Ancient and Scenic Guilin
5-Day Guilin, Ling Canal, Xingping and Yangshuo Tour
Visit the main attractions of Guilin city with our 5 Days Guilin, Xingping and Yangshuo tour. Discover the old town of Daxu and watch local people do traditional handcrafts such as lantern-making or painting lion head-used for ceremonial dancing. Explore an ancient waterway, the Ling Canal in Xing'an, and learn about how it connected the Yangtze and Pearl rivers as early as 214 BC.
Take a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, view the spectacular beauty of karst mountain peaks. Enjoy sunset over the Li River, and take photos of a local fisherman.
Highlights
- Discover the old town of Daxu and visit its nearby rural market (depending on when the market day falls).
- Explore the Ling Canal and enjoy a leisurely boat ride, passing through the water-streets accompanied by the sound of the zither, playing on the boat.
- Enjoy the beautiful rose sunset over the Li River and take photos of a local fisherman.
- Relax and stay overnight on a fishing island in Xingping, surrounded by the Li River and green mountains




98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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China Highlights for all your China trips
Since August 2022 Sharon Huang is my Travel Advisor at China Highlights #chinahighlights. I have booked several trips and was always extremely happy with our customized itinerary based on my interest. Sharon is always immediately responding and is happy to assist with creating an unforgettable trip. I can only highly recommend Sharon and China Highlights for your travel within China. You should not look further and trust their experience and expertise. For my part, I’m already looking forward to discover more of this amazing and diverse country. more
May 2023,
Adriana
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April 2023 Tours in China, Carol Wang Advisor, China Highlights
I highly recommend the Company #china highlights and their guides Ryan/Shanghai-Suzhou, Lulu/ Hangzhou, Li or Lee/Zhangjiajie, Jenny/ Guilin, Adam/ Quanzhou, Gerry/ Hengdian-Hangzhou more
May 2023,
JeanneC
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Guilin Tour with China Highlights
We had a really nice tour with China Highlights and our Tourguide Chase in Guilin. The unique mountain landscape is a must-see when visiting China and a welcoming change to the big city life. We also went to Yuangshuo with the li river cruise and stayed at a cozy hotel. The tour was very well planned and they made sure that we had a great time. more
May 2023,
Valentin B
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Guilin area and rice terraces
We just returned from a trip to Guilin, the mountain rice terraces, the Li River, and a tour of local markets and farms. Roger Li was helpful setting up the trip, and Jenny Zheng was a fantastic tour guide. Very knowledgeable and fun to be with. Ms. Tao was a safe diver as well. Beautiful scenery and a worthwhile trip. Accommodations were good and we loved the food. Highly recommended! more
May 2023,
Ken Smith
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Guilin to Longsheng Rice Terraced Fields/ Minority Village at Guilin
My first tour was to drive to the rice terraced fields of Longsheng. I have only seen pictures before so it was truly amazing to see this in person. My guide Jenny #chinahighlights, did an excellent job of watching me as I walked and pointing out everything along the way. Insects, plants, explanations of what is going on with the plantings of rice, in particular. I had no idea at all about those details. We ended by climbing down and up into the village which you see down below at the beginning. Jenny brought me to a local house and our hostess had already prepared the sticky rice and smoked pork in bamboo, a fresh pickled cucumber salad, plus some home made sticky rice wine. All were very new and all very good! I recommend this trip as a learning experience! It is a lot of walking but it's worth it. more
May 2023,
Jeanne Christine
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Private Tour with China Highlights
This was a private tour with China Highlights for 8 of us (6 adults and 2 children aged 10 and 6) as part of a larger tour taking in Beijing and Wuhan. Our guide, Jenny, was fantastic and helped us to get the most out of the trip. She took us to some lovely, off the beaten track, restaurants and took care to plan the itinerary around our needs. We required a minibus for transport and the driver too was excelent. The weather wasn't kind to us as it was very humid and misty and there was some rain, but the trip to the rice fields and the boat trip through the Karst mountain scenery were both great. Some of us also went on the bamboo rafting trip which was well organised and very safe. more
Apr 2023,
Alan H
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Had een amazing six day trip in Guilin…
The guide, Chase, was very friendly, helpful and thoughtful. He showed up extra early or stayed later than planned just to help me order food in Chinese at a local restaurant or show me around an amazing park as a bonus to the activities of the day. He has a lot of knowledge of the area, speaks excellent English and is experienced enough to know what a western tourist needs to navigate such a unique area and culture. Guilin is amazing and I feel that China Highlights and my guide Chase helped me get the max out of a six day stay. more
Apr 2023,
F. H.
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Guillin and Yangshuo - Beautiful and Serene Must-See Landscape
