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★ Itinerary · 6 days · 4 UNESCO sites
6-Day Guilin-Yangshuo-Longji Itinerary 2026: Karst Scenery and Rice Terraces
A 6-day itinerary through Guilin's karst landscape: Li River cruise, Yangshuo countryside, Longji (Dragon's Backbone) rice terraces, and Reed Flute Cave.
Quick Answer
What is this 6-day itinerary like?
This 6-day itinerary covers 4 UNESCO sites, involves 22 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $880.
Day by day
Book this trip →Six days covers the full Guilin experience: 2 days Guilin city, 2 days Yangshuo, 2 days Longji rice terraces. Combine with Hong Kong or Zhangjiazie for a longer trip. Fly into Guilin Liangjiang (KWL).
1
Day 1 · Mon
Guilin arrival
Arrive Guilin Liangjiang (KWL) · Two Rivers Four Lakes walk · Zhengyang Pedestrian Street · Evening: local rice noodles
- 09:00Arrive Guilin Liangjiang
KWL
- 11:00Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
- 13:00Zhengyang Pedestrian Street
Zhengyang Pedestrian Street
- 15:00Evening: local rice noodles
Evening: local rice noodles
🏨Stay tonightGuilin city center· B: hotel · L: Guilin rice noodles · D: local
2
Day 2 · Tue
Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill
Reed Flute Cave (¥90) — illuminated karst cave · Elephant Trunk Hill (¥55) · Fubo Hill (¥15) · Evening: night cruise Two Rivers Four Lakes (¥220)
- 09:00Reed Flute Cave
¥90) illuminated karst cave
- 11:00Elephant Trunk Hill
¥55
- 13:00Fubo Hill
¥15
- 15:00Evening: night cruise Two Rivers Four Lakes
¥220
🏨Stay tonightSame hotel· B: hotel · L: Guilin · D: night cruise
3
Day 3 · Wed
Li River cruise to Yangshuo
Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (4h, ¥450) · Arrive Yangshuo, check in · West Street walk
- 09:00Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo
4h, ¥450
- 11:00Arrive Yangshuo, check in
Arrive Yangshuo, check in
- 13:00West Street walk
West Street walk
🏨Stay tonightYangshuo West Street· B: hotel · L: cruise · D: beer fish
4
Day 4 · Thu
Yangshuo countryside
Bike ride Yulong River area · Bamboo raft on Yulong River (¥150) · Moon Hill · Impression Liu Sanjie show (¥260)
- 09:00Bike ride Yulong River area
Bike ride Yulong River area
- 11:00Bamboo raft on Yulong River
¥150
- 13:00Moon Hill
Moon Hill
- 15:00Impression Liu Sanjie show
¥260
🏨Stay tonightSame hotel· B: hotel · L: countryside · D: Yangshuo
5
Day 5 · Fri
Transfer to Longji rice terraces
Morning: Xingping ancient town + Li River photo spot (¥20 banknote) · Bus to Longji (2.5h, ¥50) · Check into Ping'an Zhuang village inn · Sunset over the rice terraces
- 09:00Morning: Xingping ancient town + Li River photo spot
¥20 banknote
- 11:00Bus to Longji
2.5h, ¥50
- 13:00Check into Ping'an Zhuang village inn
Check into Ping'an Zhuang village inn
- 15:00Sunset over the rice terraces
Sunset over the rice terraces
🏨Stay tonightLongji Ping'an village inn· B: hotel · L: transit · D: Zhuang cuisine
6
Day 6 · Sat
Longji terraces and return
Sunrise over the terraces · Hike Ping'an to Dazhai (3-4h) · Return to Guilin · Departure
- 09:00Sunrise over the terraces
Sunrise over the terraces
- 11:00Hike Ping'an to Dazhai
3 4h
- 13:00Return to Guilin
Return to Guilin
- 15:00Departure
Departure
✈️DepartureHotel· B: inn · L: hike · D: airport
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 6 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Lock in the essentials before you fly
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Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 6 days too long for a first trip?
No — 6 days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.