Guilin's key features are its karst landscapes. Imagine yourself cruising along the Li River, cycling around the Yangshuo countryside, and hiking through the terraced fields in Longsheng.
Guilin is totally worth spending days exploring. However, if you only have limited time and are wondering how to make the most of your days in Guilin, we have some popular Guilin day tour options that may help you decide.
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1. Guilin Classic Li River Day Tour with Yangshuo Countryside Exploration
- Highlights: A 4-star Li River cruise, Yangshuo countryside exploration
- Best for: First-timers, senior couples, families with children, solo travelers
- Duration: 8–9 hours (4–5 hours on the cruise, 1½ hours for biking, 2 hours of transportation)
3-Star Li River CruiseTo make the most of your day in Guilin, this classic route offers a series of features at a comfortable pace: karst hills, river landscapes, rural vibes, and relaxing activities close to nature.
Typically, we suggest taking a 4-hour cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo to fully enjoy the view leisurely, seeing the clear water flowing, and the mountain peaks slowly receding with bamboo groves on the banks.
The 4-star cruise that we arranged usually departs from Zhujiang Wharf (20 miles southeast of downtown Guilin) at about 9am, and arrives in Yangshuo at about 2pm. Then you could feel free to explore the countryside around Yangshuo by bike or electric scooter.
Bamboo Rafting on the Yulong River in YangshuoTravel Tips
If you wanna spend more time in Yangshuo instead of staying on the cruise, go straight to the Xingping/Yangdi Pier in Yangshuo to take a bamboo raft for the most scenic part, the Nine Horses Fresco Hill. This only takes about 1 hour, and you could have more free time to enjoy yourself in Yangshuo.
On our private tour, with your private guide and driver, you can get an efficient Guilin day tour without worrying about how to use the complicated public transportation. You would be in good hands with us, from buying the cruise tickets to renting the bikes.
2. A Hiking Day Trip to the Longji Rice Terraces
- Highlights: Hike through the rice terraces, and visit a local's house
- Best for: Active couples, solo travelers, shutterbugs
- Duration: About 8 hours (including 2–3 hours for hiking and 4 hours of transportation)
The Fall Colors of Longji Rice TerracesTo experience the minority culture and admire the agricultural wonder built by smart ancient farmers, you should spend a day in Longji Rice Terraces. Hiking through the magnificent rice terraces, having lunch by visiting a local's house, and learning about the minority ethnic groups.
This area could be roughly divided into three areas: Ping'an Village, Dazhai Village, and Ancient Zhuang Village. While you could hike from one village to another as you want, we recommend the route between Ping'an Village and Ancient Zhuang Village. It's a 2-hour hike with tranquil, scenic views, and is easy to complete, which is perfect for first-timers.
However, Dazhai Village is more touristy and is usually swarmed with crowds. To ensure your day trip schedule and travel experience without wasting time in lines, it is preferable to choose the hiking route between Ping'an Village and Ancient Zhuang Village.
Instead of taking a group tour, we suggest getting a private tour with an English-speaking tour guide. This day tour would maximize your traffic efficiency between Guilin City and Longsheng County, avoid crowds by time-smart arrangement, and you would get a comprehensive explanation from your professional tour guide.
Recommended Tour
3. One Day in Guilin City Exploration Tour
- Highlights: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Daxu Ancient Town
- Best for: People who are looking for relaxation, layover travelers
- Duration: About 8 hours (including 3–4 hours visiting, and 2–3 hours of driving)
If you don't want to spend too much time on the road, spending a day around Guilin City with us could be a good idea. You don't need to hurry at all since all the attractions are within Guilin City. This tour is specially crafted for travelers who are looking for relaxation after a long journey, as a last stop and layover, and for travelers to view the Guilin scenery leisurely.
The Reed Flute CaveTypically, we would show you around the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill, as they are landmarks of Guilin and must-sees for a spectacular karst landscape.
Elephant Trunk Hill, GuilinTo discover the traditional Guilin residential lifestyle and culture, we recommend touring the Daxu Ancient Town. You would have an authentic experience to stroll around this farmer's market that truly serves the locals for trading.
The Night View of Guilin City LandscapesAfter your day with us, feel free to enjoy some nighttime activities to enrich your day in Guilin City. Take a stroll around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, which is a park-like scenic area, and take a nighttime cruise here if you are interested. Zhengyang Pedestrian Street could be a paradise for foodies in downtown Guilin, where you could easily find Guilin street food and snacks that suit everyone.
However, you could also opt for an evening adventure for foodies with us. Contact us now and all our trips could be customized to your needs.
Traveling to Guilin with Us
Still have no clue about planning a Guilin tour? Looking for a longer itinerary? Let us lend you a hand.
Our tours are designed based on well over decades of experience and feedback from our clients. Feel free to customize the sample tour to your requirements, and we will do our best to meet your needs. Reach out to us now to start your journey.
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