Elephant Trunk Hill 2026: Free Entry, Timed Slot & the Best Photo Spot

Elephant Trunk Hill is Guilin's city emblem, a karst hill shaped like an elephant drinking from the Li River. Learn the free timed-slot rule and the best angle for foreign visitors.

Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山) is the limestone hill whose arch over the Li River looks exactly like an elephant dipping its trunk to drink. It is Guilin’s official emblem and the easiest headline sight in the city centre, a short walk south of the main drag.

Intro: why go

You will not spend long here, but the shape is unmistakable and the riverside setting is lovely at golden hour. The “elephant” is best seen from across the water near the Li River Folk Customs Garden, where the full silhouette lines up. For many visitors this is the first real taste of Guilin’s karst the moment they arrive.

Tickets & booking

Entry is free, but a real-name timed-slot reservation is required through the official WeChat account “桂林市象山景区.” One phone number can book up to three visitors. Foreign passport holders reserve with their passport number on the same channel. Visitors aged 60 plus holding a Chinese ID may enter directly; everyone else should reserve at least a day ahead in peak season, since the free slots are capped daily. Park hours run roughly 7:00 to 21:00.

How to get there & in-site route

The hill sits about 2 km south of the city centre, on the west bank of the Li River. A taxi or the metro plus a short walk gets you there. Enter the park, follow the path to the river’s edge, and cross to the opposite bank for the classic full-elephant photo. Budget one to one and a half hours with the walk and photos.

Facilities

There are toilets, a small cafe and souvenir stalls near the entrance. The paths are flat and easy. Card and mobile payment both work; carry some cash for the smallest stalls.

Best season & seasonal pros and cons

Spring and autumn offer clear light and comfortable temperatures. Summer is hot but the riverside breeze helps. Winter is cold and grey, with few crowds. The October holiday brings lines for the slot, so go on a weekday if possible.

Tips & scams

Ignore anyone selling “fast entry” or “elephant photo” packages outside; entry is genuinely free with the slot. The best photo is from across the river, not inside the busy entrance, so cross the footbridge before you shoot.

Page last reviewed: 2026-10-18. Ticket seasons and crowd seasons are different things — this page states both where they differ.