Discover Li River Guilin To Yangshuo & Beyond!
“Not Your Average Guilin To Yangshuo Li River Cruise!”
A journey through Li River Guilin To Yangshuo to discover China’s breathtaking karst landscape. This region has captivated the world for centuries, with its misty mountains, traditional cormorant fishing, and enchanting rural scenery that epitomizes classical Chinese beauty.
Our Journey: Li River Guilin To Yangshuo & Beyond
| FROM | TO | KM | TRAVEL TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| GUILIN | YANGSHUO | 83 KM | 4-5 HOURS (cruise) |
| YANGSHUO | HUANGYAO | 148 KM | 2 H 00 MIN |
| YANGSHUO | HUIXIAN | 10 KM | 0 H 20 MIN |
| HUIXIAN | DAXU | 30 KM | 0 H 40 MIN |
| GUILIN | LONGJI | 102 KM | 2 H 15 MIN |
Day 1: Welcome to Guilin
- Early Morning: Beat the crowds and marvel at Elephant Trunk Hill as the first light kisses the karsts – the perfect dreamy start!
- Morning: Step back in time at Prince Jingjiang’s Mansion, then climb Solitary Beauty Peak for that jaw-dropping panoramic view over Guilin.
- Afternoon: Wander the charming Ming-Qing lanes of Dongxi Alley and treat yourself to fragrant osmanthus cakes.
- Evening: Glide through the magical Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise – the city’s famous light show will leave you spellbound.
- Overnight: Hotel in the heart of Guilin.
Day 2: Li River Cruise + Yangshuo
- Morning: Transfer to Mopanshan Pier and board your cruise (VIP class) at 9:35 AM. For the next 4–5 hours, lose yourself in the ink-painting scenery: dramatic karsts, misty peaks, the famous Nine Horses Fresco Hill, and the exact view on the 20 RMB note.
- Lunch: Delicious buffet onboard while the masterpiece unfolds around you.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Yangshuo and dive into vibrant West Street – shop, sip, people-watch to your heart’s content.
- Evening: Be mesmerised by the world-famous Impression Sanjie Liu light show – directed by Zhang Yimou, performed on the actual river with the karsts as backdrop. Pure magic!
- Overnight: Hotel in Yangshuo.
Day 3: Huangyao Ancient Town & Sunset Bamboo Rafting
- Morning: Drive to the incredibly preserved Huangyao Ancient Town (2 hrs) – cobblestone streets, 800-year-old banyan trees, and total serenity.
- Late Afternoon / Early Evening: Return to Yangshuo and float gently down the Yulong River on a traditional bamboo raft (6 km, ~1.5 hrs) from Jinlong Bridge – golden sunset light on the karsts is simply unforgettable (pro tip: waterproof bags for your camera!).
- Overnight: Same hotel in Yangshuo.
Day 4: Sky-Realm Karst Panorama
- Pre-Sunrise: Rise early for the short climb up Xianggong Mountain – watch the sun paint the karst peaks and sea of clouds in pink and gold. One of the most photographed spots in China, and you’ll see why!
- Morning: Continue to the lesser-known Grape Town Immortal Terrace for a breathtaking 360° view that will take your breath away.
- Afternoon: Explore the dramatic Cuiping Five Fingers Peak area.
- Sunset: Choose between Wulong Mountain or Sunset Mountain for that perfect golden-hour glow over the fairy-tale landscape.
- Overnight: Same hotel in Yangshuo.
Day 5: Glass Fields at Dawn & Charming Ancient Towns
- Very Early Morning: Journey to the surreal Hui Xian Wetlands (1.5 hrs) and catch sunrise over the mirror-like “Glass Field” – endless reflections of karsts and sky that feel otherworldly.
- Afternoon: Visit peaceful Daxu Ancient Town – one of the four great ancient towns of Guangxi, with Ming-Qing architecture and a relaxed riverside vibe.
- Overnight: Hotel in Guilin.
Day 6: Longji Rice Terraces – Dragon’s Backbone Masterpiece
- Morning: Scenic drive (2 hrs 15 min) to the magnificent Longji Rice Terraces (Jinkeng Dazhai area – the largest and most spectacular section). Hike between villages and let the sweeping curves of the terraces blow you away.
- Afternoon: After tasting a Zhuang minority meal – bamboo-tube rice, spring chicken, and mountain vegetables – return to Guilin (with hearts full and cameras overflowing). Private transfer to Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) or high-speed train station for your onward journey.
