Immerse yourself in the idyllic landscape like an artist swimming in inspiration. Discover quintessential rural China by experiencing the daily life of a local villager. Knock on the doors of an ancient town and hear the residents' old stories. Our spotlight experiences in Guilin will show you another side of China and enrich your understanding of this beautiful country.
Discover the Best-Kept Secrets of the Li River
Duration: 5 Hours
Skip the 4-hour Li River cruise on a boat shared with about 100 tourists. Instead, you will enjoy a private drive in the mountains east of the Li River and see the idyllic scenery along the way. Discover the most beautiful village, which is neglected by the tourists on the cruise boat, and the unique karst formations in the central region of the World Heritage Site.
Starting from your Guilin hotel, you will reach a quiet village on the bank of the Li River after a 45-minute drive. Stop at a pretty pavilion and take some nice photos of the peaks on the opposite side of the river.
Continue to drive up the mountain. Stop at a high viewpoint to get a breathtaking view of the limestone peaks and the river. Then reach a village that has a lake surrounded by limestone peaks. Afterward, get off the main road to drive around the hills covered with orange trees.
Drive among a cluster of limestone peaks. Find the most beautiful village on the bank of the Li River, which could be the last best-kept secret in the area. Have a leisurely walk alongside the river and say hello to the villagers. Touch the old walls of their houses. It is as though you are in a traditional Chinese painting and not just a passerby like the tourists on the boat.
Discover a hidden view on the less-traveled road
Find the most beautiful village on the bank of the Li River
Continue to drive to the famous Xingping 'Ancient Town' to see the most famous views of the Li River, which you can also see on a 20 yuan note.
Be a Chinese Villager
Duration: 2.5 Hours+
Meet the working farmers in the picturesque countryside
Shop as a local villager in the market
Try some dessert loved by locals
Some say that if you want to see the real China, you should go to the countryside. To experience the daily life of the local farmers will let you see what you cannot see in the big cities.
Drive toward the south of Yangshuo to explore the peaceful villages. You might meet someone on his way to the fields with a water buffalo or someone working in the paddy. Enjoy the breathtaking countryside scenery with the rice paddies and the limestone peaks.
Visit an old couple who still live in a traditional house. Learn about their lifestyle and philosophy of living.
After saying goodbye to the villagers, you will continue to drive pass an old ferry along the Li River. The old buildings in the ancient style are the memory of the busy water transportation on the Li River in the past. Then you will take a ferry to Fuli, which is located on the east bank of the Li River. Like the local villagers, you will take a local motorbike taxi to the market.
Your guide will show you around to explain the different types of food and show you the local people's daily necessities. There is a fair there every 3 days. Local people from nearby villages trade there.
Your guide will show you around to explain the different types of food and show you the local people's daily necessities. In this comprehensive market, you will see the real lifestyles of the people living in this rural area of China.
Discover the Folk Culture of South China in Daxu
Duration: 2.5 Hours+
Knock the door of an old man's home in the ancient town
Experience a traditional Chinese Medical treatment
Located 18 kilometers southeast from Guilin, Daxu is an old town along the Li River with some original buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). An important trading port back in its heyday, Daxu Ancient Town is now almost forgotten by the outside world.
Yet something interesting can still be found here: as you walk around this small town, you can find some small traditional Chinese clinics, old residential houses with elegant wooden carvings, and elderly craftsmen still busy with their traditional work.
Let's knock on their doors to discover their lasting stories of Daxu. You can have a chance to experience traditional Chinese medicine, such as cupping therapy, and visit an elderly gentleman's house to see his fun collection of daily-use items that have been used by others over the last two centuries.
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Thank you Lele for your highly extensive level of professionalism and grace.
This was my first trip abroad and I was not sure what to expect. Our tour guide Lele in Guilin was beyond amazing. Lele provided us with extensive knowledge about the culture and its history. Lele was very accommodating and managed our family with ease and grace. Lele took the time to engage with us each personally throughout the trip which made the tour even more meaningful. Lele was always punctual and highly organized during our trip. Simply put, Lele makes it feel as if you are touring abroad with your best friend. You almost forget that you are away from home. Thank you China Highlights for your amazing tour and thank you Lele for your highly extensive level of professionalism and grace. If you have the opportunity to take a trip with this company do not hesitate. It is worth it. more
Apr 2026, Machel O
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Amazing Family Holiday in Guilin!
Although our father had limited mobility, Chase and our driver were very kind and ensured that he still had opportunities to enjoy the beautiful scenery with us, organised transport to and from venues, and was also considerate in ensuring that he was comfortable whilst waiting for some of us to finish hiking. Chase also kindly gave recommendations for activities to complement our trip, including learning Chinese painting, and joining the local Guilin Toastmasters meeting, which was a great way to share ideas and learn from local people as well as an opportunity to practice my Mandarin. Special thanks again to the China Highlights team, including Leeky, our Guilin tour guide Chase, and our driver, for carefully tailoring our trip schedule according to our interests. As always, they were very considerate of all our needs and flexible depending on the situation to ensure that we all enjoyed a good time together. The small group nature of China Highlights tours led by an expert local guide meant that we could enjoy a more in-depth and personalised experience. We would highly recommend China Highlights to anyone considering a future trip to China! more
Apr 2025, Jacinta
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My Mesmerizing Visit to Guilin and Yangshuo
April 2025 is my third visit to mainland China and just like my first two visits in 2019 and 2024, it was China Highlights who help me organize everything. We arrived in Guilin at around 2AM on April 21 and Chase was already there at the airport waiting for my mother and I. Chase grew up in Guangxi so he pretty much knows a lot about Guilin and Yangshuo’s history. His English is okay, and he was warm and hospitable towards us. My mother is 82-years old so Chase pulled out all stops to assist her in walking and ensuring her comfort all throughout the tour. more
Apr 2025, Kristine
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