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5-Day Guilin & Yangshuo Itinerary 2026: Li River, Karst Peaks, and Longji Rice Terraces

Five days through Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River cruise, Reed Flute Cave, Longji Rice Terraces, and the karst mountain bike loop.

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5-Day Guilin & Yangshuo Itinerary 2026: Li River, Karst Peaks, and Longji Rice Terraces cover photo

TL;DR

Guilin and Yangshuo are China's most iconic landscape — limestone karst peaks rising from flat rice paddies, bamboo rafts on the Li River, and old villages. Five days is right. Day 1: arrive, Two Rivers Four Lakes walking. Day 2: Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4 hours, the highlight). Day 3: Yangshuo countryside bike loop. Day 4: Longji Rice Terraces day trip. Day 5: Reed Flute Cave, depart. Budget ¥2,800–5,500 for the week depending on hotel and cruise tier.
Duration5 days
Best forNature, Adventure, Families
Pricing$450 (backpacker) / $1000 (mid-range) / $2400+ (luxury) per person

Day-by-day breakdown

  1. DAY 1

    Guilin arrival and city lakes

    • Arrive at Guilin Liangjiang Airport; airport bus or Didi to downtown (¥80, 45 min)
    • Check into hotel near Zhengyang Pedestrian Street
    • Afternoon: Two Rivers Four Lakes walking — see Sun and Moon Pagodas, glass bridges, and Shan Lake (¥160 combo ticket, 3 hours)
    • Evening: Zhengyang Pedestrian Street for local Guilin rice noodles (mifen)
    Stay
    Central Guilin near Zhengyang Street
    Meals
    B: flight · L: airport · D: Guilin rice noodles at a street shop (¥15)
  2. DAY 2

    Li River cruise to Yangshuo

    • Departure: Guilin Zhujiang Wharf at 9:00am for the 4-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo (¥450 second class, ¥600 first class)
    • Highlights: Xingping Ancient Town section (the ¥20 banknote view), Nine-Horse Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal
    • Arrive Yangshuo around 1:30pm; check into hotel near West Street
    • Evening: West Street walking, beer at a foreigner-friendly pub, local beer fish (啤酒鱼) dinner
    Stay
    Yangshuo West Street or nearby countryside
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: cruise lunch box · D: West Street beer fish
  3. DAY 3

    Yangshuo countryside bike loop

    • Morning: rent a bike (¥30/day) or e-scooter (¥80/day) for the Yulong River and Moon Hill loop (25 km)
    • Cross the Yulong River on a bamboo raft (¥200 per raft, 4 people) — most photogenic section
    • Lunch: rural farmhouse restaurant in Jiuxian village
    • Afternoon: Moon Hill climb (¥10) — 30 min to the top for karst panorama, or skip for the iconic photo from below
    • Evening: Impression Liu Sanjie light show on the Li River (¥260, directed by Zhang Yimou)
    Stay
    same as Day 2
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: farmhouse · D: West Street
  4. DAY 4

    Longji Rice Terraces day trip

    • Morning: shuttle bus from Yangshuo to Longji (Ping'an) Rice Terraces (¥80, 2 hours)
    • Longji entrance (¥100) — hike the Ping'an or Dazhai village loop; allow 3–4 hours of walking
    • Lunch: Zhuang ethnic minority farmhouse meal — bamboo rice, smoked pork, fermented vegetables
    • Return to Yangshuo by late afternoon
    • Evening: rest day, massage at a Yangshuo spa (¥200/hour)
    Stay
    same as Day 2
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: Zhuang farmhouse · D: light dinner in Yangshuo
  5. DAY 5

    Reed Flute Cave and departure

    • Morning: bus back to Guilin (1.5 hours)
    • Reed Flute Cave (¥90) — 180-million-year-old limestone cave with colored lighting; allow 1.5 hours
    • Afternoon: depart from Guilin (flights or HSR to Hongqiao Shanghai, 8 hours, or Kunming, 5 hours)
    Meals
    B: hotel · L: Guilin noodle shop · D: train/flight

What is included

Included

  • Hotels (4 nights)
  • Daily breakfast
  • Li River cruise
  • Longji shuttle and entrance
  • Reed Flute Cave

Not included

  • International flights
  • Bike/e-scooter rental
  • Impression Liu Sanjie show
  • Lunches and dinners not listed

Frequently asked questions

Can I do this itinerary from Guilin only without moving hotels?
Yes — there is a bus network that lets you base in Guilin for the whole trip. But Yangshuo overnight is far more atmospheric and saves 2 hours of daily commuting.
Is the Li River cruise worth it vs. a bamboo raft?
Different experiences. The 4-hour cruise is the classic full panorama. Bamboo rafts on the Yulong River (Yangshuo) are smaller-scale and more peaceful. Do both if you have time.
When is the best season for rice terraces?
Late May–June (flooded terraces, mirror effect) and late September–October (golden harvest). Winter terraces are still beautiful but water levels are low.
Is Yangshuo safe for kids?
Very — most activities are bike-friendly and gentle. The bamboo rafts are stationary (not whitewater), the bike loop is flat, and Impression Liu Sanjie is family-appropriate. Skip Moon Hill if your child is too young to climb.

References

  1. Li River cruise official booking
  2. Longji Rice Terraces tourism
  3. Yangshuo tourism

Written by

NihaoVisit Editorial Team

Travel research team · Regular policy and price audits

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