We went on a private two-day tour of Guillin and Yangshuo with China Highlights during the Qingming spring break holiday. Chase was our guide and we will definitely recommend him to others. He made the whole trip run smoothly so we could just enjoy and relax. He was very patient, kind, and helpful with us and our two small children. We enjoyed talking with him about Chinese culture and his own life experiences. We loved our stay at The Moondance Hotel. The home style tofu dish and waffles they made were delicious! The highlights for our family were the Reed Flute Cave, Li River cruise, and bike ride through the countryside of Yangshuo. We wish we had a few more days in Yangshuo to explore more of the breathtaking natural landscape. Thank you Chase and China Highlights for an unforgettable time in such a beautiful place! more
Apr 2023,
Leah
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An Awesome Trip to Yangshuo Guilin
And our luck doesn’t just end there, it continues with our guide, Jay. Jay was very caring and observant. He anticipated our needs and looked after us. He was also very knowledgeable about the history and the geography of Guilin and Yangshuo. However, he would never bore us with too much details; he knew when to stop, but if we showed interest, and wanted to hear more, Jay always had more to share. And knowing my kids didn’t speak good Chinese, he would repeat in English again, making sure my kids didn’t miss out the important stuffs. Another good thing about having private tour is the flexibility. The rainy season started already in April, and there was this one day we were supposed to go to the bamboo rafting, but Jay was quick to suggest about swapping our program, so that we went first to the fan workshop, then the bamboo rafting and dodged the rain. Jay was kind and pleasant to be with. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is planning a trip to the Guilin / Yangshuo area. I once had doubts about Yangshuo being a boring scenic place, but now I am mesmerized by its beauty and the exciting activities it offers. more
Apr 2023,
dingsmama
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Stunning landscape rich in history and culture
Very well organised and professional service from start to finish. We had an amazing tour guide (Gary) who taught us so much about the culture and history of the area. His local knowledge gave us a true insight into the history of the people as we walked through the ancient villages and stunning landscape. I thoroughly recommend visiting Guilin and Yangshuo - such a magical place! I would also recommend Gary as a tour guide as he took us to some amazing hidden gems that were a little off the beaten track :) more
Apr 2023,
Will M
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Beautiful trip to Stunning Yangshuo and Guilin!
I had the opportunity to be in the area and, even though I was traveling solo, couldn't miss seeing Guilin and Yangshuo. I'm sure glad I didn't. Gary Wei was an excellent guide who gave me personalized attention and made sure everything went smoothly. More than that, he has such a pleasant, positive personality, I never felt alone and always had fun. And, since I was traveling solo, he took lots and lots of pictures for me! Bamboo raft cruise down the Li River, a hike along the river bank, countryside biking in Yangshuo, exploring caves and hills around the area…everything was magically beautiful. I only wish I had a couple more days to spend because there is so much to do and see. Thanks, Gary, for a wonderful three days!! more
Mar 2023,
christinajeanne
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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 more
Jan 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. more
Jan 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. more
Oct 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. more
Oct 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. more
Oct 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. more
Oct 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 ! more
Oct 2022,
Daniel
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Great experience
I travelled to Guilin with friends and was really amazing. China Highlights is a very professional agency that will take care of every detail. Our guide was Frank, very passionate and helpful all time. Great experience more
Oct 2022,
Daniela G
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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
Sep 2022,
Benedikt P
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Suggested Itinerary
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests and schedule.
Upon arrival at the arrivals hall of the airport or the exit of the train station, your private guide will meet you with a name plate. He/she will then escort you by private vehicle to your hotel.
Daxu Ancient Town
- Daxu is about 18 kilometers southeast of Guilin, near the bank of the Li River.It was the richest and busiest town of Guilin in old times.
- Lots of craftsmen and businessmen lived there, having started their businesses on shoestring budgets. With the development of road-networks, Daxu's glory-days faded away. But we still can see well preserved ancient buildings and the older generation living there.
- There is a rural market near Daxu. Local people from nearby villages trade there. If your travel dates happen to coincide with a rural market day, your guide will accompany you to visit the market.
Activities
This morning, let's knock on the door of the older generation, to discover something more about the history of Daxu. You will then have a chance to visit a local crafts workshop and see how local people make Chinese lanterns, paint the monkey mask or lion head. And also you will hear from local family about their life and work. Exploration of the old town lasts about 2 or 3 hours.
We will arrange an organic lunch in a local farmer's courtyard, near Daxu ancient town. You could visit the farmer's vegetable fields and even pick the fresh local vegetables for cooking.
After lunch, visit Guilin's iconic Elephant Trunk Hill, so named because its shape resembles an elephant drinking from the Li River. Also explore Reed Flute Cave, one of the largest and most impressive caves in Guilin, named after the reeds growing around the cave entrance. Inside, you will see some magnificent rock formations.

