The Wonder of Limestone and Granite
9-Day Guilin and Huangshan Photography Tour
This tour is specially designed for photography lovers and professionals. Experienced photography guide will lead you to the impressive Guilin landscapes and the famous Li River. Take photos of oddly-shaped rocks and the sea of clouds among Yellow Mountain's hills.
Tour Highlights
- Specialized English-speaking guide with professional photography experience
- Attractions around Guilin that only serious travelers and shutterbugs can find
- The picturesque scenery and idyllic life around the Li River
- Photograph wide-angle panoramas of the sea of clouds in West Sea Grand Canyon
- Visit charming ancient villages with traditional Chinese architecture and everlasting stories left behind
About China Highlights
Since 1998 we've guided everyone ranging from US presidents, Australian Geographic and retired backpackers. Our goal is to create unique trips that take you off-the-beaten path, helping you discover China in a more authentic way. Our motto: "Discovery Your Way!"
Explore Guilin by Bike
We had 4 amazing days with China highlights in Guilin. Our Guide Steven made it a perfect experience! It was definitely one of our most memorable trips we ever had and thanks to China highlights and our guide Steven everything went so smooth that we didn’t have to worry about anything - perfect holiday! more
Suggested Itinerary
Upon your arrival in Guilin, a comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel. Your guide will help you check in.
Longji rice terraces are a sight not to be missed when visiting Guilin. They are one of the most impressive man-made wonders in China, built into steep mountainsides.
Longji is about 2½ hours' drive from Guilin. Firstly, you will head to Dazhai Yao village, one of the most beautiful areas around Guilin. Upon your arrival, first have lunch in a local farmer's restaurant. After lunch, take pictures of local Yao people and learn how to make local oil tea and bamboo cooked rice.
Later head to Ping'an Zhuang village, in where you will stay overnight. Have a taste of photographing the fields. You'll snap the marvelous terraced fields from all angles, with local minority houses dotted around. In late afternoon, your guide will show you the way to the Jiulong Wuhu (Nine Dragons and Five Tigers) , an ideal place for overhead views of the rice terraces and photographing the sunset.
Longji Rice TerracesIf the weather condition allows you to shoot the amazing sunrise, you will get up early to shoot this incredible sunrise scenery. You will get some photos of magnificence with mist-shrouded mountains. The large-scale rice terraced fields with the sunrise is stunning.
In the afternoon, head to Yangshuo and take photos at Fuli Bridge, a bridge with an over 600-year history. At the upper reach of the Yulong River (Meeting Dragon River), photographers can get some photos of Fuli Bridge across the river surrounded by Guilin's karst landscape.
Fuli Bridge on the Yulong RiverThe early bird catches the worm – be up before dawn to capture the sunrise! It will be a 20 minute climb up Xianggong Mountain to photograph the breathtaking sunrise at the place where Li River runs as a right-angled bend..
Sunrise at Xianggong HillIn the afternoon, you will be driven to Xingping Ancient Town to get another photography highlight: the rose sunset (pray for a cooperative weather) and the evening a fishing scene on Li River, with a bamboo fishing boat, a cozy gas lamp, an experienced fishing man, and several ospreys.
Li River Sunset and FishermanContinue to collect sunrise photos or misty-morning photos around the Li River. You'll be taken to the dock in Xingping. Enjoy the beautiful, peaceful river, as you take a ferry to sunrise spots nearby, for some fantastic photos of the sunrise. This stretch is one of the most spectacular on the river, incorporating the 20-yuan banknote view.
Sunrise in XingpingAfter breakfast, your guide and driver will transfer you to Guilin airport to take flight to Huangshan. Your local tour guide and driver in Huangshan will meet you in the airport and then transfer you to your hotel .
Today you stay overnight on the Yellow Mountains. It takes about one hour from central Huangshan City to reach the foot of the Yellow Mountains. To save time and strength, we will arrange the Yuping Cable Car to go up (15 minutes) the Yellow Mountain.
Visit Tianhai Scenic Area, take photos of Greeting Guest Pines, Lotus Peak, Turtle Peak and many other nameless peaks.
The cloud sea of Yellow MountainGet up early to Bright Top to take pictures of sunrise. Located in the middle of the Yellow Mountains, Bright Top is one of the main peaks. It is the second highest peak at about 1,860 meters above sea level.
After breakfast, visit West Sea Grand Canyon, which is good for photographing stone forest and the sea of clouds. The U-shaped Grand Valley is 12 kilometers long, with a maximum altitude difference of 400 meters. It is the most precipitous site with the most original natural view. Stone forests are everywhere and the walking distance is so long that it is a favorite destination for backpackers.
The West Sea CanyonIn late afternoon, visit Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion for the Sunset.
Today get up early again to continue to collect sunrise photos of the Yellow Mountains. Visit Beginning-to-Believe Peak and nearby many other peaks of Beihai Scenic Area.
After breakfast, go down the mountain by Yungu cable car, transfer to Hongcun village. With a history of over 800 years, this charming village will show you the original Hui style architecture (a type of traditional Chinese architecture) and everlasting stories left behind.
Hongcun VillageTrip Notes
1.The Best Time to Photograph
Guilin: The prime time for photography in Guilin is from May to October. During these months, the daytime is longer and the light is good, and temperatures are hot or warm. November to February is the low-water season and air is not very transparent.
Huangshan: The Yellow Mountains is suitable for photography all year round, with seasonal beauties. The following recommended time will add more color to your photos:
March to April: Yellow rape flowers start to bloom in spring. The mountains are decorated with red azaleas; the hills are covered by green tea plants and golden blooming yellow rape flowers.
September to October: On the way to the Yellow Mountains, you can see fields filled with golden chrysanthemum. The mountains are dazzled with the changing colors of the plants of the fall season.
December to March of the following year: The top of the Yellow Mountains will be covered with snow and ice from time to time in winter. The mountains turn into a winter wonderland and it's the best time to photograph the seas of clouds.
2.About the Guide
Our guides are local and experienced, who also good at photographing . They know Guilin and Huangshan Scenic Area just like their own backyard. Based on your strength and weather, our guide will show you the best route for sightseeing and inform you the dangerous parts during the tour. During different seasons of the year, the best position and angle for taking photos vary with the height of the sun. Your guide will show you the best time and locations.
3.The Weather
The weather plays a very important role in a photography tour. Your guide is flexible, and can make appropriate changes based on the weather, after a discussion with you. If you encounter some bad weather for photography, your guide will try his/her best to take you to the place best suited to the weather conditions.
4. Reminder—about the Yellow Mountains
West Sea Grand Canyon, Celestial Capital Peak, and Lotus Peak usually close from December to March of the following year due to the snowy weather. The guide will adjust the itinerary to cover other highlights to make the most of your time.
Price Per Person in US Dollars
| Nov.1 - Mar. 31 | 4-star |
|---|---|
| 2-5 People | $2,079 |
| 6-9 People | $1,369 |
| Apr.1 - Oct.31 | 4-star |
| 2-5 People | $2,149 |
| 6-9 People | $1,439 |
Note: The above prices are not applicable to Chinese National Holidays.
Tour Price
Price includes:
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