Paradise Guilin & Yangshuo Tour

In the morning, followed by the hotel pick-up, we’ll head to the dock for a 4-hour Li River cruise to explore the essence of Guilin’s karst beauty!

While Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, nicknamed “Guilin on the Sea”, is famous for its vast seascape of 3,000 limestone islands, the Li River offers a more intimate and serene encounter with karst landscapes. Here, the peaks are not solitary pillars in the sea, but lively clusters that frame a pastoral paradise of quaint villages, emerald rice paddies, and grazing water buffalo. You’ll find yourself immersed in a living Chinese ink painting, where the narrow, tranquil river creates a sense of peace that open waters cannot match. As you cruise past iconic landmarks like Five Fingers Hill, Nine Horses Mural Hill, and Yellow Cloth Shoal, your guide will share the enchanting legends behind these formations and help you capture perfect photos. Have a simple lunch box onboard and continue to cruise to Yangshuo.

★ Yangshuo Countryside Cycling: A Pastoral Journey on Wheels

After disembarking, your guide and the driver will escort you to your hotel for check-in and then we’ll explore what Yangshuo offers by bicycle. After pedaling for a while with your guide, you’ll reach the iconic Gongnong Bridge, a perfect spot to observe bamboo rafts floating down the Yulong River below. As tourists reach the end of their journey, you’ll witness a unique local rhythm: the raftsmen poling toward the shore in a line. Once lifted from the water by machine, the rafts will be pushed horizontally onto trucks and stacked layer by layer for transportation back to the upstream. Let’s bike ahead to the Big Banyan Tree Scenic Area to witness the “divine banyan tree” revered by locals, perhaps taking a moment to relax on a nearby swing. Continue along country lanes, enjoy a natural agricultural display, with green rice seedlings heralding spring, or rows of cabbages and radishes forming geometric patterns in autumn. Midway through the journey, your guide will lead you to a local farmer’s home. These traditional dwellings, often adorned with bamboo fences and fragrant osmanthus trees, offer a wonderful opportunity to interact with a local family and learn about rural life.
 Tip: Don’t worry if biking isn’t your thing; we can arrange a private car transfer for you to enjoy all the sights.

Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel for rest.

► Evening Inspiration: (at your own expense)
We suggest spending your free evening strolling down the famous West Street. It is the perfect place to sample local delicacies like Beer Fish, Bamboo Tube Rice, and Osmanthus Cake while soaking in the vibrant nightlife. For an unforgettable night, don’t miss the “Impression Sanjie Liu” performance. Set against a breathtaking backdrop of 12 karst peaks, hundreds of local performers and fishermen bring the Li River to life with folk songs and lights, celebrating the harmony between nature and humanity. If you’re interested, your guide or hotel front desk can easily assist with ticket bookings.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch box

Today is yours to explore Yangshuo at your leisure! Consider wandering down West Street, once a bustling hub for foreigners who sojourned for stunning scenery and took up roles like English teachers or guesthouse owners. To catch a glimpse of Yangshuo’s nostalgic charm, find a quiet cafe, settle in, and admire the mountain views through the window. For adventurers, Yangshuo is an outdoor playground offering world-class hiking, cycling, rock climbing, and cave exploration. Using the cycling map provided by your hotel, you can plan your own journey through this small yet enigmatic world.

 Insider Tips: Before venturing out, it would be helpful to check out our Guilin city guide for information about attractions or transportation. Be cautious of locals trying to hawk tickets, as they might lead you to out-of-the-way viewpoints for an extra fee.

 Alternative: Guided Full-Day Cultural Experience

If you prefer a structured day, we can customize a guided tour for you. Below is a popular full-day schedule for your reference. Feel free to contact our travel consultants for more details.

Start your day with a morning cooking class. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and head to a local vegetable market to meet your chef. Together, you’ll select seasonal ingredients before heading to the kitchen to learn how to prepare four classic dishes. Whether it’s Spicy Diced Chicken with Peanuts, the famous Beer Fish, Braised Eggplant, or Fried Rice Noodles, you’ll learn the secrets of Chinese cuisine and enjoy your masterpieces for lunch. In the afternoon, step back in time at Old County Village, which dates back 1,400 years. The village is an architectural treasure, featuring traditional Horse Head Walls and classic southern Chinese sloping roofs. From here, board a bamboo raft for a serene journey along the Yulong River. Drift down the glassy, peaceful waters and soak in the silence of the countryside.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

As your 4 days Guilin Yangshuo tour package comes to an end, your guide and the driver will escort you back to Guilin after meeting at your hotel. But don’t pack your camera just yet, as we’ll make a stop at Xianggong Mountain along the way, one of the greatest vantage points of panoramic views of the Li River. After a gentle 15 to 20 minutes’ climb to the summit, you’ll behold the Li River’s U-shaped bend shimmering in the sunlight, framed by karst peaks weaving in and out of the clouds. Trust us, the view from the observation platform’s left side is more spectacular!

After capturing these final memorable moments, your guide and the driver will continue to escort you to the Guilin airport or train station and see you off. Safe travels!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast