Written by Natalia |
We’ve designed 4 perfect Guilin itineraries of 3-7 days to help you get the most out of your time in Guilin. Each has a different travel style and focus.
For a classic natural highlights discovery, a 3-day Guilin trip with a Li River cruise and the idyllic countryside of Yangshuo is the top option. But this is not all Guilin has to offer. If time permits, a highly recommended option is to extend your journey to 4 or 5 days to explore the cascading layers of the Longji Rice Terraces and otherworldly karst caves.
Thanks to the convenient high-speed rail network, many visitors also combine Guilin with nearby Hong Kong, Shenzhen, or Zhangjiajie in a 6-day (or longer) itinerary for a more comprehensive travel experience.
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- 1. Classic Guilin and Yangshuo Tour – 3 Days
- 2. Longji Rice Terraces & Guilin Landscapes Tour – 4 Days
- 3. 7-Day Zhangjiajie & Guilin Highlights Tour
- 4. 6-Day Guangzhou & Guilin Discovery Tour
- Explore Guilin with China Xian Tour
1. Classic Guilin and Yangshuo Tour – 3 Days
- Guilin – Yangshuo
- Highlights: iconic karst landscapes, Guilin’s two most iconic waterways
If you are visiting Guilin for the first time and want to admire the essence of its karst landscapes in less time, this 3-day Guilin itinerary is for you.
The two most iconic waterways in Guilin are included: the picturesque Li River will introduce you to breathtaking karst wonders and locals’ riverside life, and the traditional bamboo raft on Yulong River is a more intimate experience and offers scenery from another perspective.
After exploring the bustling Yangshuo West Street, enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the idyllic countryside.
Spend your night watching the Impression Sanjie Liu show. Directed by Zhang Yimou, it is said the world’s first large-scale outdoor performance set against a real natural landscape.
The Route at a Glance
Day 1: Guilin arrival, free time for you to explore Guilin
Day 2: Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (3.5-4 hours), Yangshuo West Street, bike ride through Yangshuo’s countryside, Impression Sanjie Liu show (around 70 minutes)
Day 3: Traditional bamboo rafting along Yulong River, departure
Tips to Enrich Your Tour
Optional options and experiences to make your Guilin trip more enjoyable:
- If you’re up for hiking, consider adding another 1 or 2 days to trek through the Longji Rice Terraces.
- A wide range of immersive experiences is also available in Yangshuo, including photography tours, Chinese cooking classes, Tai Chi lessons, rock climbing, and guided caving adventures. Choose one or two activities based on your interests and schedule.
2. Longji Rice Terraces & Guilin Landscapes Tour – 4 Days
- Guilin – Longji – Yangshuo
- Highlights: Combining iconic karst peaks, spectacular mountain terraces, peaceful rivers and magical karst caves. Well-paced itinerary.
Beyond the Li River cruise and Yangshuo highlights mentioned in the above 3-day tour, this 4-day Guilin itinerary offers a more comprehensive experience. You’ll spend one day in the Longji Rice Terrace Scenic Area, another world-famous highlight of Guilin.
Often praised as the “Most Beautiful Curves on Earth,” Longji Rice Terraces attracts travelers from around the world through its spellbinding scenery. It is home to many ancient ethnic villages. This trip will offer you a unique opportunity to visit the Pingan Village where you can experience authentic rural life and legendary panoramic views such as “Seven Stars with the Moon” and “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers.”
The Route at a Glance
Day 1: Guilin arrival, enjoy your free time
Day 2: Longji Rice Terrace, Pingan Village
Day 3: 4-star Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, Yangshuo West Street
Day 4: Leisure walking along Yulong River, Reed Flute Cave, iconic Elephant Trunk Hill, departure.
Tips to Enrich Your Tour
- Outdoor Adventures in Yangshuo: The unique karst cliffs make Yangshuo a top destination for rock climbing. The Via Ferrata (protected cliff climbing) and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) experience on the river are also popular options for adventure lovers.
- Impression Liu Sanjie Night Show: Directed by Zhang Yimou, this spectacular outdoor performance uses the Li River and the illuminated karst mountains as its backdrop, vividly illustrating local folklore and ethnic culture.
