Fubo Hill ('Subduing Waves' — named after a Han-dynasty general) is a 65m karst hill rising directly from the Li River bank in central Guilin. It's smaller than Diecai but more dramatic in placement — the climb gives you a Li-River-from-above perspective rather than Diecai's full-city panorama. Three named features: Returning Pearl Cave (a stalactite chamber at river level), Test Sword Stone (a hanging rock the local general allegedly cleaved with a sword test), and Thousand-Buddha Rock with 200+ Tang-dynasty Buddhist carvings. Entry ¥22 (cheaper than Diecai). Closer to Elephant Trunk Hill — pair the two as a Li-River-shoreline morning, then Diecai Hill in the afternoon for the city view.
Address
Binjiang Road, Diecai District, Guilin
桂林市叠彩区滨江路
Highlights
- Li River from above65m summit view of the river curving through Guilin
- Returning Pearl CaveStalactite chamber at river level
- Thousand-Buddha Rock200+ Tang-dynasty Buddhist carvings
What Chinese travelers actually do here
Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.
- ▸Returning Pearl Cave at river level has a famous 'returning pearl' stalactite — a pendant of limestone hanging from the ceiling that supposedly returns to its original position if struck. Locals tap it; the stone makes a faint bell sound. Watch but don't strike — over-tapping accelerates erosion.
- ▸Test Sword Stone is a hanging boulder that appears suspended in mid-air, with a clean cut at the bottom. Photographs well from below the cut. The historical legend (General Fubo cutting it with his sword) is folklore; geologically it's natural cleaving.
- ▸Fubo Hill is 5 min walk from Diecai Hill and 12 min walk from Elephant Trunk Hill — the three together form Guilin's 'central karst' walking circuit. Visit all three in a morning, then Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise covers them again from the water.
- ▸Photography: bring a telephoto (70-200mm equivalent) for the Tang Buddha carvings — they're often 3-5m above eye level and reward close-detail shots. Wide-angle works for summit panoramas.
- ▸Quieter than Diecai or Elephant Trunk — tour groups skip it because the carvings require Buddhist context many guides don't explain well. Independent travelers benefit from the lighter foot traffic; you'll often have the Thousand-Buddha Rock to yourself.
- ▸Fubo Hill ticket (¥22) is the cheapest of Guilin's three central karst hills. Combined with Diecai (¥30) is ¥52 for both — vastly better deal than Sun and Moon Pagodas climb (¥70).
For foreign visitors
- English service: partial english
- Cards accepted: cash_only
- Booking / entry: not needed
- Best time: Morning paired with Elephant Trunk Hill
- Wi-Fi: free
- Transit access: metro direct
Photos
What travelers say (5 reviews)
Frequently asked questions about Fubo Hill
- How does Fubo Hill compare to Diecai Hill?
- Same Guilin city karst hill concept, different angle. Fubo (65m) rises DIRECTLY from the Li River bank — its summit view is dominated by the river below. Diecai (73m) sits inland — its view is dominated by the city panorama. For a complete picture, do both as a 2-hour morning. If only one, Diecai for the bigger panorama.
- Who was 'Fubo' (the Subduing-Waves General)?
- Ma Yuan, a Han-dynasty (1st century BCE) general nicknamed 'Fubo' ('subduing waves') for his successful campaigns to control Guangxi and Guangdong. Local legend says he 'tested his sword' against the hanging rock here — the cut visible at Test Sword Stone is supposedly from that historical moment. It's folklore, but the rock formation is real.
- Is the Thousand-Buddha Rock worth seeing?
- Yes — 200+ Tang-dynasty stone-carved Buddhist statues on a vertical rock face inside the hill. Some are large (1-1.5m tall) with intact features; others are weathered. Photography allowed. About 15-20 min of slow walking covers the rock face. Comparable in scale to Mingyue Cave at nearby Diecai Hill but with different artistic style.
- How long does the visit take?
- 60-90 minutes for the full circuit: Returning Pearl Cave (15 min) → Test Sword Stone (5 min) → Thousand-Buddha Rock (20 min) → summit climb (25 min round-trip). Don't try to rush below 60 min — you'll miss the carvings.
- What's the best photo angle here?
- Summit looking DOWNRIVER (south) gives the Li River curving away with Elephant Trunk Hill visible 2 km downstream — the iconic 'Li River through Guilin city' shot. Best at golden hour. Wide-angle 16-35mm equivalent works well for the panoramic curve.
