Southwest China · 4 days
Guilin, Yangshuo & the Li River: A 4-Day Karst Country Route
The most photogenic short route in China, and the one that works hardest for it. Four days is enough if you are willing to start early every morning — the karst landscape is at its best in the first two hours of daylight and in the mist after rain.
The route
What this trip actually feels like
- The Li River bamboo raft from Yangshuo to the Xingping bend
- Yulong Bamboo Sea before the coaches arrive
- The old town at night, when the lanterns come out
- A private tea plantation and village visit in the Fuli area
Best for
- Travellers with three to five days in southern China
- Photographers and anyone who came for the landscape
- Families who want an active but not strenuous trip
Along the way
The places this route passes through
Day by day
The plan, as it would actually run
Arrive Guilin, transfer to Yangshuo
Land in Guilin and drive to Yangshuo — the town sits in the heart of the karst basin. Check in, walk the West Street, and get an early look at the peaks around Yima village before the light goes.
- Morning
- Arrive Guilin, transfer to Yangshuo
- Afternoon
- Check in, West Street and the evening market
- Evening
- Dinner on West Street
- Meals
- Dinner included
Night 1 Yangshuo Camphor Villa
Note. If your flight lands late, take the high-speed rail instead — Guilin North to Yangshuo is quicker and cheaper than a car at night.
Yulong Bamboo Sea and the old town
Be at the Yulong Bamboo Sea entrance at opening. The walk is 1.5 kilometres into the grove and then 4 kilometres out through the valley, with the peaks closing in as you go. Return to Yangshuo for lunch, rest through the hottest part of the afternoon, and walk the old town at night when the lanterns are lit.
- Morning
- Yulong Bamboo Sea at opening
- Afternoon
- Return to Yangshuo, rest
- Evening
- Yangshuo old town and the Li River banks
- Meals
- Breakfast included
Night 2 Yangshuo Camphor Villa
Note. The bamboo sea is far better at 8am than at noon, both for the light and for the sheer number of tour coaches. Go early and it is a completely different experience.
The Li River bamboo raft to Xingping
A private bamboo raft from a quiet upstream mooring down to the Xingping bend, the stretch of river that appears on the back of a Chinese banknote. No engine, no noise. Lunch in Xingping, then the Silver Cave or Moon Hill in the afternoon, and back to Yangshuo.
- Morning
- Private bamboo raft to Xingping
- Afternoon
- Silver Cave or Moon Hill
- Evening
- Return to Yangshuo, farewell dinner
- Meals
- Breakfast included · Lunch included · Dinner included
Night 3 The Sugar Loaf
Note. The standard group raft uses a motorised bamboo and pulls in to the bank for the photo stop. A private raft keeps you on the water the whole way — worth the difference.
A village morning, then depart
A slow morning in Fuli — the tea plantations and the old stone village streets — or a last morning at the hotel pool. Transfer to Guilin for the airport, or continue by rail to Chengdu, Kunming or Guangzhou.
- Morning
- Fuli tea fields and village
- Afternoon
- Transfer to Guilin airport
- Evening
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast included
Note. If you are connecting to Chengdu, the overnight high-speed rail from Guilin is comfortable and arrives early morning. We can arrange the through-booking.
In pictures
Scenes from the Guilin & Yangshuo route
Where you sleep
Handpicked stays on this route
Independent · Luxury
Yangshuo Camphor Villa
Villas scattered across the karst hills above Yima village, with twenty-four-hour butler service and the best night sky in Guangxi.
- Welcome amenities with hot and cold drinks
- Daily breakfast and afternoon tea with fresh fruit
- Twenty-four-hour butler service
- In-house photo session
From US$620 per night
Valid to 2026-10-31
The Peak · Luxury
The Sugar Loaf
A disused sugar mill on the Li River bank, turned into a design hotel with a clifftop infinity pool. The most photographed address in Yangshuo.
- Breakfast for two adults and one child
- In-house lifestyle photo session
- Welcome fruit and daily minibar soft drinks
- Room upgrade
From US$220 per night
Valid to 2026-10-31
Practicalities
The things to get right before departure
Visa and entry
A mainland visa is required. Guilin and Yangshuo are in the standard visa-on-arrival eligible list for most Western passports.
Getting between the cities
Guilin Liangjiang airport is 45 to 60 minutes from Yangshuo by car. High-speed rail reaches Guilin North from Guangzhou in about 2 hours 30 minutes and from Shanghai in roughly 5 hours. From Guilin station to Yangshuo by car takes around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Questions
Asked by travellers on this route
Is the Li River bamboo raft suitable for children or older travellers?
The bamboo raft is flat, stable and seated throughout, so it is fine for most travellers. It is about two hours with stops. Some sections have stepping stones to get on and off, which is the only step to be aware of.
What is the best time of year for Yangshuo?
April to June for clear karst views and comfortable temperatures, and September to November for the clearest air after the summer rains. December to February is cold and frequently misty, though the mist has its own appeal.
Do I need a bamboo raft and a cruise at the same time?
No. The bamboo raft on the Yangshuo–Xingping section and the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo are different experiences on different stretches of water. Most travellers do the raft, which is the more scenic of the two.
How do I get to Yangshuo from Guilin?
By car it is roughly 1 hour 20 minutes. There is also a bus from Guilin North railway station. For a small group, a private car is quicker and far more comfortable.
Can I see the Longji rice terraces from Yangshuo?
Not directly — Longji is a full day north of Guilin. If the terraces are on your list, add two days to the route rather than trying to fold them into the four.