Things to do in Dao County
Explore top experiences
Top 10 attractions in Dao County
Yueyan Scenic Area
Dao County · 17.9km from downtown
Former Residence of Zhou Dunyi
Dao County · 9.3km from downtown
Yongzhou Daoxian Chen Shuxiang Red Culture Park
Dao County · 6.5km from downtown
dao zhou gu cheng qiang
Dao County · 415m from downtown
Elephant Hill Scenic Area
The Elephant Hill Scenic Area is located in the heart of Guilin, at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River. It derives its name from its resemblance to a giant elephant stretching its trunk to drink from the sweet waters of the Li River. In his work "Records of Elephant Hill," Shu Shu, a Qing Dynasty official from the Ministry of Works, wrote: "The marvels of Guangxi lie in its mountains; the marvels of Guangxi's mountains lie in their rocks, and the elephant-shaped hill facing the provincial capital is the most marvelous of all." With its lifelike form, the attraction captivates visitors and stands as a quintessential representation of Guilin's landscape. In 1995, it was designated as the city emblem of Guilin. The main attractions in the scenic area include: Elephant Hill and Water Moon, Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua Liquor, Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Love Island, and Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Yunfeng Temple Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Exhibition Hall. Elephant trunk hill and water moon cave "Elephant trunk hill and water moon" is a spectacular wonder here, as described in the poem by Ji Bei Hermit of the Song Dynasty.Harmony of water, moon and caveThe poem reads: "The moon is beneath the water, the moon floats upon the water. The water flows but the moon stays, the moon departs yet the water still flows." On a moonlit night, visiting the Water Moon Cave at the Elephant Trunk Hill attraction presents a magical scene where the moon in the sky, the cave, and the water reflect each other beautifully. Inside the cave, you can find the "Poem and Preface of the Morning Sun Pavilion" by Zhang Xiaoxiang from the Song Dynasty and works by Fan Chengda.Inscription on the water and moon caveAnd over 50 precious cliff carvings including Lu You's poetry manuscripts. Xiangshan scenic area - Puxian pagoda Winding up along the rocky cliffs, you can see the Puxian pagoda standing tall amidst the greenery from afar. Built during the Ming dynasty, this 13.6m-high solid brick lama-style pagoda has a history of over 400 years. On the northern side of the pagoda, there is a line-engraved bluestone statue of a bodhisattva, with the mantra "Namo Puxian Bodhisattva" inscribed above it, hence the name Puxian pagoda in the Xiangshan attraction. Buddhist scriptures record that Puxian bodhisattva's mount is a six-tusked white elephant, making the pagoda's location atop Xiangshan mountain a perfect embodiment of this scripture. Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua liquor This is a natural wine cellar, with two-thirds of the mountain being hollow. It stays warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining a constant temperature of 19°C and humidity above 90% year-round. Since the Song Dynasty, it has served as an official cellar for storing Sanhua wine. Sanhua wine is colorless and transparent, with a fragrant yet spicy taste. It drawsLi RiverWith the essence of the mountains and the soul of the Li River, it has become a representative of China's rice-aroma liquor. The cellar liquor was designated as a tribute to the imperial court as early as the Northern Song Dynasty and is one of the three treasures of Guilin. To date, nearly a thousand tons of liquor are stored in the caves. Love island Love island is located on the north side of the attraction, adjacent toLi RiverIt is another scenic viewpoint for distant viewing. The island boasts a beautiful environment and lush vegetation, making it a popular dating spot for locals in the 1970s, hence the name "love island". Today, it serves as an outdoor photography base for wedding celebrations against the backdrop of Guilin's landscape, where couples make their vows of love under the witness of the elephant trunk hill and the moon reflected in the water.China · Guilin
Guizailing Jisi Ruins
Dao County · 27.1km from downtown
lian xi gu li
Dao County · 9.1km from downtown
Li River Three-star cruise ship
Basic information about the three-star cruise The Li River cruise has undergone a comprehensive upgrade, setting new standards for high comfort, aesthetics, and personalized service. With star-rated cruises now fully equipped with Wi-Fi coverage and real-time networked security monitoring, these high-tech and safety features cater to diverse traveler needs. The upgrades fully incorporate environmental and cultural elements, showcasing Guilin's quality as an international tourist destination. Layout structure and decoration The three-star cruise has been designed with careful consideration of visitors' sightseeing experience and expectations, implementing strict regulations for cabins, seats, dining table specifications, and deck space per person. While using high-standard materials to enhance visitor comfort, it also provides more activity space. The upgraded cruise presents a new "one