Guilin

Guilin offers the world's most iconic karst landscape, drawing over 50 million visitors annually—more than 40 million more than #8 Lijiang. The limestone peaks rising above the Li River have inspired Chinese ink painters for centuries and remain breathtaking in person. A Li River cruise covers 83 kilometers of towering formations, providing views unmatched by any other city on this list. Guilin’s scenery is 20% steeper and denser than the average karst region, making it a top pick for photographers.