Transit passengers from 53 countries including the US, Canada and all members of the EU can spend up to 72 hours in Guilin without a visa. This visa-free policy allows foreigners from these 53 countries with visas and plane tickets to a third country to transit through Guilin for those 72 hours. Below is a suggested itinerary for a 3-day trip.

Day one: get a feeling for the city

On your arrival, you can choose Jingjiang Princes' Palace – China's other Forbidden City -- or one of Guilin's landmarks, the Elephant Trunk Hill, to be your first local destination.

Jingjiang Princes' Palace sits in the center of Guilin and has a longer history than Beijing's Forbidden City. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

It was built in the 14th century for Zhu Shouqian, great nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During its 257-year-history, it was home to 14 kings from 12 generations.

Today the site is occupied by Guangxi Normal University, but it remains open to the public as a popular tourist attraction combining aspects of Guilin's natural beauty, history, traditional architecture and local culture.

Elephant Trunk Hill, on the other hand, is located on the western bank of the Li River. It has been a famous tourism destination since the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The hill looks like a giant elephant dipping its trunk into the river. There are not only many spectacular natural scenes around the hill, but also some ancient constructions such as Puxian Pagoda, Yunfeng Temple, and Sarira Dagoba.

At night, take a lakeside walk and feel free to enjoy the night scenery of the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, the round-the-city water system composed of Lijiang River, Peach Blossom River, Ronghu Lake, Shanhu Lake, Guihu Lake and Wooden Dragon Lake.