Guilin and Yangshuo in 3–4 days: the Li River, bamboo rafts and karst hills

In short: Guilin and Yangshuo in the Guangxi region are China's most famous landscape: hundreds of conical karst hills along the Li River, familiar from Chinese paintings and the 20-yuan banknote. The Chinese say 桂林山水甲天下 – "Guilin's scenery is the finest under heaven". The highlights are the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (about 4 hours), cycling and rafting on the Yulong River, and an evening in Yangshuo. You need 3 days, or 4–5 days with the Longji rice terraces. Before you go: cruise and raft tickets are bought online with your passport, and in high season they sell out days ahead. The best months are April–May and September–November.

What surprised us most in China was how clean it is, even in places packed with tourists – and Guilin and Yangshuo are among the most visited in the whole country.

Correct as of 14 October 2026. Check ticket prices and booking rules before you travel. Amounts in yuan are converted at the National Bank of Poland rate into the currency you pick in the site menu.

What to see in Guilin and Yangshuo: 10 places

1. The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo

China's most famous river trip: about 60 km and 4 hours past hills, bamboo groves and fishing villages. Boats leave in the morning from Mopanshan Pier (磨盘山码头) outside Guilin – an hour by bus from the centre – and arrive in the middle of Yangshuo. A ticket on a 3-star boat costs about ¥215 (about 125 PLN), and on a 4-star boat with a buffet about ¥360 (about 209 PLN). The finest stretch is Yangdi to Xingping, so head up to the top deck then.

2. Xingping and the 20-yuan note view

An old town on the Li River halfway to Yangshuo. Right next to it is a free viewpoint over the hills you'll find on the back of the 20-yuan banknote. If you're up for it, climb Laozhai Hill (老寨山): about 30 minutes of steep steps to a pavilion with one of the best views of the river bend. Shorter Li River rafts also leave from Xingping (below).

3. Rafting the Li River

A shorter, more intimate version of the cruise: a raft (usually motorised, up to 4 people) on the Yangdi–Xingping stretch or from Xingping towards Nine Horse Fresco Hill. It takes 1–1.5 hours and costs about ¥120 (about 70 PLN)–¥255 (about 148 PLN) per person, depending on the stretch. Book only through official channels – illegal rafts touted from the riverbank have no insurance or life jackets.

4. Elephant Trunk Hill

Guilin's symbol: a limestone rock by the Li River shaped like an elephant drinking, its "trunk" arch reflected in the water. Entry to the park is free but needs a booking 1–7 days ahead in the "象鼻山景区" WeChat mini program (open 7:00–21:30). There's also a good view from the opposite bank, no booking needed.

5. The Sun and Moon Pagodas

The golden copper Sun Pagoda and the white Moon Pagoda stand on Shan Lake in the centre of Guilin. They look best after dark, when they're lit up. A walk along the shore is free, and the evening "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" cruise (两江四湖) through the city's canals and lakes takes about 1.5 hours and costs about ¥150 (about 87 PLN)–¥200 (about 116 PLN).

6. Reed Flute Cave

A karst cave (芦笛岩) in northern Guilin, with stalactites and stalagmites lit by coloured lamps – the visit takes about an hour. A ticket costs about ¥90 (about 52 PLN) (slightly less online the day before). A good option for a rainy afternoon.

7. Cycling and rafting the Yulong River

The best thing to do in Yangshuo: rent a bike or an e-scooter (¥30 (about 17 PLN)–¥80 (about 46 PLN) a day) and ride along the Yulong River (遇龙河), past rice paddies, water buffalo and hills, over Ming-dynasty stone bridges. A bamboo raft with a boatman takes 1–1.5 hours, and a raft for 2 costs about ¥255 (about 148 PLN)–¥320 (about 186 PLN), depending on the stretch.

8. West Street in Yangshuo

Yangshuo's oldest street (西街), with stone houses, cafés, bars and souvenir shops. Pleasant by day, very loud in the evening – the music from the bars carries down the whole street. Free.

9. Impression Liu Sanjie

An evening spectacle on the Li River by director Zhang Yimou: hundreds of performers on the water, with twelve illuminated hills as the backdrop. It lasts about 70 minutes, and tickets cost about ¥200 (about 116 PLN)–¥400 (about 232 PLN) depending on the seat. The show usually takes a break before Lunar New Year.

10. The Longji rice terraces

The Dragon's Backbone terraces (龙脊梯田) climb the mountainsides 2–2.5 hours' drive north of Guilin. There are two villages: Ping'an of the Zhuang people, reached by stone steps, and Dazhai of the Yao people, with a cable car. A ticket costs about ¥80 (about 46 PLN), and the bus from Guilin about ¥50 (about 29 PLN). They're most beautiful in spring, when the flooded terraces mirror the sky, and in autumn before the harvest, when they turn gold. It's best to stay a night in one of the villages.

Tickets and bookings: what to buy before you go

How many days in Guilin and Yangshuo

• 2 days: the Li River cruise to Yangshuo and an evening on West Street, then a day cycling and rafting the Yulong River. Guilin only in passing.
• 3 days: a first day in Guilin (Elephant Trunk Hill, the pagodas at night), then the cruise and a day in Yangshuo – as in our itinerary.
• 4–5 days: add Xingping with Laozhai Hill or the Longji terraces with a night in a village.

In From the Avatar Mountains to Hong Kong, Guilin and Yangshuo get 3 days: an evening in Guilin, the Li River cruise with a night in Yangshuo, and a day on the Yulong River before the train to Guangzhou. The itinerary ends in Hong Kong (what to see in Hong Kong).

