Elephant Trunk Hill

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Jan.-Dec.
06:30-22:00
75 Low Season
Jan.-Dec.
07:30-21:30
75 Address & Phone at the west bank of Li River, Guilin. Transportation Take bus No.2, 16, 23, 33, 57, 58 or sightseeing bus No.1 and get off at Xiangshan Park. Notes It is free at night.

Reputed as one of Guilin's most recognizable landmarks, Elephant Trunk Hill is shaped like a huge elephant drinking from the river with its trunk. Unlike other misshapen lumps of rock with tenuous names, it is extracted from Chinese myth.

Located at the southern end of Guilin where the Li River and the Taohua River converge, Elephant Trunk Hill owns a charming flavor in sunrise and sunset beyond imagination. Covering an area of 118,800 square kilometers, it belongs to the typical karst landform. With an elevation of 200 meters, the hill towers 55 meters above the water measuring 108 meters in length and 100 meters in width.

Originally named as Li Hill, it is also called Yi Hill and Chenshui Hill. It is composed of pure limestone deposited 360 million years ago. Its peculiarity lies in its shape which indeed resembles an elephant dipping its snout into the Li River.

Legend

Legend has it that a heavenly elephant once came to earth, together with his master the Emperor of Heaven. When they planed to return, the elephant was too reluctant to leave and drinking in the Li River. Consequently, the angered the emperor of heaven who stabbed the elephant where it stood drinking, thus turning it into stone. The cylinder shaped Puxian Pagoda on the top of the hill resembles a handle of a sword which used by the emperor of heaven.

What to Appreciate

The main sceneries in Elephant Trunk Hill include the Water Moon Cave, Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Eyes Rock and the Exhibition Hall of Taiping Revolution Relics. Not far from the Elephant Trunk Hill, there is Kaiyuan Temple where exists the only dagoba since Sui Dynasty.

Water Moon Cave (Shui Yue Cave)

The Water Moon Cave (Shui Yue Cave) is situated between the elephant trunk and the elephant body, which is a semi-circled cave penetrated by water. A full moon will form, connecting with the inverted reflection of the cave in water. This fantastic scene has been praised by many poets and painters.

Puxian Pagoda

Seen from the distance, Puxian Pagoda appears like a handle of a sword penetrating into an elephant’s back which endows it another name, Sword Handle Pagoda. Built in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the cylinder shaped pagoda is a two-storey building with the height of 13.6 meters, surrounded by lush green trees. The north seat of the second floor is inlaid with an image of Bodhisattva Puxian. Located on the top of Elephant Trunk Hill, it is identical to the legends in Asian countries which symbolize peace and happiness.

Wine Cellar

Located in the caves of Elephant Trunk Hill, it is not only the intangible cultural heritage in Guangxi but also the only inheritance to the traditional brewing skill for San Hua Wine. Been retained with the stable temperature of 20 centigrade, this cellar is inviting for wine’s deposit. Each January 14th is the open ceremony of the Wine Cellar which will be held in the Elephant Trunk Hill. At that day, citizens are preferred to queue outside the wine cellar to get the delicate wine.

>>Take a fantastic tour to Elephant Trunk Hill:
2 Days Guilin, Li River & Yangshuo (A)
3 Days Guilin, Li River & Yangshuo (B)
4 Days Guilin, Li River, Yangshuo, Longsheng Holiday
More chioces, see at Guilin Tours.

Guilin Culture