Hong Kong West Kowloon – Guilin West by High Speed Train

Table of Contents

By direct train or make a transfer

There are 3 daily high speed trains running between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Guilin West Railway Station (GuilinXi), taking around 4 hours. You can also consider making a transfer at Guangzhou South, which provides you with more train options, and allows you to arrvie at the centrally-located Guilin Railway Station or Guilin North Station. 

How far is Hong Kong from Guilin: the distance is about 660 kilometers.

Map of Stations & High Speed Rail Route

hongkong-shenzhen-guangzhou-yangshuo-guilin-rail

guilin-train-station-map

Ask Jack

If you have any questions about your Hong Kong – Yangshuo – Guilin travel, you can turn to ask Jack. I’d love to offer help.

1. Hong Kong – Guilin West by direct train, 2 daily

The most effective way to travel between Hong Kong and Guilin is by direct train. As of July of 2023, there are 3 daily direct bullet trains running between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Guilin West Railway Station (GuilinXi). But Guilin West is a bit far from central Guilin, and you’ll have to take a bus to get to Guilin West. For a better route, just see route 2 below.

G320 & G408, G2964  are running from Hong Kong West Kowloon (HKWestKowloon) at  and arrive at Guilin West (GuilinXi), taking 4 hours.

Schedule, Ticket Price & Duration

Schedule last updated June 26, 2023

How to Take a Train from HK West Kowloon

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong, a Singaporean working in HK & ChinaTrain12306 visitor.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depaturesPhotos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depatures

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen). Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen).

2. Hong Kong – Guilin via Guangzhou, more trains

Currently, the best way to travel by train between Hong Kong & Guilin is to go via Guangzhou. That is the route: Hong Kong – Guangzhou South – Guilin North or Guilin Station. You’ll arrive at the centrally-located Guilin Railway Station or Guilin North (Guilinbei) from Guangzhou South. You need to allow 45 minutes at least for making transfer at Guangzhou South.

Photo guide on how to make transfer at Guangzhou South

Sometimes your ticket writes where to check-in at Guangzhou South: Check-in Gate 25A at leve 3. If your ticket has no this, just see the information screen.

When getting off train, just look for this \\\\\\\"Transfer\\\\\\\" sign which directs you to go upstairs to Level 3, where to look for your check-in gate.

This "Transfer" sign directs you to go upstairs to Level 3, where to look for your check-in gate.

this "Transfer" sign which directs you to go upstairs to Level 3, where to look for your check-in gate.

Just go upstairs.

When entering the gate, you need to show your two tickets (your previous trip and next trip) to the station staff (It depends). Then, they will let you come in.

After entering, see the information screen to look for which is the right check in gate for your connecting train.

Then, go to your check-in gate (A6 OR 7A)

Then, go to your check-in gate (B6 OR 7B)

After checking-in, you will go downstairs again to level 2, where your train is awaiting for you.

As you can see above, 22 trains from Guangzhou South are arriving at Guilin North (Guilinbei), and only 4 are arriving at the Guilin Railway Station in city center.  So, Guilin Railway Station is the best one for your arrival or departure station.

guilin-north

guilin-train-station-map

But if you are departing from or arriving at Guilin North, you can take bus 1, 100 to get to the central Guilin (Guilin Train Station).

How to Buy Tickets

Where to Buy Tickets

At station: You can buy tickets at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station or any train stations (Guilin Station, Guilin North or Guilin West) in Guilin.
At HK West Kowloon Station, there are 23 ticket windows and 39 self-service ticket machines for passengers buying tickets. If buying at tickets window, it accepts payments of Hong Kong dollars, China RMB, Octopus cards and credit cards. If buying at self-service machines (Not accept foreigner’s passport), it accepts WeChat Pay, Alipay, ApplePay, Samsung Pay, etc. Buy you can only buy no more than 10 tickets at the machines.

Book online: It is not possible to use China’s official rail booking site www.12306.cn as it is in Chinese and only accepts China banks card. Thus, you can turn to use a trusted online ticket agent China Highlights http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/, who has English version train schedule and will buy tickets for you once tickets are released online. The agent can help you select a window seat or aisle seat and even deliver tickets to your hotel. They will charge you service fee or delivery fee. You can place your order any time with them.

When to Book Tickets

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

Yes. As both Guilin and Hong Kong are popular tourism cities, train tickets on this route will be in great demand. It tends to sell out quickly (If tickets sell out, you can consider making at transfer at Guangzhou). So, it will be advised to use a ticket agent http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/, who will buy tickets for you once tickets are released.

Buy Online

If you are outside China, and want to buy tickets in advance online, you can turn to use an online ticke agent. Below are two trusted ticket agents who get positive reviews and recommended often on Trip Advisor:

• Buy at www.chinahiglights.com/china-trains/ (Sharon offers help)
• Buy at http://www.china-diy-travel.com/en/ (Promo code: ct123. Helen offers help)
• Service time: 24/7 hours Payments: Paypayl, Visa, MasterCard, Alipay, etc

Or you can also use Hong Kong MTR offical site to buy tickets:

• Buy ticket at Hong Kong MTR site (both in Chinese and English)
• Check train timetable
• Check train fare

How to take a train from Guangzhou South

arrive-guangzhou-southIf your train is from Guangzhou South to Zhuhai, you don\'t need to go to the leavel 3. Just at level 1 to find your train.

escalator-to-waiting-areaTake this escalator to get to level 3, the waitting area.

guangzhou-south-station-waiting-areawaiting area of Guangzhou South

How big is Guangzhou SouthGet a feel on how big Guangzhou South is.

information-boardFind which check-in gate is for your train on the screen board. It offers English version.

check-in-gateCheck-in gates B11 and 10B

find-your-trainAfter boarding begins, you just have your tickets checked. Then take the escalator down to find your train.

vibrant-express-to-hongkong-at-guangzhou-southThe Vibrant Express to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station stopping at Guangzhou South Railway Station.

How long in advance should I book the tickets?

Tickets go on sale online 30 days in advance, so you can buy tickets 30 days ahead of departure. But you can place order more than 30 days in advance if using a ticket agent.

Hong Kong – Yangshuo – Guangzhou Rail Route Planning

There is only 3 daily high speed trains linking Hong Kong with Guilin, but no direct trains linking Hong Kong and Yangshuo. So if you want to design your travel to cover Hong Kong, Guilin and Yangshuo, you will have to make a transfer at Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Here are the best rail route planning:

From Hong Kong to Yangshuo to Guilin: Take a high speed train from HK West Kowloon Station to Shenzhen North (HK – Shenzhen North – Yangshuo) or Guangzhou South (HK – Guangzhou South – Yangshuo) first, then connecte to a high speed train to Yangshuo Railway Station. From Yangshuo Train Station, you need to take a bus to Yangshuo Town.

• HK to Guangzhou by train & Guangzhou to Yangshuo by train (14 daily, 2h25) – recommended
• HK to Shenzhen by train & Shenzhen to Yangshuo by train (1 daily, 2h42)

After exploring Yangshuo, you can take a bus from Yangshuo to Guilin. When returning, you can take the high speed train from Guilin West Station to HK West Kowloon Station.

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.

Book a Train

Option 2: Trip.com  is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc

Book a train