experience, and it shows you another side of Guilin’s incredible karst geology that you can’t see above ground.
The lighting is done tastefully, the formations are really spectacular, and it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It’s a great break from the heat if you’re visiting in the summer months, and it’s something different from all the mountain and river scenery you’ll be seeing the rest of your trip.
Most people hit the major spots in Guilin in 2-3 days, and Reed Flute Cave fits perfectly into that schedule. It’s easy to get to, it doesn’t take all day, and it’s really impressive. I think it’s well worth the entrance fee, and I know you’ll be just as amazed walking through it as I was.