“Li River Guilin To Yangshuo & Beyond” – Recommended 6-day itinerary
We handcraft each experience to match your style and budget. Start designing your exclusive China journey today.
Guilin and Yangshuo’s Timeless Beauty
Guilin’s iconic karst landscape formed over 200 million years ago through limestone erosion, inspiring Chinese art and poetry across dynasties.
The Li River, stretching 83 kilometers from Guilin to Yangshuo, has been a vital transportation route for centuries and is featured on the 20 yuan banknote for its breathtaking scenery.
Yangshuo evolved from a quiet market town to a significant trading post during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), with its 1,400-year-old West Street becoming China’s first foreign-friendly pedestrian zone.
The region showcases rich cultural heritage through millennium-old cormorant fishing traditions and Zhang Yimou’s Liu Sanjie light show, which celebrates local ethnic minority cultures.
Guilin (桂林)
Known as “Forest of Sweet Osmanthus,” Guilin is world-famous for its stunning karst landscape where limestone peaks rise like sentinels along the winding Li River.
With over 2,000 years of history, Guilin served as the Ming Dynasty’s Jingjiang Princes capital. The city’s natural beauty has inspired countless Chinese artists and poets, with its misty mountains and clear waters embodying traditional Chinese landscape painting.
Explore the region via Li River cruises, visit Reed Flute Cave, climb Elephant Trunk Hill, or witness traditional cormorant fishing. Don’t miss local specialties like Guilin rice noodles and Li River beer fish, completing your experience in this picturesque destination.
Guilin Highlights
Discover Karst Peaks China’s Paradise, where dramatic limestone cliffs rise above serene rivers. Explore Guilin’s timeless beauty, from winding waterways to vibrant local culture, and let us design your unforgettable escape.
Li River
So PICTORESQUE!
Cruise along this river surrounded by majestic karst mountains and scenes of rural life that have inspired Chinese artists for centuries.
Reed Flute Cave
GEOLOGICAL WONDER
Explore this magnificent 180-million-year-old cave adorned with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, illuminated by colorful lights.
Elephant HILL
iconic landmark
Visit Guilin’s most iconic landmark where a natural limestone formation resembles an elephant drinking from the Li River.
CORMORANT Fishing
ancient techniques
Witness cormorant fishing, where local fishermen use trained birds to catch fish, a practice dating back over a thousand years.
Yangshuo (阳朔)
Nestled among dramatic karst peaks along the Li River, Yangshuo presents some of China’s most breathtaking landscapes that have inspired traditional art and modern photography. With over 1,400 years of history, its West Street (Xi Jie) became China’s first foreign-friendly pedestrian zone.
The surrounding countryside reveals authentic rural Chinese life against a backdrop of mystical limestone formations. Visitors can enjoy bamboo rafting, rock climbing, and cycling through villages, while experiencing cultural heritage through traditional cormorant fishing and Zhang Yimou’s spectacular “Impression Liu Sanjie” light show.
Yangshuo Highlights
This serene haven captivates with its timeless landscape, inviting the travelers to explore its beauty and immerse in a ink-like painting.
West Street
OLD STREET
Experience China’s oldest foreign-friendly pedestrian zone, a vibrant 1,400-year-old street blending traditional architecture with international influence.
Bamboo Rafting
LUSH Scenery
Drift peacefully along the Yulong River on traditional bamboo rafts, surrounded by spectacular karst formations and lush countryside scenery.
Impression SHOW
living art
Witness Zhang Yimou’s outdoor light show using the natural landscape as a backdrop, with hundreds of performers creating a magical experience.
Moon Hill
Panoramic views
Visit this iconic natural arch in a limestone peak offering unique photography opportunities of the surrounding countryside.
Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
Journey along the Li River through one of China’s most stunning landscapes, where dramatic karst peaks rise from emerald waters—a scene that has inspired Chinese artists for centuries.
This 83-kilometer Li river Guilin to Yangshuo cruise showcases rural China with grazing water buffalo, traditional cormorant fishermen, and villages nestled among mountains.
The 4-5 hour trip, featured on the 20 yuan banknote, offers its most spectacular views between Yangdi and Xingping, where the river winds through impressive limestone formations.
Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
Golden Dragon Bridge to Jiu Xian
This serene 5-kilometer journey drifts through the heart of Yangshuo’s dreamlike countryside aboard traditional hand-poled bamboo rafts. Glide past emerald rice paddies, ancient waterwheels, and limestone karsts draped in lush foliage, including the iconic Camel Crossing Bridge and Xiangui Peak. The route culminates at Jiu Xian village, where moss-clad stone bridges and farmsteads preserve centuries of rural Guangxi charm.
Most enchanting in the soft morning light or late afternoon, the Yulong’s mirror-calm waters reflect the landscape like liquid jade, creating an idyllic scene of timeless tranquility. Free from motorized traffic, this float offers the quintessential countryside escape—where the only sounds are the dip of the pole, rustling bamboo, and birdsong.
Beyond Yangshuo: Huangyao Ancient Town
Located approximately 160 kilometers southeast of Yangshuo, Huangyao dates back over 1,000 years to the Song Dynasty, presenting an authentic glimpse into China’s historic past amid stunning karst landscape.
Highlights:
Ancient Architecture
Explore cobblestone streets, stone bridges, and traditional courtyard homes.
Living Cultural Heritage
Experience centuries-old customs, offering a genuine window into Guangxi traditions.
Natural Surroundings
Admire the contrast between ancient buildings and dramatic karst mountains.
Ancient Towns & Villages along the Li River
Discover historic settlements that preserve centuries of cultural heritage amid stunning natural landscapes.
Xingping Ancient Town
20 YUAN BANKNOTE
A picturesque village with well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, featuring the exact viewpoint depicted on the 20 yuan banknote.
Huixian Ancient Village
GLASS FIELD
Huixian Village is a hidden gem of rural Guangxi, with well-preserved Ming-Qing architecture, framed by stunning karst landscapes.
Daxu Ancient Town
MING MAsterpiece
Dating back over 1,000 years, this historic market town features a remarkably preserved 2km-long flagstone street lined with traditional buildings.
Cuiping Village & Hill
Breathtaking vistas
Famous for its stunning panoramic viewpoint atop Cuiping Hill, offering breathtaking vistas of terraced fields surrounded by limestone karsts.
– Beyond Guilin: Longji Terraced Fields –
Just a few hours from Guilin lie the breathtaking Longji Rice Terraces, offering some of most spectacular rural landscapes. Dating back over 650 years, these magnificent rice paddies cascade down steep mountains like giant staircases, changing colors with the seasons.
Ping’an Village
Home to the Zhuang ethnic minority, this traditional wooden village offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding rice terraces.
Dazhai Village
Inhabited primarily by the Red Yao minority women, offering the most dramatic terrace views at “West Hill Music” and “Golden Buddha Peak”.
ancient Longsheng
A historic market town serving as the gateway to the terraced fields, where visitors can experience longsheng rice terrace China’s wonder.
Tiantou Village
Perched high among the terraces with wooden stilted houses clinging to the mountainside, offering extraordinary “Thousand Layers to Heaven” viewpoint.
Table Of Contents
Your Journey Includes:
Considering the customizable nature of your trip, please regard the following as indicative and subject to modification based on your preferences. What will be included will ultimately be clearly specified in the Travel Services Contract prepared specifically for your travel experience:
- Private Transfers & Transportation
- Private airport transfers at the start/end of the trip
- Private vehicle and driver for all major overland journeys outlined in the final itinerary / Rental vehicle for self-drive trips, including insurance coverage
- Major train journeys
- Domestic flights and related taxes
- Guide/Coordinator & Activities
- Dedicated English-speaking guide/coordinator
- All entrance fees and activity costs per itinerary
- Accomodation
- Hotels based on availability and your preferred travel style (double occupancy)
- Daily breakfast
- Travel Support & Equipment
- In the case of an independent trip, remote support from the Ink Voyages Team throughout the duration of your journey
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags) where applicable
- Support for setting up the main Chinese apps required for traveling in China
Your Journey does not include:
Considering the customizable nature of your trip, please regard the following as indicative and subject to modification based on your preferences. Anything not included will be clearly specified in the Travel Services Contract prepared specifically for your travel experience:
- Chinese tourist visa (can be required for some foreign passport holders – See our dedicated section “Tips&Tools – VISA Guidelines”)
- International flights and related taxes
- In the case of a self-drive itinerary, fuel costs and tolls
- Excursions/activities beyond the planned itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Travel/medical insurance (See our dedicated section “Tips&Tools – Travel Insurance)
- Meals and dining expenses
- Gratuities for guides and drivers (at your discretion)
- Any items/services not specified in “Your Journey Includes”
