The city centre is compact enough to walk or cycle. Bicycles can be rented cheaply from most guesthouses and many street shops. Taxis are affordable and plentiful, though drivers rarely speak English — have your destination written in Chinese. A new metro system opened in 2021 and connects the main train stations with the city centre.
For Yangshuo, the most scenic option is the Li River cruise (departing from Zhujiang Pier, about 25 km from Guilin city). Buses also run from the central bus station to Yangshuo in about 70 minutes and are much cheaper.