What to eat in Guilin and Yangshuo

• Guilin mifen (桂林米粉): rice noodles with marinated pork, crispy crackling, peanuts and pickles. A bowl costs ¥10 (about 6 PLN)–¥15 (about 9 PLN) and it's the city's favourite breakfast.
• Beer fish (啤酒鱼, pijiu yu): Yangshuo's speciality – Li River fish braised in beer with tomatoes and peppers.
• Yangshuo stuffed vegetables (酿菜): peppers, aubergines, mushrooms and pumpkin flowers stuffed with meat.
• Oil tea (油茶): a thick, slightly bitter brew with toasted toppings, loved by the mountain peoples around Longji.

More on China's regional food: There is no such thing as Chinese food – a flavour map of China.

Getting there and getting around

• By air: Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) is about 30 km from the centre. Coming from Europe, it's often easiest to fly to Guangzhou and take the train (First time in China).
• By train: Guangzhou South to Guilin takes 2–3 hours (Guilin to Guangzhou by train), and Yangshuo station to Guangzhou 2–2.5 hours. There are no direct trains from Zhangjiajie to Guilin – you go via Changsha South in 5.5–7 hours (what to see in Zhangjiajie). Guilin's main high-speed station is Guilin North (桂林北站).
• From Guilin to Yangshuo: most scenic by boat along the Li River (4 hours). Fastest by high-speed train from Guilin North to Yangshuo station (about 25 minutes, ¥26 (about 15 PLN)–¥34 (about 20 PLN)), but the station is about 35 km from town – then a bus or taxi of about 40 minutes. A bus from Guilin's bus station goes straight to central Yangshuo in about 70 minutes.
• Getting around: in Guilin, walk, take buses or DiDi; in Yangshuo, use a bike, an e-scooter or taxis. Show the driver the address in Chinese (China without Google Maps).

Where to stay in Guilin and Yangshuo

In Guilin the most convenient base is the centre, between the Li River and Shan and Rong Lakes: you can walk to the pagodas, Elephant Trunk Hill and Zhengyang Street, and the cruise transfer often picks up at your hotel. In Yangshuo the loveliest stays are guesthouses among the fields along the Yulong River – quiet, with hill views, but you'll need a bike or taxi. By West Street everything is on your doorstep, but evenings are noisy. Xingping's old town is a calm alternative. When booking, check that the hotel accepts foreigners (common mistakes in China).

When to visit Guilin and Yangshuo

The best months are April to May and September to November. October is dry and warm (about 26°C by day), and the Longji terraces are golden. Most rain falls from April to July, especially in May and June; after downpours the river runs high and muddy, and cruises can be cancelled. Summers are hot and humid (about 33°C in July). Winters are mild (about 12°C by day and 6°C at night in January) and quiet, but low water shortens the cruises. Mist over the hills isn't a drawback here – it's the look of a Chinese painting. Avoid public holidays (1–7 October and early May). More: When is the best time to visit China?

Guilin and Yangshuo in our itinerary

In the itinerary Guilin and Yangshuo are planned hour by hour: from the train from Hunan and an evening by the pagodas, through the Li River cruise with its best stretch at Xingping, to cycling and rafting the Yulong River and the train to Guangzhou, with ticket prices, food tips and addresses in Chinese.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Guilin and Yangshuo?

Three days are enough for Guilin, the Li River cruise and a day in Yangshuo on the Yulong River. With the Longji rice terraces or a quiet day in Xingping, plan 4–5 days.

Li River cruise or raft?

For a first visit, the cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo: 4 hours, the whole finest stretch of the river, arriving right in town. A raft on the Yangdi–Xingping stretch is shorter and closer to the water, but no cheaper, and you still have to get to Yangshuo afterwards. For a gentle bamboo raft ride, go for the Yulong River.

Where is the 20-yuan note view?

At Xingping, on the Li River halfway between Guilin and Yangshuo. The viewpoint is free, and the boats from Guilin pass right by it. From Yangshuo it's about 40 minutes to Xingping by bus or taxi.

Guilin or Yangshuo – where to stay?

With 3 days, spend one night in Guilin and the rest in Yangshuo. Yangshuo sits right in the middle of the landscape of hills and the Yulong River, while Guilin is the bigger city with the airport, the high-speed station and the cruise pier.

Zhangjiajie or Guilin?

They're completely different landscapes: in Zhangjiajie you climb stairs among vertical pillars, while in Guilin and Yangshuo you float down the river and cycle among karst hills. Our From the Avatar Mountains to Hong Kong itinerary combines both. More: what to see in Zhangjiajie.

Do I need a visa for Guilin?

Citizens of 50 countries, including most of the EU, the UK, Canada and Australia, can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days under a scheme that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens can use the 240-hour visa-free transit or get a visa. Details and current rules: China visa-free.

Sources

• Wanderinchina: Li River cruise (2026), Yulong River rafting (2026) and Longji rice terraces (2026)
• China for Travelers: Guilin to Yangshuo
• Wikipedia: Li River, Yangshuo, Elephant Trunk Hill and Longji Rice Terraces
• Climate: China Meteorological Administration, 1991–2020 averages (as in When is the best time to visit China?)
• Our From the Avatar Mountains to Hong Kong itinerary (as of October 2026); photos from Wikimedia Commons (authors and licences in the captions)

Guilin and Yangshuo in a ready-made itinerary

In our itinerary Guilin and Yangshuo are part of a 13-day route from the Zhangjiajie mountains to Hong Kong, planned hour by hour: with the Li River cruise, cycling along the Yulong River, ticket prices, food tips and addresses in Chinese for the taxi driver. See From the Avatar Mountains to Hong Kong.