Explore the Peaceful Countryside with Your Feet
7-Day Guilin Hiking Tour
Discover the dreamy karst landscape of Guilin and Yangshuo, and the spectacular Longji Rice Terraces by foot.
Tour Highlights
- Walk through mountain villages with fabulous view of the rice terraces
- Trek alongside the Li River and the Yulong River, and get closer to nature
- Have an overnight stay by the riverside and at a hillside village
What Our Customers Said
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Gorgeous Guilin with Gary
What made it all the better of course was the sure and steady guidance of Gary whose knowledge and love for his home was as bountiful as the greenery all about! Upon arriving in Guilin, Gary and our wonderful driver, whose knowledge of the roads and navigating skill are a credit to her, escorted me to my first hotel in Guilin proper which was not only beautiful, with its spectacular waterfall feature, but also manned by friendly and experienced staff moreJan 2023, Apis N
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An Exceptional Tour with China Highlights - Highly Recommended!
She was knowledgeable and friendly and took care of every small detail to ensure we had a great time at every destination. She was also very considerate of our baby and made sure that we had everything we needed to make our vacation comfortable and enjoyable. moreJan 2023, Imane
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An Exceptional Tour with China Highlights - Highly Recommended!
The hotels, transport, and activities were all top-notch, and we felt well taken care of throughout the trip. We have already recommended China Highlights to our friends and family, and we will definitely use their services again. Thank you for making our vacation so memorable and enjoyable! moreJan 2023, Imane
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
During Golden Week holidays we spent 7 wonderful days in Guilin, Longsheng and Yangshuo. Thanks to Carol for a well organized and stressless trip and also to our tour guide Henry who was always very knowledgeable and supportive. He did a great job making the trip comfortable and enjoyable for us. moreOct 2022, Anja
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Amazing trip to Guilin and Yangshuo
Thanks to Gary Wei and China heights for an amazing customised three day excursion in Guilin. Really enjoyed caving, the rock climbing and a relaxing afternoon with stand up paddle. Gary our tour guide was able to find paths off the beaten track and often time there were no other tourist to be seen. He also went out his way to make sure we’re well provisioned and took his own initiative to not only be our tour guide and our own photographer, providing us with many more and different memories of the trip. We would highly recommend both china highlight and especially Gary Wei as your local guide for a worry free, non stress trip. moreOct 2022, Yujie Z
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Guilin and Yangshuo
We had wonderful holidays in Guilin and Yangshuo during the golden week. Our guide Linda was able to plan the activities in a way that we manage to visit several places in short time. It was something very special to be the first person to go rafting and on the “wild” hiking to the top of the mountain to enjoy a beautiful view. Thanks to Linda we had an unforgettable holiday with many special moments. moreOct 2022, Karla
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Lovely getaway during National holidays to Yangshuo
Thanks to Sharon from China Highlights to organize such a great customized trip. A big shoutout to our amazing tour guide Gray. He made sure that traveling even during such a busy period of time was such a joy. Gary went out of his way caring for us. And his photography skills are spot on to have beautiful memories also captured in the digital way and not just in our hearts. We loved our time in beautiful Yangshuo and will be definitely back to Guilin anytime soon. moreOct 2022, Adriana Peiris
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Perfect holidays in Guanxi!
We had a wonderful experience in Guanxi. Our tour guide Henry was not only well informed about sights, history and local hotspots, he managed to make our trip to Guilin, Longcheng and Yangshuo interesting, funny and relaxing all in once. He really knows how to give interesting insights to parents and kids and took perfect care for both of our families. The tour organization was great ! moreOct 2022, Daniel
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Suggested Itinerary
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests and schedule.
Hotel in Guilin: Guilin Park Hotel (3 star, by the lakeside)
Upon arrival your local tour guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport with a name plate. If you arrive by train, your local tour guide will meet you with a name plate at the exit of the train station.
After your guide meets you, he/she will escort you by private vehicle to your hotel. Have a good rest and be ready for the next day's adventure!
