Guangxi · 3-4 Days

Guilin & Yangshuo: China\'s Most Beautiful Landscape

The 20 RMB note view, a Li River bamboo raft through karst peaks, and cycling through Yangshuo\'s rice paddies — this is the China you imagined.

Route Overview

Duration
3-4 days
Route
Guilin → Li River → Yangshuo → Longji Rice Terraces
Budget
\$300-500/person

Guilin\'s karst landscape — limestone peaks rising vertically from flat rice paddies — is the most reproduced image of China. It is on the 20 RMB note. It inspired generations of Chinese landscape painting. And it genuinely looks like the photos. The classic route is simple: Guilin city as the entry point, the Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4 hours through the heart of the karst), 2 days exploring Yangshuo\'s countryside by bike and bamboo raft, and an optional day at the Longji Rice Terraces.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Guilin

Fly into Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL). Guilin city itself is a pleasant small city with two lakes (Shanhu and Ronghu) connected by the Li River. Visit Elephant Trunk Hill (the city symbol, ¥55), walk around the Sun and Moon Pagodas on Shanhu Lake, and explore the night market on Zhengyang Pedestrian Street. Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) for breakfast tomorrow — this is the city's signature dish.

Local tip: Elephant Trunk Hill is ¥55 and takes 30 minutes. It is fine but not worth the price. Instead, walk the Binjiang Road promenade for a free view of the river and the karst peaks. The real Guilin experience starts tomorrow on the Li River.

Day 2: Li River → Yangshuo

Option A: Take the 4-hour Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (departs 9am, arrives 1pm). The boat passes through the heart of the karst — peaks named 'Nine Horses Fresco Hill', 'Yellow Cloth Shoal' (this is the 20 RMB note view), and 'Mural Hill'. Option B: Drive to Yangdi (1 hr from Guilin) and take a bamboo raft from Yangdi to Xingping (90 min, ¥120/person) — this covers the most scenic section and avoids the large tour groups. From Xingping, take the 40-min bus to Yangshuo. Evening: West Street (Xi Jie) for dinner and bars.

Local tip: The bamboo raft from Yangdi to Xingping is the better experience — you are closer to the water, the rafts are smaller, and the scenery is the best section of the river. Each raft takes 4 people. If you are alone or a couple, you may need to wait for others to fill the raft or pay for the empty seats (¥50/seat).

Day 3: Yangshuo Countryside

Rent a bicycle (¥30/day) or e-bike (¥60/day) and cycle into the Yangshuo countryside. The classic loop: Yangshuo → Aishanmen → Gongnong Bridge → Moon Hill → Baisha → Yulong River → Yangshuo (25 km, 3-4 hours). You cycle through rice paddies with karst peaks in every direction. Stop at Moon Hill (¥15, 800 steps up a natural limestone arch) for the panoramic view. Afternoon: Yulong River bamboo raft (¥200/raft, 90 min) — this is the quieter, more intimate river compared to the Li. The rafts here are actual bamboo (not motorised PVC) and poled by a boatman.

Local tip: The Yulong River bamboo raft is better than the Li River raft — no motors, just a boatman with a bamboo pole. The stretch from Jinlong Bridge to Jiuxian is the best section. Go before 10am or after 3pm to avoid the midday crowds. Wear shoes you can get wet — there are small weirs the raft slides down.

Day 4 (optional): Longji Rice Terraces

Day trip from Guilin or Yangshuo to the Longji Rice Terraces (2.5-hour drive). The terraces were built by the Zhuang and Yao minorities over 600 years and look like dragon scales wrapping around the mountains. Two main viewpoints: Ping'an (the classic view, easier walk) and Jinkeng (larger, more dramatic, accessible by cable car ¥100 round trip). Visit one — both is too much for a day trip. Return to Guilin for your flight out.

Local tip: Longji is best May-June (flooded terraces reflect the sky) and September-October (golden rice ready for harvest). The Yao women at the entrance will offer to carry your bag up (¥50) — they are genuinely helpful and the income supports their village. You can hire one even if your bag is light.
Practical Info

Planning This Route

Getting There

Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) has direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and major Chinese cities. High-speed trains from Guangzhou (2.5 hrs, ¥140), Shenzhen (3 hrs), and Hong Kong (3.5 hrs). Guilin has two train stations — Guilin North (桂林北, for high-speed trains) and Guilin (桂林, for regular trains).

Where to Stay

Guilin: near Shanhu Lake or the city centre ($25-60/night). Yangshuo: West Street area is central but noisy; stay on the outskirts near the Yulong River for quiet ($30-80/night). The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat on the Yulong River (¥400-800) is the best value for riverfront rooms.

When to Go

April-June and September-November. The Li River is at its best after rain when mist clings to the karst peaks. Avoid July-August (hot, humid, crowds) and Chinese New Year (prices double). The Longji Terraces are most photogenic in late May (flooded) and late September (golden harvest).

Want a custom China itinerary?

We work with a licensed Guangzhou travel agency to build personalized routes — whether it's your first time in Beijing, an off-the-beaten-path Silk Road trip, or a Xinjiang small-group tour with a local guide.

No obligation. Just tell us your dates and interests — we'll send you a free proposal within 48 hours.

Ready for the next step?

Here's what to sort out next for your China trip.

Richard Du
Chinese native, based in the UK. 50+ trips back to China. I build tools to make sure your first 48 hours are magical, not a logistical nightmare.