cruise, one view" concept that harmonizes with Guilin's magical landscapes, offering visitors an experience of "sailing through paintings, touring within scenery, with beauty both inside and outside the cruise." This creates a lower‑carbon, comfortable, and fantastically beautiful sightseeing experience. The three-star cruise features double-deck cabins and double-deck promenade decks with spacious views, providing at least 0.9㎡ of space per person. The deck is equipped with a sunshade and surrounded by 1.2m-high aluminum alloy safety railings. Meal The three-star cruise ship meals meet the standards of airline or high-speed rail prepared meals, featuring standardized production from a central kitchen and cold chain logistics throughout transportation. After secondary heating, the meals are distributed to visitors, ensuring food hygiene with all tableware being recycled and biodegradable. By implementing unified meal distribution, this approach addresses the emission pollution caused by cooking on older Li River cruises and resolves the frequent visitor complaints about cruise dining quality over the years.China · Lingchuan
Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces are a large-scale terraced group in Guilin. The multiple tiers and curve lines are visually very impressive. The villages are inhabited by several ethnic minorities. There are ethnic minorities such as the Zhuang and the Yao. When you visit the Longji Rice Terraces, the main thing to do is go on foot and take photos. You can also take photos of the local farmhouse and experience the ethnic customs. In addition, sunrise at Longji Rice Terraces is very beautiful and well worth seeing.China · Longsheng
Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area
Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area, with a history dating back over 600 years to the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, was originally built by Zhu Yuanzhang for his grandnephew Zhu Shouqian as a princely city. Today, it is a national 5a-level attraction in guilin, with the solitary beauty peak serving as its iconic landmark. The Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area showcases a harmonious blend of natural landscapes and historical cultural views, embodying the concept of "a city within scenery and scenery within a city." It serves as a microcosm of Guilin, a world-renowned city celebrated for its picturesque landscapes and rich history. The famous saying "Guilin's scenery is peerless in the world," known globally, originates from the stone wall of Solitary Beauty Peak. Encompassing Guilin's three major historical and cultural systems, the attraction stands as a quintessential representation of Guilin's heritage. Entering this scenic area is like stepping through the gateway to Guilin's history and culture, giving rise to the widely circulated phrase: "Guilin's scenery is peerless in the world, and to know Guilin is to explore Prince City." As early as the Southern and Northern Dynasties period, renowned scholar Yan Yanzhi studied and composed poetry at the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak, initiating the literary tradition of the Lingnan region. During the Tang Dynasty, the first official educational institution in Guangxi's history was established here. In the Song Dynasty, Wang Zhenggong engraved the timeless phrase "Guilin's scenery is peerless under heaven" on the peak, which became the city's most representative slogan. The Ming Dynasty saw military strategist Liu Bowen recognizing Solitary Beauty Peak's auspicious location, leading to the construction of the Prince of Jingjiang's Mansion. During the Qing Dynasty, the mansion was converted into Guangxi's imperial examination hall, becoming a major testing center in southwest China that produced 585 jinshi (metropolitan graduates) and 4 zhuangyuan (top scholars), including one who achieved the rare "triple first" honor. In the Republican era, Sun Yat-sen established his Northern Expedition headquarters here. In 1954, Guangxi Normal University relocated to this site. The Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area has not only nurtured exceptional talents but also served as Guangxi's political, economic, and cultural center throughout history. Solitary Beauty Peak Standing solitary in the center of Guilin, Solitary Beauty Peak rises abruptly from the ground as the king of all mountains in the area. Ascending to its summit offers a panoramic view of the entire city of Guilin, embodying the majestic sentiment of "overlooking all surrounding peaks." It has been honored as the "Pillar of Southern Sky." As early as the Southern Dynasties period, renowned scholar Yan Yanzhi praised its grandeur in his poem: "None rivals Duxiu's majesty, towering above the city walls." Solitary beauty peak prince city scenic area The prince of Jingjiang mansion is the best-preserved princely relic in china and serves as the core attraction within the Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area. The prince of Jingjiang mansion museum, also known as the "chengyun hall," was where ancient princes handled administrative affairs. Today, the museum showcases the history of the prince of jingjiang mansion and the transformation of guilin. Visitors can explore through high-tech holographic projections and 3d displays, and even experience the ancient art of rubbing at the "prince mansion rubbing workshop."Solitary Beauty Peak cliff carvings On the cliffs of Solitary Beauty Peak, there are approx. 