3. 7-Day Zhangjiajie & Guilin Highlights Tour
- Zhangjiajie – Guilin – Yangshuo
- Highlights: Explore China’s two top natural travel destinations in one go.
From dramatic Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie to Chinese-style ink painting like karst landscape in Guilin, this 7-day trip will reward you with some of the most spectacular natural wonders in China.
Spend three days in Zhangjiajie to admire the dramatic sandstone pillars in Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie, which is said to have inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. Experience the famous Bailong Elevator which will lift you 335 meters up a sheer cliff in just 66 seconds. Then, challenge the thrilling Glass Bridge and skywalks in Tianmen Mountain.
Afterwards, a quick high-speed train ride will take you to Guilin for the iconic karst peaks, peaceful rivers and rural life experience.
See the best options to travel between Guilin and Zhangjiajie.
The Route at a Glance
Day 1: Zhangjiajie arrival
Day 2: Tianzi Mountain, Bailong Elevator, Yuanjiajie
Day 3: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, walk across the Glass Bridge, Tianmen Mountain
Day 4: High-speed train to Guilin, free time.
Day 5: Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, West Street
Day 6: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill. Spend your night in Guilin
Day 7: Guilin departure
Tips to Enrich Your Tour
- Exciting optional activities at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: Soar above the canyon in a simulated hot air balloon, challenge zipline ride or cliff climbing, and put on an MR headset to enjoy a visual feast in the flying theater.
- Live performances in Zhangjiajie: Including Tianmen Fox Fairy, Charming Xiangxi, or Zhangjiajie Romance Park (Thousand-Year Love). These shows offer a fascinating insight into local culture and traditions.
4. 6-Day Guangzhou & Guilin Discovery Tour
- Guangzhou – Guilin – Longji – Yangshuo
- Highlights: Guangzhou’s modern and traditional charms, Guilin’s natural highlights & rice terraces
This 6-day Guangzhou and Guilin trip is ideal for those arriving in China via Guangzhou. You’ll have two days in Guangzhou to experience its vibrant metropolitan charm, historic neighborhoods with over 2,000 years of history, traditional architecture and authentic Cantonese cuisine. Then, take a high-speed train to Guilin in just 2.5-3 hours.
If you are starting your journey in Hong Kong, we can also customize a Guilin tour with Hong Kong based on your interests and time. The high-speed train from Hong Kong to Guilin takes only about 3 hours.
The Route at a Glance
Day 1: Guangzhou arrival, enjoy your free time
Day 2: Yuexiu Park, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, Huacheng Square, and Canton Tower
Day 3: High-speed train to Guilin. Stay overnight in Pingan Village in Longji
Day 4: Longji Rice Terrace full-day tour, return to Guilin
Day 5: Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, Yulong River bamboo rafting or cycle around the countryside
Day 6: Return to Guilin, visit Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, departure
Tips to Enrich Your Tour
- Create your own traditional Cantonese crafts: Learn to make your personalized Guangcai (Canton porcelain) artwork in the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall or Yongqing Fang.
- Dim Sum cooking class: Learn to make classic Cantonese dim sum under the guidance of expert chefs at a time-honored restaurant.
- Experience Guangzhou after dark: Take the Pearl River night cruise to soak in the city’s dazzling skyline, and enjoy a visit to the Canton Tower.
- Visit a local company: Guangzhou offers chances to visit some leading enterprises in China, such as TCL or GAC Group.
- Impression Sanjie Liu show in Yangshuo: Spend your night in Yangshuo watching the Impression Sanjie Liu show.
Explore Guilin with China Xian Tour
Guilin is known worldwide for its stunning karst landscapes. But the city is more than just natural beauty. Its vibrant culture and life are equally charming. What makes your journey in Guilin truly memorable are the many authentic details: eating a bowl of rice noodles at a food stall, admiring a stunning sunrise over the karst peaks, meeting warm locals and sharing their smiles, enjoying leisurely walking along the chic West Street…
Each of the 4 Guilin itineraries we provided in this article offers a relaxed pace and rich highlights. If you can’t find one that fits your travel style or want more personalized experiences, please feel free to contact China Xian Tour to customize a journey just for you.
