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Aerial view of karst peaks and a winding river near Guilin at sunrise
5 DAYS · LONGSHENG · GUILIN · YANGSHUO

Guilin: magical landscapes

Karst peaks, rice terraces and a private raft down the Li River.

5 days
Guilin round trip
4 nights
Longsheng, Guilin and Yangshuo
Year round
Best in spring and autumn
Minimum 2 
Privately guided throughout
Introduction

A journey through Guilin's karst peaks, off the beaten path.

Guilin is one of China's top tourist destinations, famed for its gorgeous karst formations along the Li River. This journey avoids the crowds, focusing on private experiences and taking the path less travelled.

A treasure of experiences and panoramas await, starting with a stay in boutique hotels among the stunning Longsheng rice terraces, learning about the ethnic minority groups of the region. Cruise the popular Li River in an intimate, private motorised bamboo raft, bike along a quiet section of the river to enjoy the tranquil local villages, and soar above the clouds on a cable car ride to Ruyifeng for a bird's eye view of this dramatic landscape.

More in Southern China →
Route map showing Longsheng, Guilin and Yangshuo in southern China
Highlights

Why advisors choose this journey.

  1. Boutique lodge among the rice terraces

    Stay in a lovely boutique lodge among the stunning rice terraces of Longsheng, with scenic hikes.

  2. Ethnic tribes culture

    Gain an insight into the culture of the ethnic Zhuang and Yao minority tribes.

  3. A private raft on the Li River

    Appreciate the picturesque landscape of the Li River on a motorised bamboo raft.

  4. Cable car to Ruyifeng

    Ascend by cable car to Ruyi Scenic Area for a spectacular bird's eye view of the surrounding peaks.

  5. A bike ride through the countryside

    Enjoy a bike ride in the countryside to experience an authentic rural landscape.

Day by day

Full Itinerary.

  1. LongshengD1–2
  2. GuilinD2–3
  3. YangshuoD3–5

Airport to Longsheng

Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to Longsheng, located in the mountainous region on the north-eastern part of Guilin. The natural beauty and the colourful ethnic minority's cultures and customs attract people from all over the world.

After a 2.5 hour drive (100 km / 62 miles of beautiful mountain roads), arrive at Pingan Village, where your lodge is set at the top of the rice terraces. If time permits, enjoy a short hike around Pingan Village for wonderful views.

Longsheng rice terraces wrapping a mountainside village in mist
Overnight
Longsheng
Meals
Breakfast

Explore the scenery of Longsheng

Visit the Zhuang and Yao minority tribes' village for an insight into the local ethnic minorities. You will enjoy the beautiful terraced rice fields from the summit of Longsheng (Dragon's Backbone). The terraced fields wind from the river at 380m to an elevation of 885m. Enjoy the hiking tours around Pingan village for wonderful views, before leaving for Guilin city (approx. 100 km / 62 miles, 2.5 hours).

Woman of the Zhuang or Yao ethnic minority among harvested rice sheaves

Half-day Guilin tour

Visit Fubo Hill and stroll along the pathways to see intricate carvings and the stone Buddha dating back to the Tang Dynasty. A picturesque Li River view awaits if you climb to the top of the peak. Alternatively, we can take you to the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill, the well-known symbol of the city. In the evening, relax by the Banyan Lake or the night market near your hotel.

Overnight
Guilin
Meals
Breakfast included

Guilin to Yangshuo

This morning, drive 1.5 hours to the pier of Yangdi, then take a motorised bamboo raft (maximum 4 persons per raft) for an unconventionally intimate way of cruising down the picturesque Li River.

This is perhaps the most scenic part of Guilin as you glide past hundreds of limestone peaks, luxuriant green paddies and lovely villages; you are free to make stops along the banks to discover local life in rural villages and scenic areas.

Sun and Moon Pagodas reflected on Banyan Lake in Guilin at night

Ancient towns of Yangshuo

The cruise takes about 1 hour, then a 20 minute buggy ride takes you into Xingping in the afternoon. Spend some time strolling in Xingping old town, a beautiful ancient fishing village. Leave for Yangshuo, with a stop en route in Fuli town, a small old town on the east bank of the Li River famous for painted paper fans.

Then visit Yangshuo, and explore this 900 year old town, today a charming tourist mecca with cafes, shops and restaurants set by the beautiful river.

Optional

Impressions Sanjie Liu

You have the option to enjoy the show "Impressions Sanjie Liu", choreographed by the famous film director Zhang Yimou (at your own expense), with hundreds of dancers performing and using Guilin's beautiful scenery as the backdrop.

Overnight
Yangshuo
Meals
Breakfast included

Yangshuo full-day tour

This morning, we will set off from Yangshuo for a guided biking tour on a quiet trail to visit authentic villages. Along the way, you will see buffalos ploughing and farmers hard at work in the fields, with the mountains reflecting in the water behind them.

Continue biking to the Yulong River. Unlike the busy Li River, it has no motorised boat traffic and relies completely on bamboo rafts to ferry passengers. (A support vehicle will follow the group.)

After the biking trip, continue on an excursion by cable car up to Ruyifeng for a panoramic view of the lush vegetation and dramatic landscapes in the surroundings.

Cyclist on a countryside path near Yangshuo with karst peaks behind
Overnight
Yangshuo
Meals
Breakfast included

Yangshuo to airport

Day at leisure. A private transfer will be arranged to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport for your departure flight.

Bamboo raft with cormorant fishing lanterns on the Li River at dusk
Meals
Breakfast included
Hotel information

Where you will stay.

In Longsheng

2 recommended stays

Longji One Art Hotel

Classic selection · Terrace View Room

A wooden boutique hotel above the Longsheng rice terraces.

We choose Longji One Art for its position directly in Ping'an village, above the rice terraces, rather than a lodge further down the valley requiring extra walking each day. Built entirely in timber with local ethnic decor, it gives a genuine sense of place that larger hotels in the area cannot match, though standards are simple compared with city hotels. We recommend the Terrace View Room for waking up to the terraces themselves.

Good to know
  • Designed by a local artist to blend seamlessly into the Zhuang village fabric.
  • All-timber construction uses local materials to mirror traditional hill-tribe homes.
  • Positioned high in Ping'an, it offers the village's most dramatic sunrise terrace views.
Timber exterior of Longji One Art Hotel above the golden Longsheng rice terraces
Balcony of a Terrace View Room at Longji One Art looking over the rice terraces
Timber-panelled restaurant at Longji One Art with lanterns and local carvings

Longsheng Li An Lodge

Signature selection · Terrace View Room

A nail-free timber lodge overlooking the rice terraces.

We recommend Li An Lodge as the upgrade option in Longsheng for its traditional tongue-and-groove timber construction, built without a single nail, and its mountaintop position overlooking the rice terraces beyond what Longji One Art can offer. We recommend the Terrace View Room for the most direct outlook over the terraces below.

Good to know
  • Photographer Keren Su spent eight years building this nail-free timber lodge.
  • Traditional Chinese tongue-and-groove joinery was used for the entire structural frame.
  • Each of the 16 rooms is uniquely themed, such as the Silk or Calligraphy suites.
Visit hotel website →
Li An Lodge in timber, perched above the Longsheng rice terraces in cloud
Mist drifting over the flooded Longsheng rice terraces seen from Li An Lodge
Twin room at Li An Lodge with Chinese calligraphy panels and timber joinery

In Guilin

2 recommended stays

Guilin Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Classic selection · Club River View Double

A boutique hotel across from Elephant Trunk Hill, along the Li River.

We use Jolie Vue for its position directly opposite Elephant Trunk Hill on the Li River, a rare central Guilin address with that outlook, rather than a hotel set back from the water. The rooftop restaurant is worth timing for sunset, looking across the river to the hill itself. We recommend the Club River View Double for the same outlook from the room.

Good to know
  • The 7th-floor rooftop restaurant provides a 180-degree view of Elephant Trunk Hill.
  • Directly on Binjiang Road, steps from the Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise piers.
  • Contemporary interiors feature local photographic art celebrating Guilin's peaks.
Visit hotel website →
Rooftop restaurant terrace at Jolie Vue looking across the Li River to Elephant Trunk Hill
Club River View room at Jolie Vue with karst peaks framed by the window
Tree-lined street entrance of Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel in central Guilin

Shangri-La Guilin

Signature selection · Deluxe River View Room

An elegant riverside hotel a short shuttle from central Guilin.

