Discover Guilin in 6 Days: Longsheng, Yangshuo & Li River

Your Guilin adventure begins with a hotel, airport, or train station pickup, depending on your arrival. Once you've settled into the vehicle, there's no need to rush—the first day is designed to give you an easy introduction to Guilin while still covering some of its best-known sights.

Start at Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's most recognizable landmark. The limestone hill rises beside the Li River in a shape that resembles an elephant lowering its trunk to drink from the water. Take your time walking around the park and along the riverside paths, where the combination of green hills, open water, and Guilin's distinctive karst landscape gives you your first taste of the scenery ahead.

After your morning exploration, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, with your guide helping you choose dishes if you'd like to try some Guilin specialties.

Continue to Rongshan Lake Park, where the atmosphere becomes noticeably more relaxed. Stroll beneath the trees, cross the bridges, and enjoy views of the water and surrounding old-city scenery. It's a pleasant contrast to the more iconic sightseeing stops, especially if you want to experience Guilin at a slower pace.

From the lake area, head toward the Sun and Moon Pagodas. Their golden and silver-toned towers rise from the water and are especially photogenic when the light begins to soften. You'll mainly admire the exterior views today, giving you plenty of time to appreciate the pagodas from different angles without turning the visit into a rushed checklist.

Continue to the Ancient South Gate, one of the remaining historic landmarks in Guilin's old city. The area around it offers a glimpse into the city's older urban landscape and makes for a short but worthwhile stop between Guilin's natural and modern attractions.

For a little excitement before the day winds down, make your way to the Crystal Glass Bridge. Walking across the transparent section gives you a completely different perspective of the surrounding landscape. It's a fun change of pace after a day of parks, lakes, and historic sights—and a good place to capture a few memorable photos.

After the sightseeing, you'll be transferred back to your Guilin hotel for the evening.

Today takes you into the mountains north of Guilin. After hotel pickup in the morning, settle into your private vehicle for the journey to Longsheng. The scenery gradually changes as Guilin's karst hills give way to steeper mountain slopes and terraced fields.

Your main destination is the Buni Terraced Fields, where a round-trip cable car is included. Instead of spending your energy on a long uphill walk, you'll ride comfortably toward the viewpoints and save your legs for exploring the terraces themselves. As you rise higher, the patchwork of rice terraces begins to unfold across the mountains. Depending on the season, the fields can look dramatically different—from fresh green in the growing season to golden layers closer to harvest. The changing colors are part of what makes Longsheng worth visiting more than once.

Continue to the Flower Sea Viewing Platform, where mountain views meet seasonal flowers and open terraces. Take a little time here rather than rushing straight to the next stop—the layered landscape is best appreciated when you simply pause and look across the valley.

Next, make your way toward Gawu Waterfall, where water tumbles through the mountain landscape. The sound of the waterfall and the surrounding greenery provide a refreshing break from the panoramic viewpoints.

Then comes one of the more unusual experiences of the day: the Cloud Ladder. Follow the elevated steps and viewpoints as they climb along the mountain, with increasingly open views of the terraces below. If you're comfortable with heights, this is one of the places where you'll want to have your camera ready.

The scenery is only part of Longsheng's appeal. You'll also have a long-hair grooming experience, giving you a closer look at one of the region's distinctive local traditions and the cultural stories surrounding long hair.

Continue with a village home visit, where you can see a more everyday side of mountain life. Rather than simply passing through the village, you'll have the opportunity to meet local residents and get a feel for how people live among the terraces.

Enjoy lunch during the Longsheng visit, with time to taste local dishes before beginning the journey back to Guilin.

Back in Guilin, you'll have some free time at MixC (Wanxiangcheng) Shopping Mall. This is intentionally left open so you can shop, grab a coffee, browse local and international brands, or simply relax after a full day in the mountains.

Afterward, your private vehicle will take you back to your Guilin hotel.

After hotel pickup in Guilin, leave the city behind and travel toward Yangshuo. The journey itself becomes part of the experience as karst peaks gradually appear around the road, hinting at the landscapes you'll explore over the next few days.

Your first stop is Liu Sanjie Grand View Garden, where you can learn more about the folk culture associated with Liu Sanjie, the legendary singer from Guangxi. One of the highlights is the folk song antiphonal singing, a traditional style in which singers respond to one another through song. Even if you don't understand every word, the atmosphere and melodies make this a more engaging way to experience local culture than simply looking at exhibits.

After the visit, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing toward Yangshuo.

In the afternoon, trade sightseeing for a slower moment at the internet-famous Chuka Coffee (Sunrise Café). Surrounded by Yangshuo's characteristic mountains and rivers, this is the kind of place where you'll probably want to put your camera down for a few minutes and simply enjoy the view. Order a coffee or afternoon tea and take in the landscape from a different angle. The combination of karst peaks, open countryside, and a relaxed café setting is very much the Yangshuo experience.

Later, head to the “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains” viewpoint, a scenic photo stop where the karst landscape stretches across the horizon. If your timing lines up with the changing light, the viewpoint becomes particularly atmospheric around sunrise or sunset. The mountains take on softer tones as the sun moves lower, creating the kind of landscape that feels almost painted rather than photographed.

After sightseeing, you'll be transferred to your Yangshuo hotel to check in and relax for the evening.

Today is all about Yangshuo's famous countryside. After hotel pickup, you'll travel through a landscape of limestone peaks, rivers, villages, farmland, and winding country roads.

Begin with a drive-by tour of the Ten-Mile Gallery Scenic Area. You don't need to rush from one attraction entrance to another here—the scenery itself is the attraction. Keep your eyes on the windows as karst peaks rise dramatically from the surrounding countryside.

Continue along Moon-Viewing Avenue, where you can admire Moon Hill from a distance. Its distinctive natural arch makes it one of Yangshuo's most recognizable geological landmarks. The viewpoint also gives you a chance to appreciate how dramatically the isolated karst formations rise above the otherwise open countryside.

As you continue, the scenery around the Yulong River becomes even more peaceful. The river winds through fields and villages beneath rows of limestone peaks, creating one of Yangshuo's most classic landscapes. This is a good part of the day to slow down, enjoy the changing views, and take photos rather than trying to see everything at once.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, with time to recharge before the afternoon's cave adventure.

In the afternoon, visit Silver Cave Scenic Area, one of the region's best-known karst caves. Inside, natural stalactites and stalagmites have formed dramatic shapes over thousands of years, creating an underground landscape that feels completely different from the open-air scenery outside. The cool cave environment is also a welcome change on a warm day.

Finish the day with a stroll along West Street, Yangshuo's lively pedestrian area. Browse small shops, cafés, snacks, and local specialties, or simply enjoy the mix of old streets and modern travel culture.

When you're ready to call it a day, your private vehicle will take you back to your Yangshuo hotel.

After hotel pickup in Yangshuo, begin your return journey toward Guilin, but not before enjoying one of the most scenic experiences of the trip.

Board a 3-star Li River cruise from Yangshuo to Fuli and let the landscape do the work. As the boat moves along the river, karst peaks rise from the water on both sides, with villages, farmland, and distant mountains filling the gaps between them. Instead of constantly looking for the “perfect” photo, keep watching the scenery change around you. The beauty of the Li River is in how quickly one view turns into another.

Enjoy lunch during the day, giving you time to recharge before continuing your Guilin exploration.

After arriving back in the Guilin area, visit the Osmanthus Commune, where you can learn more about the local connection with osmanthus, one of Guilin's signature plants. The fragrant flowers are closely associated with the city and appear in everything from tea and sweets to local cultural products.

Continue to the Starry Sky House, an atmospheric stop that offers another perspective on Guilin's natural and cultural character. It's a nice place to pause before heading into the busier central areas.

Later, explore Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, where local food, shops, and everyday city life come together. From here, continue to San Yuan Ji Di (Top Scholar Archway) and then wander through East–West Alley, where historic-style buildings, small shops, and restaurants create a lively atmosphere.

End the sightseeing at Xiaoyao Tower, a striking riverside landmark that adds a final architectural touch to your Guilin experience. As the day approaches evening, the area can take on a particularly pleasant atmosphere, especially when the surrounding lights begin to come on.

Afterward, your private vehicle will transfer you to your Guilin hotel for your final night.

Your final morning is kept intentionally easy. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and take some time to pack before your scheduled departure.

At the agreed time, our team will provide a private transfer from your Guilin hotel to Guilin Railway Station or Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, depending on your onward journey. If your departure is later in the day, we can also help you make the most of your remaining free time in Guilin before your transfer.

Your six-day journey ends here—with Guilin's karst peaks, Longsheng's mountain terraces, Yangshuo's riverside scenery, and plenty of local experiences along the way.