Ling Canal
- As one of the oldest canals in the world, the Ling Canal is located about 70 kilometers north of Guilin.
- The canal-building project was completed 8 years before the Terracotta Amy, and it was constructed by the same emperor Qin Shihuang who built the Terracotta Amy .
- The canal played a very important role when emperor Qin Shihuang unified China, as it links Central China with the Lingnan region (of southern China). You could find out more details from our local guide in Guilin.
Activities
Driving from Guilin to Xing'an County takes about 1.5 hours. Then enjoy a boat ride, passing under ancient bridges, and discovering the ancient canal transport system. Relax to music from the guzheng (Chinese harp), played while you float through this beautiful town. After lunch, your guide and driver will transfer you back to Guilin in the afternoon.
After you return to Guilin, you could enjoy the free time to walk around the lakeside and riverside in the city center. Or your guide will go with you to visit the 'East-West Lane' if you would like to discover more historical sights of Guilin.
'East-West Lane' (Dongxi Xiang) is a restored historical and cultural street in Guilin. It was the main street in Guilin during the Ming (1368–1644 AD) and Qing (1644–1911 AD) dynasties.
Nowadays, East-West Lane is a good place for local people and tourists to relax, shop, and sightsee. Explore a well–preserved ancient city wall, restored historic buildings, and all kinds of traditional local stores and snacks.

Accommodation in Xingping: Yangshuo Xingping Island Resort (a boutique hotel, with standards equivalent to a domestic 4-star hotel)
Xingping
- 25 km (15.5 miles) from Yangshuo, on the east bank of the Li River, Xingping is one of the best photographic locations in Guilin.
- Photographers go there to take photos of the Yellow Cloth Shoal, one of the best-known attractions on the Li River, depicted on the 20 RMB bank note; the karst hills reflected in the waters of the Li River; the sunrise and sunset over the river; and cormorant fishing.
- An iconic image of Guilin – an old fisherman in his coir raincoat, on a bamboo raft with his cormorants – can be seen here.
Activities
After breakfast, your private guide and driver will transfer you to the pier (about 1 hour's drive) to take the Li River cruise. A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (about 4hours) is an unforgettable experience. As you take in the stunning scenery, there's something interesting to see at almost every bend in the river.
Among the spectacular limestone peaks you'll see graceful bamboo groves, farmers tending rice paddies, and lumbering water buffaloes pulling carts or cooling off in the river.
A Chinese buffet lunch is served on board. The boat arrives in Yangshuo sometime between 1.30 and 2.30 pm (depending on water-flow), and then you can walk around West Street, the main street in the downtown Yangshuo area.
In the afternoon, your guide and driver will transfer you to Xingping (about 40 minutes' drive), an ancient town of Yangshuo. Take a ferry for 5 minutes to the island where your hotel is located.
After check-in, you can walk around the island on foot or by bike, lie on a beach chair and relax, or have a cup of coffee while appreciating the wonderful scenery from your hotel. Help local farmers with their farming work such as pollinate the pomelo tree flowers, fruit picking…
In the late afternoon around 6 pm (depending on the season), your guide will go with you to the Li River to photograph another Guilin highlight: the beautiful rose sunset (pray for cooperative weather), with a Li River fisherman on his bamboo raft, with gas lamp and cormorants, and the fisherman fishing by the riverside. This whole process will last 1 to 1.5 hours.

Activities
After hotel check-out, your guide and driver will take you by private vehicle to the Yulong River valley to ride on a bamboo raft. The scenery along the river is breathtakingly beautiful, with karst peaks, rice fields, clear waters, and green bamboo.
The river's current is gentle, meaning even first-time rafters have no trouble navigating. After a while, all signs of the modern world gradually melt away. Every bend in the river reveals different wonders, and it is easy to focus solely on the scenery. The rafting will take about 1 to 1.5 hours.
After lunch, your private vehicle and tour guide will transfer you (in about 1.5 hours' drive) to Guilin Airport for your departure flight.

Tour Price
Price includes:
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