Yao Mountain / Mount. Yaoshan

Location: No. 6 Jingjiang Road, Qixing District, Guilin, in the eastern suburbs of the city and approximately 8 kilometers from downtown.

Opening Hours: 08:30–18:00 year-round Ticket sales and admission end at 17:00.

Transportation: Visitors may hire a private vehicle or take Bus Routes 24 or 13 to Jingjiang Royal Tombs Station, followed by an approximately 1.3-kilometer walk.

Best Time to Visit: Suitable year-round. In spring, azaleas cover the mountainsides; summer brings lush greenery; autumn features fragrant maple leaves and chrysanthemums; and occasional snowfall can occur in winter.

Introduction

Yaoshan is the highest mountain within Guilin’s urban area. Its main peak rises to 909.3 meters above sea level, with a relative elevation of 760 meters. It is often described as follows: “Without reaching the summit of Yaoshan, one has not truly seen Guilin.” The mountain offers an excellent panoramic view of the city.

The Yaoshan range winds around Guilin like a jade necklace. It became well known as early as the Zhou and Tang dynasties because a temple dedicated to Emperor Yao was built on its summit. From the top, the surrounding peaks resemble a magnificent Chinese landscape painting; on misty and rainy days, the scenery looks like a classical ink-wash masterpiece.

Yaoshan is currently a national 4A-rated tourist attraction and a Guilin demonstration site for civilized scenic tourism.

Main Highlights

● Yaoshan Cableway: This is Guangxi’s first tourist sightseeing cableway and the only cableway facility in Guilin’s urban area. Designed and manufactured by the Beijing Institute of Lifting and Transportation Machinery, the system uses domestically produced detachable grip technology. It is 1,416.18 meters long, with a vertical drop of 423.3 meters, and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Guilin’s landscape.The cableway underwent a comprehensive renovation at the end of 2023 and began trial operations on September 28, 2024. The former open chairlift was replaced with enclosed transparent cabins featuring an automatic detachable-grip system. The one-way journey was shortened from 22 minutes to 8 minutes. New attractions at the summit include flower fields, a rainbow slide, swings, a rooftop café themed around A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, and a popular “Sky Mirror” photo spot.

● Summit Panorama: From the summit, visitors can enjoy expansive views of the Li River winding through the landscape and the surrounding karst peaks. The summit is also an excellent location for photographing sunrise and sunset.

 ●Jingjiang Royal Tombs: A group of Ming Dynasty tombs belonging to the Jingjiang princes is located at the foot of the mountain. The site is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level and offers an opportunity to learn about the history of Ming Dynasty feudatories.