There is a saying "Guilin’s landscape is the best under heaven". Guilin is home to a myriad of incredible sights ranging from picturesque Li River with Karst mountains standing alongside, breathtaking countryside scenery of Yangshuo, magnificent rice paddies of Longji layer upon layer to gorgeous bridges and century-old caves. To travel to this darling paradise, some travelers choose to cover Guilin into a long China trip, while some travelers prefer to go from Hong Kong or Guangzhou, etc. Of course, Guangzhou is one of the best gateways to reach Guilin, well connected by high speed train within 2.5-3 hours. You’ll have an great exploration about the brilliant Lingnan culture, enjoy a discovery of the Ram City’s 2200 years’ history, as well as have a bite of traditional Cantonese cuisine. Then, a modern high speed train will take you into the an amazing world far away from the madding crowds to feast your eyes with fantastic natural scenery.
Alternative Plan: If you are interested in going to Guilin from Hong Kong, you can take our 6 Days Guilin In-depth Tour from Hong Kong which covers Guilin/Yangshuo/Longji Rice Terrace in one go! Have your own ideas about Guangzhou & Guilin tour? Feel free to tell us your ideas and likes and we are here to offer you a customizable tour!
Day 1 Guangzhou Arrival
Flight / Train to Guangzhou
Welcome to Guangzhou, the City of Rams! Situated in south China, Guangzhou is a “hot” metropolis for relaxation, food exploration, business communication and seeking of culture, history, arts of Lingnan Area. Upon your arrival, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or railway stations in Guangzhou and then escort you to your hotel in downtown and help you check in. The rest of the day is free on your own to take a nice break or explore this city.
Arrival Idea: Guangzhou is a large international city with great transportation connections including many international and domestic flights to and from. Furthermore, high speed trains are quite convenient from most domestic cities including Hong Kong (about 1 hour), Shenzhen (0.5-1.5 hours), Guilin (2.5-3.5 hours), Beijing (8-10 hours), Shanghai (7-8.5 hours), Chengdu (9-10 hours), Guiyang (4-6.5 hours), Xian (8-9 hours), Hangzhou (6-7.5 hours), and so on.
Evening Optional Experience: Enjoy the 70-minute fascinating Pearl River night cruise sailing along the mother river of Guangzhou people and soak in the wonderful sightseeing of lights and neon of historical architectures and new modern towering buildings to feel the pulse of this developed city. You won’t miss the Canton Tower during the cruise.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Day 2 Guangzhou (B, L)
Yuexiu Park - Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - Chen Clan Ancestral Hall - Shamian Island - Huacheng Square
After breakfast, your local guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Start to explore the old and new Guangzhou City from Yuexiu Park, the largest city park in Guangzhou. Stroll leisurely in the verdant park to see the Five Rams Statue from which you will savor the interesting legendary story of the five rams and know why Guangzhou is called the “City of Rams”. Then, continue to appreciate a five-storey ancient structure in red - Zhenhai Tower which was changed as Guangzhou Museum. Have a brief learning about Guangzhou’s over 2000 years’ history and if you like, climb up the tower to get a bird’s-eye view of Guangzhou City. After the morning stretching with fresh air, move your steps to the nearby Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall which was built in memory of the great revolutionist Sun Yat-sen. Enjoy the Chinese and Western combining styled octagon-shaped main building in bright red and blue from outside. Enter the hall to know Dr. Sun deeper with excellent exhibitions of his biography and contribution to the country and people, and get a simple learning about the contemporary history of China in the 18th - 19th centuries. Before leaving, admire the 5.5-meter tall bronze statue of Dr. Sun outside in the yard and show your respect to this world famous great Father of the Nation in China.
In this afternoon, visit the must-see Chen Clan Ancestral Hall which is regarded as the largest, most beautifully decorated and best preserved traditional ancestral temple in Guangdong Province. Roam among the tranquil houses and courtyards built during 1888-1894 to discover its architectural origin and find out whether it was an ancestral hall or an academy for the Chen Family in Guangdong initially. Since it is famous as the “Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art”, you will taste the super exquisite colorful decorations of vivid patterns of various flora and fauna, figures and immortals to feel the highly skillful construction and decoration of Lingnan people and know their typical folk culture and best wishes of harvest and prosperity in ancient China. Later, be transferred for about 10 minutes’ driving to see the quite different Shamian Island where over 150 European styled old buildings from the colonial period from 19th century are well preserved for a nice savory. Take a relaxing walk in the strongly exotic street block in emerald and imagine the past life and changes of Guangzhou told by those historical remains.
After the exploration, be transferred to the urban central axis in Zhujiang New Town to see the modern cityscape of Guangzhou at Huacheng Square. Have a leisure stroll between the glittery skyscrapers and peculiar shaped modern buildings to feel the fast development of this metropolis. Most importantly, appreciate the slim outline of the iconic Canton Tower on the opposite bank of Pearl River.
After the tour, be escorted back to your hotel.
Yuexiu Park Five Rams Statue
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Guangzhou
Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family
European Styled Historical Architecture at Shamian Island
Huacheng Square - To See Stunning Guangzhou Skyline and Canton Tower
Day 3 Guangzhou to Guilin by High Speed Train & Transfer to Longji (B)
Transfer to Guilin and drive about 2.5 hours to Longji Rice Terrace
After breakfast, you are free until be escorted to the railway station for a high speed train to Guilin (about 2.5 hours). Welcome to Guilin, the most scenic city in China. Upon your arrival at the railway station, our local guide and driver will pick up you and then transfer you to Ping'an Village at Longji Rice Terrace. Check in your hotel. The rest of today is free for you to explore beautiful surroundings.
Important to Know: 1) The driving from Guilin to Ping'an is about 2.5 hours. If your train arrives at Guilin after 5pm, we suggest you spend a night at Guilin, then transfer to Ping'an on the next day; 2) Walking: When arriving at Ping’an Village, you can only be dropped at Ping’an Village Tourist Center parking lot that you need to walk about 900 steps to your hotel. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended; 3) Luggage carrying: For the aged or travelers who are lack of physical strength, you’d better hire a local porter to help carry your heavy luggage to the hotel (pay extra expense on your own).
Longji Rice Terraces (Pingan Village in August)
Day 4 Longji Rice Terrace - Guilin (B, L)
Today's highlights: Sunrise, Longji Rice Terrace
When you wake up in the fresh air of peaceful morning, you may forget where you are. Try to watch the magnificent sunrise from a great location on the terraces if you don't mind getting up very early. After breakfast, your guide will take you to explore the breathtaking views of Longji Rice Terrace leisurely. The rice terrace is layer upon layer, like the changing ladder created by nature leading to the blue sky, forming a majestic painting between heaven and earth. From Ping’an, you can hike on the cobbled paths built among terraces to catch the best landscape. Climb up to the great lookouts at Seven Stars with Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers from which you can get superlative views of terraces and villages.
Hike half day around, then back to Ping’an. Then transfer back to Guilin City. Check in your hotel. The rest time is free on your own to have fun in Guilin - strolling, hunting food...
Good to Know:1) Best time to visit: Longji Rice Terrace can be visited all year round. Go mid-April to late June for mirror-like irrigated terrace and rice transplanting scene; go July to mid-September for green terraces; go late September to early-November for golden and harvest scene; or go late December to early February for silvery terraces; 2) The Viewing Platform of Seven Stars with Moon is under a reconstruction which means it is closed for travelers at present. The hiking route between Seven Stars with Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers would do some adjustment during the construction. You won’t miss the amazing rice terraces scenery when visiting.
Sunrise in Longji Rice Terrace
People Zhuang Ethnic Group at Longji Rice Terrace
Longji Rice Terrices in late August 2018, Taken by Our Customer Gerhard from Germany
Day 5 Guilin - Li River Cruise - Yangshuo (B, L)
Today's highlight: Li River Cruise, Yangshuo Yulong River, West Street
As the declaration in Chinese textbook "Guilin’s landscape is the best under heaven", today you will explore this best landscape starting with a relaxing sightseeing cruise along the Li River from Mopanshan Pier to Yangshuo Town. Along the 84-kilometer cruise, dazzling scenery overwhelms your eyes like a vast endless Chinese painting of winding river, green limestone karst mountains, fascinating countryside views, amazing scene of A Painting of Nine Horses, and notable view printed on the back of the 20 RMB note. (Please note: Lunch is served by the cruise with simple local Chinese cuisine. And you can take some snacks when getting on board.)
After about 4 hours’ cruise, disembark in Yangshuo Town, and check in your hotel. After a short break, start your impressive exploration of the best charming sightseeing and ideal countryside ease at Yulong River. Let all the refreshing scenes please your eyes and souls to the utmost. Just enjoy every moment with the Karst hills dotted around, chatting stream, rippling mountain reflection, swaying floras, patches of vivid crops, comfortable breeze….There are diverse kinds of ways for your enjoyment of the fun and beauty, including biking, hiking, sightseeing bus, bamboo rafting and scooter. You can easily choose and combine your ideal way(s) and part of Yulong River. (Please tell your likes to your travel consultants before booking the tour, as the final prices will differ by activities you choose.).
Biking (some physically demanding & sightseeing by the river) - Ride to enjoy the river view and the real fields (route: Yangshuo - Jima - Shuiedi Dock - Gongnong Bridge - West Street; for 1.5-2 hours).