200 cliff carvings preserved from various dynasties, including the famous ancient saying "Guilin's scenery is peerless in the world". The site also features numerous precious buddha and tai sui stone carvings, as well as the five blessings series which appeared on the 2017 cctv spring festival gala. It is now a nationally protected cultural relic. Secret rubbings of the prince's mansion The secret rubbing technique of the Prince's Mansion has a history of over a hundred years. It is a colored feng shui rubbing craft developed by Zhu Zaojing, the third-generation Prince of Jingjiang, and has now been listed as an intangible cultural heritage. Visitors can experience this ancient rubbing technique here. Learning to create the Prince's Mansion secret rubbings holds significant value for the inheritance and development of Chinese historical culture and folk art.China · Guilin
Experiences you can't miss in Dao County
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What travellers say about Dao County
Arjensha15 November 2024
5.0
worth a visit! a path circles the inside of the sinkhole, the scenery is stunning with two arches opening into the area and the bird song resonating beautifully when you’re inside the mountain. on our visit we had the place to ourselves
Yueyan Scenic Area
风雪太行8 December 2024
5.0
It is worth watching. I took a detour from Yongzhou to visit the former residence of the founder of Neo-Confucianism. Zhou Dunyi's former residence is located in Loutian Village, Dao County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province. Here you can not only visit the Zhou Dunyi Memorial Hall and learn about Zhou Dunyi's growth process, but also see many ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and appreciate the architectural style of these ancient buildings, because there is not only Zhou Dunyi's former residence here, but also the ancient building complex of Lianxi's hometown, a national key cultural relic protection unit. Although it is a bit remote, it is still very cost-effective to be able to visit a national key cultural relic protection scenic spot for free. Especially for friends who like historical figures and ancient buildings, it is tantamount to a visual feast and a spiritual feast.
Former Residence of Zhou Dunyi
renricky24 November 2024
5.0
It is a very worthwhile place to visit. The memorial garden of the martyr Chen Shuxiang, the commander of the "Desperate Guard Division" who "cut his heart to show his determination". I finally came here a few days ago to pay tribute to the martyrs.
Yongzhou Daoxian Chen Shuxiang Red Culture Park
M45***4825 September 2026
5.0
When visiting Guilin, a must-see is Elephant Trunk Hill, the city's iconic landmark. It truly lives up to its reputation as the face of Guilin's landscape; only by seeing it in person can one truly appreciate the wonders of nature. The entire mountain sits on the banks of the Li River, resembling a giant elephant bowing to drink from the water. The Water Moon Cave cuts through the mountain, its reflection shimmering in the water, creating the famous Elephant Trunk Hill and Water Moon spectacle—a flowing ink painting.
The scenic area is clean and comfortable, with walking paths built along the Li River, shaded by lush trees, making for a delightful stroll. You can climb the mountain for panoramic views of Guilin, or find classic vantage points along the riverbank to capture stunning, atmospheric photos. Boat trips are also available, offering a different and breathtaking perspective of Elephant Trunk Hill from the river.
The scenic area is conveniently located in the city center, with excellent transportation and comprehensive facilities. Every step reveals a new vista, allowing you to truly experience the unparalleled beauty of Guilin's landscape. Don't miss it when traveling to Guilin; it's definitely worth a visit.
Elephant Hill Scenic Area
喜多米12 April 2022
5.0
The Guiziling sacrificial site in Dao County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province, is said to be from ancient times when Emperor Shun was buried in Jiuyi after his death during his southern tour, and the sacrificial ceremony continued...
Guizailing Jisi Ruins
德全不危20 October 2026
5.0
The boat was quite large and comfortable, with plenty of space. The scenery outside was also beautiful; I stood outside admiring the view the whole time. It was definitely worth the trip and a must-see.
Li River Three-star cruise ship
Tiff C.20 October 2026
5.0
It’s convenient to purchase a ticket beforehand so you can just show the QR code at the gate. Beautiful rice terraces, definitely worth going to see!
Longji Rice Terraces
曼达81422 October 2026
5.0
It's definitely worth a visit and experience. I didn't expect there to be small group guided tours and explanations. The tour included historical information and hands-on activities, and at the end, you could even climb Duxiu Peak to watch the sunset. Overall, it was a very good experience.
Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area
