Guilin is a world-renowned destination for its stunning karst landscapes, like traditional Chinese ink painting.
Besides sight "seeing", there are various ways to enjoy yourself while exploring the wonders, such as cruising along the Li River, biking around the countryside, and paddling on the Yulong River.
Touring Guilin is all about scenery and leisure. To maximize your experience in Guilin, we've gathered a roundup of the top 10 things to do for your Guilin vacation.
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- Cruise Along the Li River
- Admire the Golden Dragon Bamboo Rafts
- Climb Up the Xianggong Mountain
- Cycle Around the Yangshuo Countryside
- Hike the Longji Rice Terraces
- Overlook the Elephant Trunk Hill
- Discover the Reed Flute Cave
- Stroll Around for the City View at Night
- Watch the Impression Sanjie Liu
- Pay a Visit to a Local Ethnic Minority Family
1. Cruise Along the Li River to Yangshuo County
Take a Li River Cruise to Enjoy the View- Departure time: Around 9 am
- Estimated duration: 4 hours
Li River is the mother river of Guilin, and this could be the most relaxing way to enjoy the Li River scenery.
There are four types of cruises for you to choose from: 3-/4-/5-Star Cruise, and Xingping Cruise. Among them, the 4-Star Li River Cruise is our most recommended.
The 4-Star Cruises offer the best value for money, not only do they have comfortable seats, but they also provide a buffet lunch to fill your stomach. Tickets are available in the lower cabin, upper cabin, and VIP cabin. We generally provide you with seats in the upper cabin, which is less crowded and more comfortable.
No matter which cabin you are in, the key is to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the deck. Feel free to take some photos and breathe in fresh air on the deck, time flies before you notice you are already arriving at Yangshuo County.
Travel Tips:
If the 4-hour cruise is too long for you, take a private car to Yangshuo County within 2 hours, and tour the most scenic part of Li River by bamboo pipe rafts from Xingping Ancient Town.
The raft tour takes about 1 hour with a cost of around 37 USD/per person, offering a close-up look at nature. However, the outboard motors could be noisy, and the age limit for boards is from six to seventy.
2. Admire the Golden Dragon Bamboo Rafts Cruising on the Yulong River
The Golden Dragon Bamboo Rafts Cruising on the Yulong River, China- Opening hours: 6 pm to 8 pm, every Saturday (adjust to sunset hours)
- Approximate cost: 17 USD/pp
If you stay a Saturday night in Yangshuo County, you would have the opportunity to join in this special night event.
The Golden Dragon Bamboo Raft is made up of 71 bamboo rafts connected in series, winding along the surface of the Yulong River. After sunset, the array of bamboo rafts lit up like a huge golden Chinese dragon, patrolling its territory with fireworks.
This event is held about a 30-minute drive away from Yangshuo County. You need to get to the venue at least 1 hour in advance to secure a better spot. Since each performance ticket is limited to 80 people at the best viewing point (standing on the Yulong Bridge), remember to reserve your ticket weeks before.
Notice:
This event is weather-sensitive and could be canceled due to bad weather or high river levels. And due to the local protection of the natural environment, not every performance will have fireworks.
3. Climb Up the Xianggong Mountain for a Panorama View
Climb Up the Xianggong Mountain for a Panorama View, Guilin- Opening hours: 6 am to 6 pm
- Estimated time: 2 hours
- Approximate cost: 9 USD/pp
Xianggong Mountain is among the top choices to view the Li River along with the karst landscape. The mountain path is paved with stone stairs, which are easy for the elderly and children. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the top of the mountain, which may make you sweat a little.
But it would totally worth it. From the highest observation deck, you could see the Li River falls like a jade belt among the karst mountains, slowly sending bamboo rafts away into the horizon.
Travel tips:
You may have seen the breathtaking sunrise photoshoot from the top of Xianggong Mountain. Indeed, the view is unarguable, but there will be a lot of people at the top of the mountain at this time.
In order to ensure your viewing experience, we need to arrive at the top of the mountain at least 1 hour in advance to occupy a good position to wait for the sunrise, which may reduce your comfort during the trip.
So we recommend that you skip the sunrise period, the scenery of Xianggong Mountain is amazing enough even when it is not sunrise.
As an alternative to avoid crowds, the Damian Mountain could offer similar scenery and is absolutely stunning. However, climbing up could be a lot harder, and you would need a local expert to lead you on the right trail.
4. Cycle Around the Countryside of Yangshuo County
Cycle Around the Countryside of Yangshuo County, Guilin, China- Estimated time: 2 hours
After rural revitalization, the road conditions in Yangshuo have been improved, but rural roads are still relatively narrow. If you want to explore the most authentic rural scenery, cycling could be one of your best choices.
It could be cozy to cycle among the rice paddies, breathe in fresh air, and marvel at villages and fields set among karst hills. Cycling to explore the Shili Gallery Area or simply ride along the Yulong River is the most popular choices. If cycling is not your thing, you could choose a scooter to save some strength.
For more specific cycling route, read on 4 Classic Biking Routes Based on Yangshuo.
Travel tips:
It should be noted that cycling trips are weather-sensitive. Though we can arrange for you to visit by private car, we want to ensure that you have the best possible experience exploring the area.
Therefore, our tour itinerary could be flexible. With your consent, we would flexibly adjust your itinerary to make the best of your time when the weather is bad, and enjoy the cycling on a bright day.
