International flight bookings to Guilin rose 75% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, making the southern Chinese city one of the country’s fastest-growing destinations among overseas travellers, Trip.com Group (TCOM) said on June 1.
The travel platform promoted the city at its “Guilin Night” event, which it said drew more than 3,500 international guests from 78 countries and regions. The Group’s global ambassador for China travel, actor Jackie Chan, fronted the showcase.
Trip.com Group said the event pointed to a wider shift across Asia, where travellers are favouring slower itineraries, nature-based tourism and cultural immersion over checklist sightseeing.
Guilin is known for its karst mountains, rivers and the cultures of ethnic groups including the Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Dong, whose traditions shape local cuisine, craft and custom.
“Guilin reminds me that travel is not only about seeing famous sights, but about connecting with the culture of a destination,” Chan said.
He named the Li River cruise between Guilin and Yangshuo, the Longji Rice Terraces and Reed Flute Cave among his top experiences. The 600-year-old terraces, ranked third in Guilin sights on the company’s AI-curated Trip.Best list, shift from flooded mirror-like fields in spring to golden expanses at harvest.
Newer attractions include Ruyi Peak, ranked eighth on the list, an aerial park of cable cars, suspension bridges and skywalks over the Yangshuo landscape.
The Guilin Night gala featured workshops on Chinese intangible cultural heritage, including the ancient ball games Cuju and Chuiwan, lantern-making and Zhuang brocade craft, closing with a drone display over the city skyline.
Chan said many foreign visitors saw little of the country. “My advice is simple: don’t rush,” he said.
Tags: China, Guilin, tourism, Trip.com Group, Jackie Chan, slow travel, cultural tourism, aviation
Website callout: Foreign flight bookings to Guilin jumped 75% year on year in Q1 2026, Trip.com Group said, as it promoted the karst-mountain city with ambassador Jackie Chan amid a wider Asian shift towards slower, culture-led travel.