3-Day Guilin Tour with Longji Rice Terraces & Li River Cruise

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Guilin City Landmarks
   Explore Guilin's Famous Karst Caves And Hills

   Around 8:30 in the morning, your private tour guide will pick you up from your hotel to explore the famous attractions in Guilin.

   Notes: You need to arrive in Guilin the night before; you can either arrange your own hotel or contact our travel consultant to book it for you.

   The first place you'll visit is Reed Flute Cave, a typical karst cave filled with stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, and stone curtains. It has hosted more than 300 domestic and foreign state leaders, earning it the title of "State Guest Cave". Learn from the guide how these stones were 'carved' by water drops over thousands of years.

   Warm Tip: The cave stays around 17–19°C all year, so remember to bring a light jacket and wear non-slip shoes.

   

   Then get a closer look at Guilin’s landmark, Elephant Trunk Hill, which looks like a giant elephant dipping its long trunk into the river. It's a classic karst landscape. Stroll along the path to Love Island, which offers the best view for photographing the whole hill and its reflection. Continue to Water-Moon Cave to see the ancient inscriptions carved on the cliffs.

   An optional visit to Fubo Hill is also available, where you can admire cliff carvings and Buddha statues from the Tang and Song Dynasties and climb to the top for a view of the Li River and Elephant Trunk Hill across the river.

   After the tour, drive you back to the hotel we booked for you to check in.

   Evening Optional Activity: Walk along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, with the karst peaks outlined by lights on both sides. See the Sun and Moon Twin Towers reflecting golden and silver on the lake and enjoy ancient-style buildings and light shows along the way. If interested, you can also take a boat ride to admire the surrounding landscapes from a different angle.

   

   Vehicle

   Breakfast, Dinner

   4-Star Hotel in Guilin
2. Day 2: Guilin to Longji Rice Terraces by Private Vehicle
   Hike Rice Terraces and Experience Ethnic Culture

   A 1.5-hour drive takes you to the Longji Rice Terraces. These terraces were cultivated over 2,000 years ago by the Zhuang and Yao people.

   Follow your guide on a leisurely hike through Ping'an Zhuang Village. After entering the village, the traditional wooden stilt houses will catch your eyes first. You may also see farmers in ethnic costumes working in traditional ways — using water buffalo to plow the fields.

   Walk up to the classic viewpoints "Seven Stars and Moon" and "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" to overlook the rice terraces. If you visit in spring, the terraces filled with water look like shining mirrors; in summer, they appear as a green sea; in the harvest season of autumn, the fields turn golden.

   

   In Huangluo Yao Village, known as the "Long Hair Village," all Yao women have long hair, and some have locks reaching up to 2 meters! It is said that they use rice water for hair care. You can learn about this tradition at the China Long Hair Science and Technology Museum next to the village. Then watch a traditional long-hair dance performance by the villagers at the nearby square.

   After sightseeing, join the locals to make the local specialty, bamboo tube rice. Pack glutinous rice into fresh bamboo tubes and roast them over a fire. When cooked, crack open the bamboo and enjoy its unique flavor.

   Finally, return to your hotel to have a rest.

   

   Vehicle

   Breakfast, Lunch

   4-Star Hotel in Guilin
3. Day 3: Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, Back to Guilin
   Cruise the Li River to Yangshuo and Capture Countryside Scenery

   Today you will take a Li River cruise to Yangshuo, enjoying the real-life scenery behind the saying, "East or west, Guilin's landscape is the best."

   The cruise sails downstream, passing many famous scenic spots. Listen to the guide's introduction and try to count how many horses you can find at the Nine Horses Painting Mountain spot. Near the Yellow Cloth Reflections spot, take photos with a 20 yuan note.

   Your lunch will be served on the 4-star cruise ship. If you like freshwater fish and shrimp, you can order some freshly caught from the river, paired with an ice-cold beer — it really feels amazing!

   

   After disembarking, head to Gongnong Bridge, one of the most photogenic points over the Yulong River. Stand on the span and you’ll see bamboo rafts gliding beneath the arches, with layered karst peaks and open farmland unfolding on both banks.

   Wander along the riverbank to soak in the quiet rural scenery of Yangshuo’s countryside. See vast stretches of rice fields along the footpath, hear the croaking of frogs and the chirping of cicadas, and watch the locals doing laundry or working in the fields, experiencing the slow-paced lifestyle.

   

   The guide and the driver will transfer you back to Guilin for the departure flight or train.

   Special Note: If you need to leave Guilin today, it's recommended that you book a flight or high-speed train departing after 8:30 pm. For a more relaxed trip, consider staying overnight in Yangshuo or returning to the hotel in Guilin.

   Vehicle, Cruise

   Breakfast, Lunch