5. Hike the Longji Terraced Fields
The Longji Terraced Fields in Autumn Season, Longsheng County, China- Estimated time: 2-3 hours
- Approximate cost: 18 USD/pp for admission
Longji in Chinese means "dragon's spine". As its name suggests, Longsheng's rice terraces look like huge spine bones as they wind around the contours in tiered bands.
Longji Terraced Fields comprises three main areas: Dazhai Village, Ping'an Village, and Ancient Zhuang Village. You could do a round hike of the whole Longji Area for 2 days, or simply do a light hike for part of it. The route and intensity of the hike can be customized to suit your preferences and physical abilities.
Among all, our top recommendation is a hike from Ping'an Village to Ancient Zhuang Village for 2-3 hours. This route offers stunning rice terraces scenery, flat trails, and quieter experiences. If you don't want to hike, take a cable car tour instead in Dazhai Village, but it would leave very little time to enjoy the view, and the experience is less pleasant on misty days.
Travel tips:
The best times to visit Longji Rice Terraces are from May to mid-June (mirror-like terraces after water fills in spring) and from late September to mid-October (harvest views of golden ripe paddy).
It could be hot to travel in the summer (from June to August), but there is a higher probability of sunny days. Hiking to see the green rice fields is also a great experience.
6. Overlook the Elephant Trunk Hill
The Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin City, China- Opening hours: 7 am to 9 pm
- Estimated time: 1 hour
The Elephant Trunk Hill is the iconic landmark of Guilin city. It is named after the fact that it resembles a giant elephant that draws water from the Li River with its trunk.
The park has been free of admission since 2022, and it could be swarming with people during weekends and holidays.
Instead of being packed in like sardines, we would like to take you to a nearby hotel's rooftop bar. You could leisurely overlook the Elephant Trunk Hill from there, while sipping an icy drink if you like to.
There are other restaurants with scenic views nearby, some of which even offer views of both Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun and Moon Pagodas. Feel free to ask your private guide for recommendations that suit you most.
7. Discover the Reed Flute Cave
The Reed Flute Cave in Guilin City, China- Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm
- Estimated time: 2 hours
Apart from karst mountains, the limestone karst caves in Guilin are definitely worth a visit. Reed Flute Cave is one of the best among all the stunning caves in Guilin, and it is also one of the filming locations for the famous TV series "Journey to the West".
It is filled with numerous stalagmites and strange rock formations that are illuminated by colorful lights. This is when you need to motivate your imagination to associate the stalactites with the lucky names given by locals.
Travel tips:
If you visit there in summer (June to August), you can enjoy the coolness inside the cave. It should be noted that although the cave is paved with stone slabs for easy walking, the condensed water vapor makes the ground slightly slippery, so you need to pay attention to safety when walking.
8. Stroll Around for the Night View in Guilin City
The Sun and Moon Pagodas Glowing at Night, Guilin, China- Estimated time: 1-2 hours
The downtown area of Guilin City becomes vibrant at night. Streets are bustling with foodies, lined with hundreds of restaurants, souvenir shops, and bars. Feel free to savor local delicacies such as Guilin rice noodles, osmanthus cake, and buffalo milk bubble tea.
You could also stroll around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area for a night view. Attractions are lit up by colorful lights, offering a prosperous vibe.
The Sun and Moon Pagodas are a must-see at night. It becomes incredibly beautiful when lit up, and you could see the twin pagodas seem to be nestled together from the Zhiyintai viewpoint.
Travel tips:
If you are tired of walking, take a night cruise on the Two Rivers and Four Lakes water system, and admire the night view leisurely. This may cost you 15 USD for a one-and-a-half-hour cruise.
9. Watch the Impression Sanjie Liu
Enjoy the Night Show Called The Impression Sanjie Liu- Opening hours: Around 8 pm
- Estimated time: 1 hour
- Approximate cost: Varies based on your seat (from 30 to 130+ USD/pp)
The Impression of Third Sister Liu (Impression Sanjie Liu) is a spectacular nighttime show that is mainly staged against the natural backdrop with about 600 performers. You could expect colorful lights and folk songs, all staged on the Li River.
The show is directed by Zhang Yimou, who also directed the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Typically, we would arrange the B1 seat for you, providing good vision and high cost performance.
Travel tips:
The entire performance is conducted in Chinese. If Chinese is difficult for you to understand, you can ask your guide for help, who would gladly aid you in understanding the performance and the real stories behind the scenes.
Please note that the performance may be canceled due to bad weather. Your travel consultant will let you know in advance and will provide you with alternative options.
10. Pay a Visit to a Local Ethnic Minority Family
Pay a Visit to a Local Ethnic Minority Family- Estimated time: 1-2 hours
We believe an authentic travel experience goes beyond visiting the must-see attractions, and includes genuinely connecting with the locals and their customs.
During your trip to the rice terraces, we suggest you visit to a local ethnic family, and let them share their stories and regular lives while teaching you to cook bamboo tube rice or oil tea.
Travel With China Highlights
Still want to know what to do for a Guilin trip? Contact us now to tell your interests and requirements.
We are based in Guilin and know well about the region, from the must-see attractions to the hidden gems. Feel free to customize the sample tour to your requirements, and we will do our best to meet your needs.