We choose Shangri-La Guilin for its riverside setting overlooking the Li River, a step up in scale and consistency from Guilin's boutique hotels, with a complimentary shuttle covering the 15-minute drive into town. We recommend the Deluxe River View Room for the outlook over the water rather than the garden side.

Good to know
  • An 11,000 sqm garden with its own mini zoo and organic farm on the Li River bank.
  • The largest entry-level guest rooms in the city, averaging 42 square meters.
  • The specialized Kids Club and Game Lounge make it a premier choice for families.
Visit hotel website →
Shangri-La Guilin lit at dusk above its reflecting pools and gardens
Deluxe River View Room at Shangri-La Guilin with an ink landscape screen and city outlook
Terraced water gardens and lawns at Shangri-La Guilin with karst peaks beyond

In Yangshuo

2 recommended stays

Yangshuo Resort

Classic selection · River View Double

Overlooking the Yulong River and its backdrop of karst peaks.

We select Yangshuo Resort for its outlook over the Yulong River and the karst peaks behind it, a quieter setting than hotels in central Yangshuo town, useful after a day of sightseeing. We recommend the River View Double for that same outlook rather than a garden-facing room.

Good to know
  • Set on the Yulong River banks, a serene escape from busy West Street.
  • Riverfront lawns provide a prime vantage point for watching the bamboo rafts drift by.
  • Located along the Ten-Mile Gallery road for easy cycling access to the karst valleys.
Visit hotel website →
Timber-framed courtyard wings of Yangshuo Resort beneath forested karst peaks
River View Double at Yangshuo Resort with a large window onto karst scenery
Swimming pool at Yangshuo Resort framed by trees and karst peaks

Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort

Signature selection · Pagoda Lake Suite King

A contemporary resort with local architectural hallmarks by the Yulong River.

We use Banyan Tree as the top Yangshuo option for its suites and villas set beside the Yulong River, built with local architectural details rather than an international template, giving it a stronger sense of place than a standard resort. We recommend the Pagoda Lake Suite King for its outlook over the resort's own lake.

Good to know
  • Design inspired by traditional Hui architecture with white walls and charcoal tiles.
  • Located in Fuli, a town famous for its 800-year history of fan making.
  • Guests can arrive by private bamboo raft or take sunset tea service on the Li River.
Visit hotel website →
Banyan Tree Yangshuo entrance courtyard lit at dusk beneath a karst peak
Karst Discovery Suite at Banyan Tree Yangshuo with a balcony facing the peaks
Bamboo raft drifting past bamboo groves on the Yulong River near Banyan Tree Yangshuo
Official quotation

Rates & what is included.

The indicative cost covers the full journey for the party size shown. The single supplement applies only when one guest occupies a room alone. All rates in CNY.

Classic selection
  • Longji One Art Hotel · Longsheng · Terrace View Room
  • Guilin Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel · Guilin · Club River View Double
  • Yangshuo Resort · Yangshuo · River View Double
Indicative cost per person
CNY 11,500
Single supplement
CNY 3,500
Signature selection
  • Longsheng Li An Lodge · Longsheng · Terrace View Room
  • Shangri-La Guilin · Guilin · Deluxe River View Room
  • Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort · Yangshuo · Pagoda Lake Suite King
Indicative cost per person
CNY 15,500
Single supplement
CNY 6,500

Based on 2 guests sharing twin rooms. Minimum 2 guests to operate. Single supplement added only for single-room occupancy. All rates in CNY.

What's included

  • Accommodation on twin sharing basis in hotel as stated, on bed & breakfast basis
  • All transportation & transfers on an air-conditioned minivan
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • All admissions and experiences mentioned in the itinerary: Longsheng Rice Terraces admission, Fubo Hill admission, Li River rafting, guided biking tour, Yangshuo cable car to Ruyifeng

What's not included

  • International/domestic tickets
  • Lunch and dinner unless stated
  • Drinks with meals
  • Personal consumption: telephone charges, laundry charges, etc
  • Visa
  • Travel insurance
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