​As a series of environmental protection measures and polices has been implemented in Guilin, the quality of the air environment has continued to improve for five consecutive years.  The air quality index in Guilin is one of the best quality air throughout all of China. The number of days with good air quality in 2018 increased from 250 days in 2014 to 324 days in 2018, making Guilin the only city in Guangxi with an increase in the number of days with good air quality.
 
In recent years, along with the rise of ecotourism, Guilin has also created 8 x large Guilin ecological leisure "top tourist" routes, including:

• One-Hundred-Miles Tour of the East Li River;
• Heritage Tour of Karst Hills;
• Ecotourism Tour of Tea River in Gongcheng County;
• Guilin-Louzou Canal Tour;
• Traditions and Customs Tour of Longji Rice Terraces;
• Danxi Landform Tour along the Zi River;
• Red Tourism of Xiang River in Xing’an County, and
• The Lingqu Canal and Ancient Trails Tour.

These tour routes and ecotourism zones are playing a significant role in the development of top-quality tourism industry in Guilin. 

​Since 2012, the Guilin government has invested 7 billion Yuan (1.017 billion US dollars) for comprehensive management and ecological protection along the Li River and surrounding scenic area.
 
The comprehensive treatment of sewage discharge in the urban section of the Li River has been comprehensively put into action with more than 20,000 tons of pollutant in the Li River salvaged and dealt with on an environmentally-friendly basis, each day.  Moreover, all previous existing quarries along the Li River Scenic Area have been shut down, and ecological rehabilitation with an area of 1.36 million square meters has been completed.  The fishermen who previously lived on the Li River have moved into new houses with compensation provided. Additional Li River Scenic area protection measures include:

• Prevention of cage fish farming in the urban section of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River;
• Removal of all upstream dredging vessels (previously operating along the Minjiang River);
• Stopping all sand dredging with laws prosecuting offenders;
• Purchasing of environmentally friendly, next generation boats including the 4.5 Star Li River Cruise, which utilize less energy/less of a carbon footprint compared to the older vessels.

 
At present, the forest coverage rate around the Li River Basin has reached 80.46%, and compliance rate of the water quality in the river is up to 100%.