Guilin One Day Tours 2026 & 2027

The Mindless Choice: Enjoy a 4-hour Li River cruise downstream to Yangshuo, taking in stunning karst peaks. Upon arrival, experience the idyllic charm by cycling along the Ten-Mile Gallery after a quick glimpse of West Street.

For Multiple-experience Seekers: After a 2-hour land transfer to Yangshuo, stretch your legs with picturesque countryside cycling and enjoy bamboo rafting on the Yulong River. Next, head to nearby Xingping Ancient Town to see the well-known Nine Horses Mural Hill and the scene from the CNY 20 note; alternatively, overlooking the panoramic Li River from Xianggong Mountain is also a popular choice.

For Cultural Explorers: Take a 2-hour car ride to Longsheng to admire the Longji Rice Terraces, built by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups thousands of years ago. Or else, take a 30-to-60-minute high-speed train to Sanjiang or Congjiang to explore Dong villages, famous for their covered bridges and drum towers.

Please note: All of our Guilin day tour itineraries are full-day experiences. While we offer pick-up services from the airport and train stations, we advise arriving before 9:00 a.m. and departing after 8:00 p.m. to avoid a rushed schedule. Arriving a day early and staying an extra night will maximize your sightseeing opportunities. FYI: It takes about 1 hour to reach downtown from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, while the railway stations are within a 10-to-30-minute transfer.

Rent a bicycle to ride along the Ten-Mile Gallery, admiring the countryside scenery and stopping at the Big Banyan Tree and Moon Hill. You can also enjoy the Yulong River by hiking along its banks or taking a bamboo raft. Since there are limited attractions in the town center beyond West Street and Yangshuo Park, consider heading to Xianggong Mountain or Laozhai Mountain for a captivating sunset.

The most popular way to is the 4-hour Li River cruise, which serves as both scenic transportation and a chance to fully immerse yourself in the limestone peaks. For those arriving by air, a 1.5-hour shuttle bus from Terminal 2 of Guilin Liangjiang International Airport costs CNY 60 (USD 9) and goes directly to Yangshuo. Alternatively, you can take high-speed trains to Yangshuo in 30 minutes, but keep in mind that the train station is near Xingping Ancient Town, about a 1-hour drive from downtown Yangshuo. To avoid these logistical hurdles, consider booking a Guilin day trip with us to enjoy professional English guide service and hassle-free private transfers between the two cities.

Absolutely! Bamboo rafting on the Yulong River is a highlight of our Guilin one day tour packages. You’ll enjoy an unprecedentedly serene experience as the boatman manually steer the raft with a traditional pole. Connect closely with nature and observe the villagers’ authentic lives. A thrilling aspect of the trip is navigating dams with drops of 0.5 to 2 meters; you might get a little wet, but that’s part of the excitement!

However, we advise against bamboo rafting on the main Li River waterway, where larger cruise ships can create safety concerns. Additionally, unregulated management and motorized rafts there may detract from your overall experience.

You can take a shuttle bus from Guilin Railway Station or Qintan Coach Station to reach the Longji Rice Terraces, aka Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, taking 2.5 hours and costing CNY50 to 60 (USD 7 to 9). Upon arrival, transfer to any one of the three parts via the scenic area’s sightseeing bus. Remember to wear comfy shoes and bring sun protection for your exploration.

Exploring the terraces typically takes 1 to 2 days. The Jinkeng Terraces offer unbeatable comprehensive views with steep fields, and you can effortlessly reach the highest viewpoint by cable car. Alternatively, the Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces maintain a primitive character with well-preserved stilt houses. For family travel, Ping’an Terraces are the best option due to the accessibility and developed infrastructure. Here, you can enjoy the viewpoints of “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers” and “Seven Stars Chasing the Moon”, and stay overnight in relatively better guesthouses within the scenic area.

Generally, the best times are late April to June and September to early October. During these months, you can witness farmers busy planting rice seedlings in the irrigated terraces or harvesting the golden crops. Due to the high volume of tourists during the National Day holiday (the first seven days of October), late September is considered the optimal time to visit the terraces.

Besides, the Jinkeng Rice Terraces host the Clothes Drying Festival in mid-to-late July, when you can gain deep insights into the Red Yao ethnic group’s unique culture and customs through costume-making demonstrations, long-hair combing performances, and large-scale wedding ceremonies.