Bamboo Rafting (relaxing and interesting & sightseeing on the river) - have fun with the classic bamboo rafting (Route A: Shuiedi Dock - Gongnong Bridge for 40-50 minutes; Route B: Jima Dock - Gongnong Bridge for 1.5 hours) to see the more serene view like pieces of traditional Chinese landscape ink paintings.
Sightseeing Bus (most leisurable and comfortable & sightseeing on the road) - sit leisurely on the bus from Jima to Gongnong Bridge to appreciate the lovely countryside view (about 0.5 hour). You can get off and on anywhere on the middle way to explore more about your interested place.
This evening is for you to walk leisurely on the ancient West Street to witness how the western culture and Chinese culture perfectly and peacefully coexist here. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of drink in bar, taste some local food, or just experience the relaxing atmosphere, you get it here.
Optional activities:
Experience the splendid evening performance Impression Liu Sanjie (19:45~20:45 or 21:20~22:20) with Li River itself as the stage, directed by famous director - Zhang Yimou.
Panorama of Yangshuo Ten-mile Gallery Countryside
Visit Yangshuo West Street at Night
Lush Guilin Li River Scenery, Taken by Claire from UK in October 2021
Chusi's family visited Moon Hill at Yangshuo Ten-mile Gallery in June, 2018
Day 6 Yangshuo to Guilin & Guilin Departure (B)
Elephant Trunk Hill - Reed Flute Cave - Guilin Departure
After breakfast, transfer back to Guilin in a comfortable vehicle (1.5~2hrs). Then make a visit to the symbol of Guilin landscape - Elephant Trunk Hill. A giant rock hill vividly shapes like an elephant which is drinking water. Besides, there are many historical sites here for you to explore, such as stone carving, Buddhist temple, relic exhibition, etc. Then, drive about 7 kilometers to next attraction - Reed Flute Cave, a majestic underground palace with sparkling different colors. The magical Mother Nature condenses millions years of natural efforts to form the incredible stalactite, stalagmite, stone shield and stone waterfall of different sizes and shapes.
Lastly, your tour guide will take you to catch your flight / train to your next destination. Tour ends!
Gerhard from Germany visited Reed Flute Cave in August, 2019
Chusi's family from USA visited Elephant Trunk Hill in June, 2018
Xian, as the capital of 13 ancient China dynasties, is filled with amazing historic and cultural wonders.
With only 2 days, you can travel the best highlights of ancient capital Xian at an enjoyable pace. The Day 1 is a full day visit to the famous Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Local Snack Street - Muslim Quarter. In the Day 2, you have a half day for visiting to the symbol of Xian - Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and having an educational learning in Shanxi History Museum. The rest time is free for departure.
Beijing, the 'forbidden' city, now is open to the world!
As the capital city of China for more than eight-hundred years, Beijing possesses rich cultural deposits of China. You will need at least 3 days to explore its best highlights. Here is the plan - Day 1 is for you to visit the imperial historical sites, including Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace; Day 2 is to hike the magnificent Great Wall while Day 3 is for you to have a half-day visiting of the Temple of Heaven,local Hutongs, and depart from the city.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2023.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 6.85. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Hi Wonder,
We are safely back in Guangzhou. Wonderful experience. All the planned events were highlights and the little extra side trips were a plus. Thank you for all your careful planning.
Hi Leo,
This is a very short customised arrangement during which the China border is not fully opened yet.
China Discovery charges a premium though, but it delivered without fail.
The VOA is very new to even the custom officers who were on duty when I cleared the immigration check at Shenzhen as well as the HK side. I must say that the agent did his professional service by always on the call to allow on-site changes of my arrival time because immigration clearance was so unpredictable. I can be assured that someone is just outside the arrival hall to pick me up and, I could tell the immigration officer that my local contact person is just waiting outside to pick me once I am cleared with this new procedure.
It is always safer to have a local contact to guide you and make arrangements for your local transfer when language ( Cantonese instead of Mandarin) is a problem in China .
Thx for the service . Thx to Matt too.
Rgds
Rita,
thank you for your arrangement. The tour and logistics were really good. We are very happy and look forward to the next trip in China with your company.
Dear Jack,
I have tried to leave the following review with tripadvisor several times now but somehow it is not accepted, I do not know why.
"Just back from our 9-day trip to Yunnan, long planned and waited for. It was our second time with China Discovery Tours. Once again they tailored the tour according to our ideas and interests - and succeeded in surprising us! Thanks to the local guides we learned a lot about history, traditions and customs, and, of course, food. We always felt in safe hands and the organization was just perfect with enough on spot flexibility. Big thanks to Jack who figured it all out so well and to the next time with China Discovery! Johannes (GER) & Elizabeth (GRC)"
Thanks again for an excellent trip, best regards, Johannes&Elizabeth
Hi Jack!
