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Both Guilin and Hong Kong are popular travel destinations in South China. Guilin is renowned for its beautiful countryside and karst river-and-mountain views. As one of the major entry and departure cities in China, Hong Kong is known for its efficient transport, great food, lively nightlife, and exciting shopping scene. Many people would like to visit Guilin from Hong Kong to extend their trip and take the advantage of the 72-hour visa-free policy. This article will help you plan a perfect tour to explore these two cities.
How Long to Spend in Hong Kong and Guilin?
Generally speaking, for a deeper experience and comfortable pace, it's recommended to spend at least 3–4 days in each location to explore the major attractions and try interesting activities.
In Guilin, it is recommended to spend 2 days sightseeing downtown, visiting Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and other places of interest. Then spend 2 days in Yangshuo for idyllic outdoor activities.
In Hong Kong, you could easily spend 2–3 days visiting top attractions, such as Victoria Peak, Disneyland, and Ocean Park.
1. A Classic 7-Day Hong Kong and Guilin Tour
With 7 days in Hong Kong and Guilin, you can cover the highlights of these two cities and experience local life by trying interesting activities with our special arrangements.
Days 1–4: Guilin
In Guilin, spend a day downtown to visit some of the top attractions including Elephant Trunk Hill and Reed Flute Cave. On the second day, take a Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (about 4 hours), during which you would see celebrated mountain-and-river views.
On the third day in Yangshuo, there are numerous outdoor activities which are good for families with kids to do, including cave exploring, rock climbing, cycling amongst the paddy fields, meeting local farmers, and seeing their houses, learning Chinese calligraphy, and cooking classes.
If you are interested in Chinese ethnic group culture, you can spend another day on the Longji Terraced Fields to hike around the tiered paddies and visit the local ethnic groups' houses.
5–7: Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, a visit to Victoria Peak is a must. From the Peak, you would get stunning panoramic views of the city and Victoria Harbour. The best way to reach the Peak is by Peak Tram. If you prefer a more active approach, then hiking is another option.
After enjoying the views from the peak, head down to Central and explore the trendy Soho district, which is known for its shops, cafes, and restaurants. If you are traveling with kids, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park should be on your list. There you can view spectacular fireworks shows, parades, and live performances.
How to Travel from Hong Kong to Guilin
You can take a flight or high-speed train from Hong Kong to Guilin. The best way to travel from Hong Kong to Guilin is by high-speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Guilin West Station. The journey takes around 3½ to 4 hours, and trains operate 2–3 times a day.
By flight: There are no direct flights from Hong Kong to Guilin. You would need to transfer at Shanghai or another China city, which would take more than 7 hours. This is an alternative if you fail to book train tickets.
Costs for a Trip from Hong Kong to Guilin
Travel costs in Hong Kong are much higher than in Guilin, especially in terms of hotel and food prices. For a private tour of both cities, the average cost per day is about US$220–350 per person, including trains tickets, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, guides, and private transport. So, a 7-day tour of both cities would cost around US$1,540–2,450 (excluding flights into/out of China).
During the peak times (May 1–5, October 1–7, and the summer holidays), the price of hotels and airfares can go up by 50 to 100%. We realize that this is a significant amount of money, and while we advise early booking, we know that many things can affect your trip plans, so when you book with us, you'd receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to three weeks before departure (more details here⇒).
Accommodation in Hong Kong and Guilin
In Hong Kong, most travelers choose hotels in the Central area as it is home to some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including Victoria Peak, the International Finance Centre, and the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. This area offers plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife options, making it a great choice for travelers who are looking for a lively environment.
In Guilin, we recommend you stay in the city center area, which has many hotels, restaurants, and shops, making it a convenient location for travelers. In Yangshuo, it is recommended to stay in local boutique hotels, where you can have a good view of the beautiful river-and-mountain and enjoy the quiet countryside life. Contact us to book the best hotels in Yangshuo.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Hermosos lugares en Guilin
Es una preciosa ciudad y en compa?ia de nuestro guia Alonso mucho mejor. Hizo el tour muy ameno y divertido, especialmente cuando anduvimos en moto por el campo. Muy buen dominio del espa?ol y siempre ávido por aprender. Siempre atento a nuestras necesidades. Sin duda volveriamos. more
Apr 2024, sergio P
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Superó nuestras expectativas
La ciudad y sus paisajes son muy bonitos y las excursiones valen la pena. La age cus China Highlights es totalmente recomendable y estuvieron atentos de nuestras necesidades desde antes de empezar el viaje hasta nuestro regreso. Una mención especial a Alonso que nos hizo de guía en Guilin, es muy profesional y una persona cercana con quien es fácil conectar. Nuestra recomendación para Ian agencia y en especial para el guía more
Apr 2024, salvador P
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Thank you China travel and guide Lele
Our guide in Guilin is Lele,Lele was the best guide we had on this trip; enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and resourceful. Lele arranged special meals for us with local foods, and brought special fruits in season. We were having great fun with him while riding on a tiny river ferry, eating roast goose and meat-stuffed snails in a local restaurant. Great experiences! more
Apr 2024, Tong L
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Best Times to Visit Hong Kong and Guilin
Hong Kong: For mild and pleasant weather, the best time to visit Hong Kong is between October and November when temperatures are warm and comfortable, and it is relatively dry. The other popular time to visit Hong Kong is during Chinese New Year, which falls in January or February, when you can see the city alive with dragon dances, fireworks, and lantern displays.
Guilin: The best time to visit Guilin is during the months of September to November when the weather is pleasant and there is little rainfall. Then you can get the clearest views of the beautiful Li River and pointy mountains.
So, if you want to visit both Hong Kong and Guilin in a trip, then the best time to travel is from October to November, when the weather is warm/cool and dry in both cities.
The rainy season in Hong Kong and Guilin is a little different, with the heaviest rain in May/June in Guilin, but it's later and heavier in Hong Kong from May to August . However, the rain does not last too long usually. So, it wouldn't affect your trip too much.
Guilin's 72-hour Visa-Free Policy
Now you can take advantage of 72-hour (3-day) visa-free transit for 51 countries for a short visit to Guilin as well as Hong Kong. Read more about Guilin's 72-hour visa-free policy.
Note: If you are traveling from Hong Kong to Guilin and using the 72-hour visa-free permit, you can't go back to Hong Kong after you finish your time in Guilin. You would need to take a flight from Guilin to somewhere outside the mainland China region (only KL, Seoul, Jakarta, and Taipei are available currently).
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