Guilin & Yangshuo Tour

China's Landscape Trip

Where Beijing and Shanghai center on cities and history, Guilin and Yangshuo center entirely on landscape. This 5-day itinerary is built around the region's karst limestone scenery, the towering, rounded peaks that have made this stretch of the Li River one of the most recognizable natural landscapes in China, appearing on everything from tourism posters to the country's own currency.

Arriving in Guilin

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) serves as the arrival and departure point. Staying near the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, a scenic waterway system running through central Guilin, puts travelers close to the city's illuminated evening scenery, including the Sun and Moon Pagodas, twin gold and silver towers that light up over the water after dark, an easy first-evening stop after arrival.

The Li River Cruise

Day 2 covers the journey most travelers come to Guilin specifically for: a roughly four-hour cruise down the Li River from Zhujiang pier to Yangshuo. The river passes directly beneath the limestone karst peaks that have appeared on China's twenty-yuan banknote, and the cruise is generally considered one of the most scenic river journeys in the country. Arriving in Yangshuo by early afternoon leaves the evening free to explore West Street, the town's pedestrian core lined with cafes, bars, and shops, busy well into the night.

Yangshuo's Countryside

Day 3 moves away from the main river to explore Yangshuo's quieter countryside. A bamboo raft ride down the Yulong River offers a slower, more intimate view of the karst scenery than the wider Li River cruise, with far less boat traffic. Cycling or riding through the surrounding rice fields to Moon Hill, named for the large natural arch near its summit, adds a physical, hands-on element to the day that contrasts with the previous day's cruise. After dark, the Impression Liu Sanjie outdoor light show, staged directly on the river with the karst peaks as a natural backdrop and directed by renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou, closes the day with one of the region's best-known cultural performances.

Longji Rice Terraces

Day 4 shifts north to the Longji Rice Terraces, a dramatic hillside landscape shaped by centuries of terraced farming. Walking between the Zhuang and Yao ethnic villages scattered across the terraces offers a look at the region's minority cultures alongside the agricultural scenery itself, with the terraces falling away in tiers below the walking paths. The return to Guilin for the final night closes the loop that began with the Day 2 departure.

Departure

The final morning is left free for either Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's most iconic natural landmark shaped like an elephant drinking from the river, or Reed Flute Cave, known for its colorfully lit stalactites and stalagmites, before the transfer to the airport.

Best Time to Visit

April through October generally offers the greenest countryside and clearest river views for this itinerary, with the rice terraces at Longji particularly striking during the planting season in late spring and the harvest in early autumn. Winter months bring cooler, greyer conditions that can dull the region's usually vivid scenery.

Practical Notes for Nepali Travelers

Chinese Yuan (CNY) is the local currency, and mobile payment apps are widely used, though cash is useful for smaller vendors in Yangshuo and along the Longji terraces. Comfortable, sturdy footwear matters throughout, particularly for the Moon Hill cycling day and the terraced walking paths at Longji, which involve uneven and sometimes steep terrain. Sun protection is worth packing given the amount of time spent outdoors on the river and in the countryside across this itinerary.

Plan your China trip from Nepal

Before you book, Nepali and NRN travellers should review the China visa for Nepali citizens. For planning, read the best places to visit in China and the best time to visit China. Compare every itinerary on our China tour packages for Nepali travellers page, or see the official China UNESCO World Heritage Sites.