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Code: GL15
1-Day Li River Essence Hiking Tour
This hiking route leads backpackers to enjoy the essential section of the Li River. Besides the symbolic karst landscape of clear water and isolated hills, the refreshing rural scenery along the way can be another highlight of this one-day independent Guilin tour.
Hiking Route: Xianggong Hill - Laocuntou Village - Lengshui Ferry - Mural Hill - Yellow Cloth Shoal - Arhat Hill - Xingping Town
You can take a bus from Guilin South Bus Station to Yangshuo and get off midway at Putao Town. It is a very small town, where you can only charter a minibus to reach the Xianggong Hill, the starting point of your hiking tour. Follow the country road northwards to Laocuntou Village and continue heading for Lengshui Ferry. Take a raft to the other bank of the river and then trek southwards along the river to finally reach Xingping Ancient Town.
After visiting the ancient town, you may get on a bus at Xingping Bus Station to reach Yangshuo Railway Station in around 10 minutes; then take a high speed train back to Guilin and it takes you less than one hour on the way. Alternatively, you can extend this one-day independent Guilin tour to Yangshuo by bus.
Cost:
Highlights of this One-Day Li River Hiking Route
Tips:
1. Don't go for a hike alone. Find yourself some companions.
2. A pair of comfortable hiking shoes is necessary, and it should be waterproof and anti-slip.
3. It is suggested that you prepare some food, snacks, and bottled water in advance so that you can replenish energy during the hiking. Besides, you may encounter some farmhouses along the way, where you can have a short rest or try a simple meal.
Hiking Route: Xianggong Hill - Laocuntou Village - Lengshui Ferry - Mural Hill - Yellow Cloth Shoal - Arhat Hill - Xingping Town
![]() Xianggong Hill |
![]() Laocuntou Village |
You can take a bus from Guilin South Bus Station to Yangshuo and get off midway at Putao Town. It is a very small town, where you can only charter a minibus to reach the Xianggong Hill, the starting point of your hiking tour. Follow the country road northwards to Laocuntou Village and continue heading for Lengshui Ferry. Take a raft to the other bank of the river and then trek southwards along the river to finally reach Xingping Ancient Town.
Mural Hill |
Xingping Ancient Town |
After visiting the ancient town, you may get on a bus at Xingping Bus Station to reach Yangshuo Railway Station in around 10 minutes; then take a high speed train back to Guilin and it takes you less than one hour on the way. Alternatively, you can extend this one-day independent Guilin tour to Yangshuo by bus.
Cost:
Guilin - Putao Town bus ticket | CNY15 | |
Minibus from Putao Town to Xianggong Hill | CNY 80 per car | |
Admission Fee of Xianggong Hill | CNY 60 | |
Raft at Lengshui Ferry | CNY 10 | |
Xingping - Guilin | Bus ticket of Xingping - Yangshuo Railway Station | CNY 5 |
Second-Class seat of a high speed train from Yangshuo to Guilin | CNY 20 | |
Xingping – Yangshuo bus ticket | CNY 7 |
Highlights of this One-Day Li River Hiking Route
Xianggong Hill | It is praised to be the best viewing point of the Li River and the surrounding rolling hills. You may spend about 15 minutes climbing to the top to capture the most beautiful scenery of the river and hills. |
Mural Hill | The cliff is so smooth that it seems like being cut by a sharp knife. It serves as a natural 'canvas' with plants drawing out the profiles of nine horses. |
Yellow Cloth Shoal | There is a large yellow slabstone beneath the river, which looks just like a yellow cloth laid flat on the riverbed. This scene is one of the essential spots along the Li River and was selected to be the background image of the CNY 20 bank note. |
Xingping Ancient Town |
It is a historical township by the clear Li River and in the arm of green hills. White walls, grey tiles, and flagstone-paved lanes there well present the original looking of the town. Along the main street, you can find many shops selling various kinds of souvenirs. There are also restaurants providing authentic local cuisines. You may have a taste of them before leaving the town. |
1. Don't go for a hike alone. Find yourself some companions.
2. A pair of comfortable hiking shoes is necessary, and it should be waterproof and anti-slip.
3. It is suggested that you prepare some food, snacks, and bottled water in advance so that you can replenish energy during the hiking. Besides, you may encounter some farmhouses along the way, where you can have a short rest or try a simple meal.
Hiking around Guilin:5 days to Longsheng - Guilin - Yangshuo
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Is the hiking from Yangdi to Xingping now open?
Best regards
Is it possible to hike from Xingping to Shuiyantou?
How long will this take? Can I get a bamboo raft back to Xingping at the end?
Is the bamboo raft from Yangdi to Mural Hill (Jiu Ma Hua Shan) possible at the end of december? Is it a good period to do the hike from Mural Hill to Xingping ?
Many thanks in advance.