Exploring the Guilin region requires moving through three distinct geographic bases: Guilin City, the rural karst countryside of Yangshuo, and the mountainous Longji Rice Terraces. A four-day itinerary allows you to connect these landscapes without backtracking.
Day 1 begins in Guilin with an ascent of Elephant Trunk Hill or Fubo Hill overlooking the city center before boarding an early morning 4-star Li River cruise to Yangshuo. Arrive in Yangshuo by early afternoon, check into a countryside resort along the Yulong River, and spend the afternoon cycling or e-biking past limestone towers and pomelo groves. In the evening, watch the open-air Impression Sanjie Liu light show staged on the natural waters of the Li River.
Day 2 is spent drifting on hand-punted bamboo rafts down the tranquil Yulong River and climbing Moon Hill for panoramic valley views. On Days 3 and 4, transfer up into the mountains of Longsheng to hike between the Ping'an and Dazhai Yao villages in the Longji Rice Terraces, watching sunrise light up the flooded mirror-like terraces.
