Grandest China Rivers
If you would like to enjoy the natural beauty of China in a relaxing way, this tour would be a great choice. You will see the two grandest rivers in China, which have different styles of scenery: If the magnificent Yangtze River were a handsome and powerful man, the Li River would be a beautiful and charming girl.
Marvel at nature's hilly harmony and rustic charm when cruising the Li River, and admire the force of nature and Chinese endeavor when cruising the Yangtze.
Make this private, customizable 6-day Guilin and Yangtze River cruise tour your own to enjoy the most celebrated river-wrought magnificence in China.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Enjoy the Epitome of Chinese Landscape Paintings
Experience the world-famous karst formations of Guilin — Chinese painters' classic muse. Cruising along the Li River is just like sailing in a painting gallery.
Explore the Most Beautiful Countryside in China
Enjoy a bike ride in the idyllic Yangshuo countryside with the peaceful rivers, rice paddies, and limestone hills.
Witness the Magnificent Gorges and Super Projects of China
Tour the once-treacherous-and-taxing-but-now-tamed-and-tranquil middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Admire the multi-record-breaking Three Gorges Dam.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Beijing trip 2025
Great tour! Jennifer, our tour guide, was outstanding. She always made sure we understood everything related to each monument we visited. more
Jun 2025, Beatriz C
|
Great trip
Lily was an amazing guide, knowledgeable and friendly and the trip was easy and stress free. We had a great time in Beijing, thank you! more
Jun 2025, YL
|
Amazing and Effortless Experience Overall!
China Highlights is totally legit and they planned our visit in Beijing perfectly, they were also great with being flexible to meet our unique needs and timelines, with multiple changes on the fly. Our guide in Beijing, William, was amazing as well! William was friendly, kind, thoughtful, funny, and also was great at keeping us on track timing-wise (as we didn’t make this particularly easy for him lol). Cannot recommend both China Highlights and William to anyone else looking to visit China for the first time! more
Jun 2025, jamesrkable
|
Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
On your arrival in Guilin, your personal guide and driver will meet you at the airport.
Explore an amazing limestone cave in the afternoon. Enjoy the amazing stalactite and stalagmite shapes dissolved by water for millions of years.
Take a picture of the landmark of Guilin, Elephant Trunk Hill before checking into your hotel on the shore of a pretty lake with two pagodas on it.
Enjoy a 4-hour cruise on the Li to Yangshuo. The limestone hills, bamboo trees, water buffalos, and fishermen on their rafts will make you feel like you are sailing in a traditional Chinese painting.
Check in to your hotel in the peaceful countryside of Yangshuo after the cruise. Your guide will show you around by bike to enjoy the beautiful Yulong River and the rice paddies with backed by the charming limestone hills.
Drive back to Guilin. On the way, you will visit Xianggong Hill for amazing views of the Li River and the incredible sea of dragon-tooth peaks around it.
Catch the bullet train to Chongqing in the afternoon (about 5 hours). Your local guide in Chongqing will pick you up at the train station and then transfer you to the pier and help with boarding.
Take a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City in the morning. There are many buildings built according to traditional Chinese geomancy and statues and artwork reflecting Chinese people's imaginations of the netherworld.
Enjoy the cultural activities on the ship in the afternoon and a night show — War Fires of the Three Kingdoms (optional) after dinner.
If you are interested in Chinese calligraphy and history, the optional excursion to White Emperor City is a nice choice. There you can see the scenery that is printed on the back of a 10-yuan banknote and appreciate stones with calligraphy inscriptions dating back centuries.
Cruise through the spectacular Qutang Gorge and the magnificent Wu Gorge at noon time
Enjoy a shore excursion to Shennv Stream in the afternoon, where you will take a boat to discover this tributary of the Yangtze River, with its clear water that runs southwards through deep and narrow gorges.
Enjoy the Crew Cabaret and Talent Show after dinner on the ship.
Disembark in the morning, and then join the shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Getting access to a platform by the dam, you will enjoy the magnificent scenery of this super project and the Yangtze River.
You will be transferred to the Yichang Cruise Terminal in Yichang city. Your private guide and driver will wait for you there and will transfer you to the airport or railway station in plenty of time for your onward journey.
Note: The shore excursions in the itinerary are arranged by Century Cruises. They could vary depending on the cruise you choose.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Price Includes: