Seven Star Park is the largest comprehensive park in downtown Guilin. Locals might think it’s just an ordinary place for a stroll, but for visitors, ¥55 gets you access to ancient stone inscriptions, wild monkey troops, dramatic karst peaks, and spacious lawns. It’s actually pretty good value for money. However, there are a few things you should know before visiting.
🎫 Tickets & Admission
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Adult ticket: ¥55 per person (Seven Star Cave not included). Student tickets cost ¥27.50.
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Combo ticket with sightseeing bus: ¥75 per person. The sightseeing bus alone costs ¥20 per person and allows unlimited hop-on, hop-off rides. You can also call for a pickup.
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Money-saving tip: Book in advance on Xianyu (a secondhand marketplace) for around ¥50, including the sightseeing bus. That’s a better deal than buying the ¥55 park-only ticket at the entrance.
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Free admission: Children under 1.2 meters tall or under 6 years old.
🏞️ Main Attractions
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Guihai Forest of Steles: Explore ancient stone carvings, inscription collections, and stone statues along the sacred path. You can get up close and even touch some of the carvings, rather than just viewing them from behind barriers. History and culture enthusiasts will find this especially worthwhile.
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Wild monkeys: The park’s biggest highlight. There are plenty of rhesus macaques, especially around the Monkey Fun area. One visitor who went in October reported that there seemed to be more monkeys than people!
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Zhaixing Pavilion: Climb to the top for panoramic views of the Li River and downtown Guilin. The scenery is perfect for photos.
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Camel Hill: A distinctive rock formation shaped like a camel, making it a popular photo spot.
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Flower Bridge: A picturesque traditional-style bridge that you’ll see shortly after entering the park.
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Seven Star Cave: An extra-ticket attraction featuring impressive stalactites and stalagmites. The cave stays at around 20°C (68°F) year-round. It’s one of Guilin’s classic caves and worth visiting if you don’t mind paying extra.
How long should you spend here?
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A quick walk around the park: about 1 hour.
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Exploring the hills and watching the monkeys: 2–3 hours.
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Visiting all the main attractions: 4 hours or more.
⚠️ Things to Watch Out For
Is the admission fee worth it?
There are quite a few negative reviews online, mainly because Seven Star Park charges admission while Guilin has many free attractions. However, visitors’ experiences vary considerably. If you’re not interested in history or stone carvings, you might find the park underwhelming. If you enjoy ancient inscriptions and cultural heritage, you’ll probably find it well worth the price.
Monkey safety: The biggest thing to watch out for
The monkeys can be aggressive, so never try to pet them or interact with them at close range. If you’re carrying food, keep your backpack zipped up. When eating, stay away from the monkey groups.
If you choose to feed them, throw the food onto the ground from a distance rather than feeding them directly by hand.
One mother who visited Seven Star Park with her child during China’s National Day holiday had originally gone specifically to see the monkeys. She later shared:
“We came mainly to look for monkeys. We did see a few, but they were so far away that Nuonuo couldn’t see them at all.”
If you want to see monkeys without climbing the hills, head directly to Ezikou Pond inside the park. You can also watch monkeys jumping into the water from a distance near the Mixue Bingcheng shop.
Rock climbing: Read the fine print
The rock-climbing experience costs ¥50 per person. Staff may tell you there’s no time limit, but this means you can take as long as you like to climb a single route. It doesn’t mean unlimited attempts. Once you finish one route, the session ends, and you can’t keep climbing repeatedly.
Be careful after dark
The park isn’t particularly large, but snakes may be present after dark. Try to leave before it gets too late, and stick to the main paths on your way out.
Other minor pitfalls
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The sightseeing bus costs an additional ¥20 per person unless you purchase the combo ticket. Don’t assume the ¥55 admission ticket includes it.
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Entering through the Forest of Steles Museum entrance can lead to an unnecessary detour back to the main gate. It’s more efficient to follow the main road and then head toward the steles.
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Amusement rides inside the park cost extra. The carousel is ¥40, while other rides generally start at around ¥20.
💡 Practical Information
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Getting there: Take bus routes 2 or 57, or Tourist Sightseeing Bus Line 1, and get off at Jiefang Bridge.
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Parking: Parking near the main entrance by Jiefang Bridge is free during the National Day holiday, according to local visitor reports. If no spaces are available, try the Guilin Art Museum across the road, where parking is also reportedly free.
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Combine with Elephant Trunk Hill: The Flower Bridge entrance isn’t far from Elephant Trunk Hill. If you have enough energy, you can visit both attractions on the same day.
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Visiting in November: The osmanthus blossom season will have passed, but the cooler autumn weather is ideal for hiking. There are usually fewer people around, making for a more relaxed experience.