4 Most Recommended Guilin Itineraries: Day-by-Day Guide
If you want to experience China's natural scenery, Guilin, with its mountains and rivers, is definitely one of the top choices. Typically, it takes about three days to cover the classic highlights, including a Li River cruise and the countryside views around Yangshuo. Beyond the Li River, Guilin offers many other fascinating experiences, such as visiting the Longji Rice Terraces and enjoying outdoor adventures in the karst caves. If you'd like to include these, you'll need around 4-5 days.
As Guilin is close to popular destinations like Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Zhangjiajie, we highly recommend combining it with these places in your trip. We've put together 4 itineraries for your reference. Read on to find details of these Guilin itineraries.
Landscape of Li River in Guilin
Enjoy the Essence of Guilin in 3 to 5 Days
The local fishman in Xingping, Guilin
This is the most classic Guilin itinerary, perfect for first-time visitors. You can also add the below recommended experiences to your trip, and we can customize the itinerary based on your interests and travel style.
| Day | Things to Do |
| 1 | Arrival |
| 2 | Li River Cruise to Yangshuo |
| 3 | Yulong River; departure |
- Day 1: Arrive in Guilin, check in at your hotel, and take some time to rest.
- Day 2: Take a Li River cruise to Yangshuo. In the afternoon, you can explore the town or countryside at your own pace. At night, consider watching the Impression Liu Sanjie show.
- Day 3: Enjoy yourself on a bamboo raft on the Yulong River. After that, we will transfer you to the airport for your departure.
Recommended Experiences:
Here are some experiences that offer a deeper way to explore Guilin. Each activity typically takes at least half a day.
- Longji Rice Terraces: This is one of the most photogenic destinations in Guilin. You'll see layers of rice terraces surrounding villages of the Yao and Zhuang ethnic groups. You can either take a light hike to the top of the terraces or ride a cable car for a panoramic view of the entire area. There are also many local restaurants and hotels within the scenic area, allowing for a more immersive experience.
- Karst Adventure in Guilin: If you're looking for something more adventurous, set aside half a day to visit wild karst caves such as Swallow Cave. Accompanied by a professional guide, you'll explore a completely unlit cave for a truly thrilling experience. Another recommendation is trying via ferrata near the Yulong River in Yangshuo.
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Explore Local Markets: Guilin is also known for its delicious food, such as Guilin rice noodles, sticky rice, and sweet soups. You can find these in food streets like Shijiayuan. If you're interested in local food culture, consider visiting Lequn Market or Heishan Market in the morning to experience grocery shopping like a local, or head to a county market to experience a traditional "ganxu" (market day).
Recommended Tour Itinerary
8 Days in Guilin, Shenzhen & Hong Kong
Longsheng Rice Terraces in Guilin
This itinerary combines Guilin's natural scenery with the cutting-edge technology in Shenzhen as well as Hong Kong's vibrant skyline, harbor views, and unique blend of Eastern and Western culture. Travel between these three destinations is very convenient, with the longest high-speed train journey taking only about three hours.
| Day | Highlights | Place |
| 1 to 2 | Victoria Harbor, Wong Tai Sin Temple, and Tsim Sha Tsui | Hong Kong |
| 3 to 4 | DJI Flagship Store, Greater Bay Area Cruise, and Shenzhen Hakka House | Shenzhen |
| 5 to 8 | Li River, Longji Rice Terraces, and Reed Flute Cave | Guilin |
- Day 1-2: Arrive in Hong Kong and explore Kowloon, a district that features many popular attractions. You can visit Wong Tai Sin Temple, take a ride on the iconic ding-ding tram, and enjoy Victoria Harbour's skyline of skyscrapers.
- Day 3: In the morning, you will take a high-speed train to Shenzhen. Then, visit the DJI flagship store to experience the latest drone technology. In the evening, consider taking a cruise to enjoy the night views of the Greater Bay Area.
- Day 4: Today, you can visit Hehu Xinju to learn about Shenzhen's Hakka culture. For lunch, consider trying some local Hakka cuisine. In the afternoon, head to Dapeng Ancient Town to explore the early history of Shenzhen and southern China's coastal defense.
- Day 5: Take a high-speed train to Guilin. In the afternoon, visit Reed Flute Cave to explore its impressive karst formations.