Evening Ideas:
The night scenery in Guilin is beautiful and it makes a great way to unwind after a flight. The ‘Two Rivers and Four Lakes' in the downtown area offer pleasant lakeside walks and night cruises.
Meal: breakfast & lunch
Hotel in Longji: Longji Star Wish Resort (3 star, central location)
In the morning, your tour guide and driver will transfer you from Guilin to Dazhai Village in the Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are a sight not to be missed while traveling in Guilin. They are one of the most impressive man-made wonders in China. The Longji Rice Terraces are built into the steep mountainsides, and they look like a dragon's ribs if viewing them from the top of the mountain, hence their name ‘Dragon's Backbone' (Longji).
The rice terraces cover an area of 66 square kilometers (25 square miles); they were built 600 hundred years ago by the local ethnic people. There are several villages in Longji. The three most famous ones are Ping'an Zhuang Village, Longji Ancient Zhuang Village, and Dazhai Yao Village.
Upon arrival in Dazhai, you will have lunch in a local farmer's restaurant and taste local food, such as rice cooked in a bamboo tube - a typical dish for local minority people, and some fresh local vegetables.
After lunch, your guide will escort you up the mountain for a panoramic view of the village, and then you will hike to Ping'an Zhuang Village. Hiking along the terraced rice fields is a nice experience. You can feast your eyes on the scenes of farming and the beautiful village scenery, and marvel at the pure country lifestyle. On the way, you will pass through the villages of Tiantouzhai and Zhongliu. This hike takes around 5 hours.
Good to know:
It is better just to take a few essentials in a backpack to the Longji Rice Terraces as you will only stay for one night on the mountain, and will return to Guilin the following day.
Meal: breakfast & lunch
Hotel in Guilin: Guilin Park Hotel (3 star, by the lakeside)
In the morning, you are going to take short walks and relax, ready to adjust for the Li River hiking trip the following day.
After breakfast, your tour guide will escort you to the mountaintop for a panoramic view of the village, and then you will head to Longji Ancient Zhuang Village.
Longji Ancient Zhuang Village is a well-preserved village that recently opened to tourists. There are 700 hundred ethnic people resident there, and they have retained their most traditional customs and farming as their way of life. The hike will take about 1 hour.
After descending the mountain, you will return to Guilin. Upon arrival in Guilin, you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit Reed Flute Cave, the largest and most impressive cave in Guilin. Named after the reeds growing around the cave entrance, the cave has attracted visitors for a thousand years. Inside, you will see the magnificent rock formations.
Meal: breakfast & lunch
Hotel in Xingping: Yangshuo Xingping Island Resort (a boutique hotel on a beautiful location beside the Li River)
The hike from Xianggong Mountain to Xingping Ancient Town (a small historical town in Yangshuo) is about 12 kilometers and it takes about 4 hours at a medium pace. Hiking alongside the Li River provides a great opportunity see the gorgeous Li River scenery close-up as well as the rural lifestyle of the farmers who live by the river.
After 1½ hours' drive from Guilin, you will arrive at Xianggong Mountain, which is the starting point of the hike. First, you will climb up the mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of the karst peaks alongside the Li River and to take amazing pictures of the Li River bend. Usually, half an hour is enough time to climb up and come back down Xianggong Mountain.
Then you can begin the hike from Xianggong Mountain to Lengshui Village, which is located by the Li River (this takes about 2 hours). On the way, you will pass some small villages and see rice fields, orchards with many seasonal fruits, and unique karst peaks. It is a peaceful hike as few tourists travel that way.
After hiking through the villages and arriving in Lengshui Village, you will take a ferry boat to the opposite side of the Li River, to see the famous attraction of the Nine Horses Fresco Hill.