It's was great, we loved it! Our tour guide Frank was very kind, informative, and funny :) We loved how easy it was and how much we got to see in a day, I will definitely recommend to our friends!
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Yuexiu Park Five Rams Statue
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Guangzhou
Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family
European Styled Historical Architecture at Shamian Island
Huacheng Square - To See Stunning Guangzhou Skyline and Canton Tower
Longji Rice Terraces (Pingan Village in August)
Sunrise in Longji Rice Terrace
People Zhuang Ethnic Group at Longji Rice Terrace
Gerhard from Germany - Green Longji Rice Terrices, Guilin
Panorama of Yangshuo Ten-mile Gallery Countryside
Visit Yangshuo West Street at Night
Claire from UK - Li River
Chusi's Family from USA - Moon Hill at Yangshuo Ten-mile Gallery
Gerhard from Germany - Reed Flute Cave, Guilin
Chusi's family from USA - Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin
Guilin is not very far from Guangzhou. The best way to travel from Guangzhou to Guilin is by high speed train. The whole journey takes less than 3 hours. Usually, travelers will go from Guangzhou South Railway Station/Guangzhou Railway Station to arrive at Guilin West Railway Station or Guilin North Railway Station. Guilin West and Guilin North are not very far and you can choose any of them.
Yangshuo offers various hotels and hostels of different standards and levels. As an international tourist hot spot, almost accommodations provide great facilities and equipment for your comfortable stay in Yangshuo. You can find the international brand including Banyan Tree Yangshuo, and a series of top classed hotels like New West Street International Hotel, Grand Lotus Hotel, Elite Garden Hotel, etc. Also, there are some 4-star hotels like Yangshuo Jasper International Hotel, nice 3-star like New Century Hotel for your free choose. If you want to get closer to the peaceful natural countryside of Yangshuo, there are also some recommended boutique hotels and guesthouses such as Yangshuo Secret Garden Hotel, Yangshuo Tea Cozy, and so forth.
In Longji Ping'an Rice Terraces area, the accommodation for tourists are mainly located in Ping'an Village. Most hotels offer basic items including hot water, air conditioner, private washroom, free Wi-Fi, etc. among all the choices, Ping An Hotel, Longji One Art Hotel are the frequent top select of most overseas travelers. Besides, you are highly recommended to choose a sightseeing room to enjoy the terraced field view from your window.
Guilin situated in southern China is a hot destination to explore its special Karst landscape view. It is suitable to visit all year round due its ever green plants and its warm temperature. April to October is the best time to appreciate the sightseeing of Guilin and Yangshuo. Spring (April-June) is best to enjoy the cozy weather and the vigorous scene of multiple flowers and the crops cultivated by local farmers. Autumn is also very good to enjoy the clear river view and clear sky. However, as it often rains, particularly during April to July, when you can see the misty beauty of the hills and water, you are advised to prepare your rain gears.
For biking: we suggest you wear comfortable and quick-drying clothes and trainers to enjoy a better biking experience and protect yourself from catching a cold after sweating. During summer time, it may be a little hot for biking for a long time, so you can tell how much time you want to bike along the Yulong River to your guide. Also, you are highly suggested to prepare your hat, sunglasses and sun cream for UV protection.
For bamboo rafting: bamboo rafting is a classic activity to enjoy the fun and beauty of Yulong River. However, one raft can only hold 2 people, and children more than 1 meter high are required to take the raft together with adults. Besides, as the raft is slippery, it is better to sit on your chair for the sightseeing and avoid standing or walking in case of falling into the river. Furthermore, it would arouse some waves when passing weirs, so remember to lift your feet and protect your belongings especially mobiles and cameras.
For sightseeing bus: Yulong River sightseeing buses run from Jima to Gongnong Bridge along the River, and you can get on or get off at any places along the route with your bus ticket.
To explore the natural scenery and fun of Yangshuo, you will have many kinds of activities and ways to choose. We can take you to enjoy bamboo rafting at Yulong River, sightseeing bus at Yulong River and Ten-mile Gallery, biking at any region in Yangshuo, hiking along Yulong River or other places, cultural experience of Chinese cooking, Taichi, and calligraphy classes, photographing, and so forth. Please feel free to tell us about your ideal activities, route, time, period, etc., to tailor make your special activity experience in Yangshuo.
We China Discovery have rich experience for providing Guilin tour arrangement and customization service for global visitors, and our professional travel expert will help sincerely to design your Guilin tour if you are interested to extend your Yangshuo tour with an exploration of Guilin City, or Longji Rice Terraces, Daxu Old Town, Huashan Rock Art, etc. We will show you the terrific sightseeing, culture, history and more highlights of Guilin and Guangxi.
Hong Kong / Guangzhou
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