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.

Fubo Hill, Guilin: Map & Visitor's Guide (2026)

65m karst hill rising directly from the Li River — climb for the river view, see 'Returning Pearl Cave' and Tang Buddha carvings.

At a glance

What it is: Outdoors
Also known as: 伏波山 (Fúbō Shān)
Opening hours: 6:30 AM – 6 PM
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Best time to visit: Morning paired with Elephant Trunk Hill
Getting there: Metro to the door
English: Some English signage
Cards accepted: Cash only
Entry: Walk-in — no booking
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi
Address: Binjiang Road, Diecai District, Guilin · 桂林市叠彩区滨江路

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.

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).

Photos

A serene view of the Li River with karst mountain backdrop and boats in Yangshuo, China.

Discover the breathtaking aerial view of karst mountains and lush countryside in Guilin, Guangxi, China.

What travelers say (5 reviews)

Hannah K.·TripAdvisor·5/5

Visited Fubo Hill on our Guilin stop and it became the highlight. Came for Li River from above, stayed for the atmosphere.

2025-08-29

Chris B.·Google Maps·4/5

Solid pick for any Guilin itinerary. Don't expect to climb a karst hill rising directly from the Li River bank — see the river curving away below your without some patience for crowds.

2025-07-11

Megan F.·TripAdvisor·4/5

Solid pick for any Guilin itinerary. Don't expect to climb a karst hill rising directly from the Li River bank — see the river curving away below your without some patience for crowds.

2025-12-15

Lisa T.·Google Maps·5/5

Wow — Li River from above alone is worth the trip. Loved how you climb a karst hill rising directly from the Li River bank — see the river curving away below your.

2025-09-27

ChinaVlogger·YouTube·5/5

Stunning. Li River from above blew me away — bring extra phone storage, you'll want a photo of everything.

2026-03-31

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.