Then you will continue the hike from the Nine Horses Fresco Hill to Xingping alongside the Li River (about 2 hours). You will see green bamboos, clear waters, colorful pebbles underwater, and mountain peaks in different shapes. Occasionally, you may see water buffalo swimming in the river, local people washing clothes by the riverside, and when you reach Xingping, you will see the same scenery that is displayed on the Chinese 20 yuan banknote.
Lunch will be served in Xingping , in a local restaurant by the river.
Good to know:
1. Upon your arrival in Xingping, you will take a ferry boat to a small, beautiful, and peaceful village on an island, where your hotel is located. Your luggage will be transferred by private car to Xingping in advance.
2. As Yangshuo is extremely touristy and crowded, especially during a festival, we will arrange for you to have an overnight stay in Xingping so that you can stay far away from the hustle and bustle.
Meal: breakfast
The Liandao wan village where you are staying overnight is surrounded by the Li River on all but the west side. It is very beautiful and peaceful. The village is full of green bamboos, grapefruit trees, and orange trees. There are about one hundred local families living in the Village. You will see the local people washing clothes by the river, fishermen catching fish using cormorants on bamboo rafts, children taking the ferry boat to school, and farmers tending to their orchards.
Recommended Free Day Activities
- Travel around the fishing village on foot (1 hour) or by bike (½ hour) in the early morning or evening
- Hike through the village to a 400-year-old temple (1 hour)
- Hike through the village to Damian Mountain for a panoramic view of the Li River bend and surrounding karst peaks
- Climb Xiaomian Mountain to see a sunrise over the Li River
- Help local farmers with their farming work, such as pollinating the grapefruit tree flowers and fruit picking
- Visit the countryside market with the local farmers and learn how to do shopping in the countryside
Meal: breakfast & lunch
Hotel in Yangshuo: Yangshuo Mountain Retreat Hotel (4-star, beside the Yulong River)
After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will transfer you from Xingping to Yulong Bridge, which is upstream from Yangshuo on the Yulong River, to start the hike. The drive takes about 1 hour.
The Yulong River is a tributary of the Li River. The entire length of the Yulong River is 43 kilometers. You will hike the most beautiful part of it, from Yulong Bridge to Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (about 4–5 hours). People regarded the scenery along the river as another Shangri-La as it is so green and breathtakingly beautiful. On the way, you will see rice fields with seasonal crops growing in them, farmers' orchards with oranges, grapefruits, and persimmons, crystal clear water, and stone bridges over the river. It is a nice place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Lunch is served in Yangshuo Mountain Retreat with local food. Your local tour guide will help you order the dishes.
Evening Idea:
Impression Liu Sanjie is a spectacular evening show based on the life of the famous folk heroine, Liu Sanjie (‘Liu [surname] Third Sister'). It is the creation of the renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou, who choreographed the films Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero. The show is set on the Li River itself, and uses the incredible natural scenery along with a cast of hundreds to tell a classic tale of love, intrigue, and tragedy. The music, lights, dancing, and natural beauty of the backdrop ensure you will not be disappointed. (The schedule and price may vary from high season to low season, and on public holidays.)
Trip Notes
1. Climate and Weather Reminder
The period from August to March is considered a better time to do the hiking, because from April to Junly is the rainy season in Guilin, and there can be floods along the Li River and the Yulong River during this season.
If you are traveling between April and July, a pair of comfortable waterproof walking shoes is a must.
2. Customizing the Tour - According to Your Needs
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extending or shortening it to suit your price, interests, and schedule.
If your time is limited, shortening the tour by one or two day, e.g. without a free day in Xingping, can also be arranged.
3. Accommodation in the Mountain Villages of Longji Rice Terraces and Yangshuo
The standards of star-rated hotels in the mountain villages of Longji rice terraces and in Yangshuo might not be up to the standards of equivalently-rated hotels in cities such as Guilin, Beijing and Shanghai.
The hotels we use on the tour are carefully selected, based on criteria like hotel environment, location, service, and previous customer-feedback.
If you would prefer other hotels or wish to book hotels yourself, please feel free to let us know.
Tour Price
Price includes:
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