- Day 6: Travel to Yangshuo. From West Street, take a cruise to Xingping to see the most scenic section of the Li River. Afterwards, explore Xingping Ancient Town. We recommend you to try a countryside bike ride there.
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Day 7-8: You'll take about a 2.5-hour drive from Yangshuo to reach the Longji Rice Terraces. After checking in at your hotel, you can hike through the nearby terraces to a viewpoint overlooking the fields and villages. We suggest you stay overnight in the village and enjoy local farm-style dishes. The next day, we will arrange a private transfer to the airport or the train station for your onward journey.
Recommended Tour Itinerary
Guilin and Zhangjiajie: Best Natural Highlights
Our customers on Li River Cruise
For nature lovers and photography enthusiasts, Zhangjiajie is not to be missed. Both Guilin and Zhangjiajie are among China's most scenic destinations, yet their landscapes are strikingly different. In Guilin, you can admire ink-painting-like karst scenery, while in Zhangjiajie, you'll see towering "Avatar Mountains" and Tianmen Mountain.
| Day | Highlights | City |
| 1 to 3 | Li River Cruise and Fuli Ancient Town | Guilin |
| 4 to 7 | Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain | Zhangjiajie |
- Day 1: After arriving in Guilin, you can take your time to relax in the hotel or explore the downtown area of Guilin. If you choose to hang out, consider visiting Elephant Trunk Hill.
- Day 2: On the second day, you can take a Li River cruise to Yangshuo County. In the afternoon, we recommend going for a bike ride through the countryside. Along the way, you can stop at a cafe and enjoy some afternoon tea.
- Day 3: On this day, you can visit Fuli Ancient Town, where you can experience the lively local market and sample a variety of traditional snacks and street food. It only takes about half an hour from Yangshuo to Fuli Ancient Town.
- Day 4: Today, you will take a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie. We suggest staying in the downtown area for convenient access to restaurants and transportation.
- Day 5: On this day, explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You can choose to hike through the scenic trails or take the famous Bailong Elevator for a panoramic view of the park.
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Day 6-7: Visit either Tianmen Mountain or Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, depending on your interests. Both offer breathtaking views and unique experiences. After that, depart from Zhangjiajie and continue on to your next destination.
Recommended Tour Itinerary
Scenic & Cultural Tour From Guilin to Guizhou
The Sun and Moon Pagodas, Guilin
If you're interested in China's ethnic minority cultures, consider adding Guizhou to your itinerary. It is home to many Dong and Miao villages, where you can experience traditional activities and local festivals. In addition, Guizhou also offers impressive natural scenery, such as the spectacular Huangguoshu Waterfall.
Compared with major cities like Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Guizhou is less crowded with a more relaxed atmosphere.
| Day | Highlights | Place |
| 1 to 3 | Arrival, Elephant Trunk Hill, Local Market Exploration, Li River, and Reed Flute Cave | Guilin |
| 4 to 7 | Zhaoxing Dong Village, Tang'an Terrace, Huangguoshu Waterfall, and Tianlong Tunpu Ancient Town | Guizhou |
- Day 1: Arrive in Guilin. Visit Elephant Trunk Hill and enjoy a relaxing evening stroll in the city.
- Day 2: Start your morning at Heishan Market or Lequn Market to experience a lively local morning market. In the afternoon, explore Reed Flute Cave and admire its impressive karst formations.
- Day 3: Take a Li River cruise to Xingping. In the afternoon, wander around Xingping Ancient Town and stay overnight to enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.
- Day 4: In the morning, enjoy a bamboo rafting experience. Afterwards, take a high-speed train to Guizhou and transfer by private car to Zhaoxing Dong Village, where you can experience local ethnic culture.
- Day 5: Visit the nearby Tang'an Terraces to take in the beautiful rice field landscapes. Later, go to Guiyang and prepare for the next day's journey.
- Day 6: Today, you will visit Huangguoshu Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in China. It will take you about 2 hours to travel from Guiyang to the site. You can consider visiting Tianlong Tunpu Ancient Town because it's right on your way back to Guiyang.
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Day 7: Depart from Guiyang and continue on to your next destination or head home.
Recommended Tour Itinerary
Plan Your Guilin Tour With Us
If you want to get more ideas about your trip, feel free to ask for suggestions by leaving us a message or writing to trip@odynovotours.com. Our travel consultants are happy to help you with all the problems you meet when you plan a trip to Guilin.
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