Exploring Guilin in 4 Days | Unlocking 5 Outdoor Activities to Experience the Classic Landscape

Day 1 Across the Country → Guilin

All day

Today is the gathering day for the activity; after arriving in Guilin, all tourists will go to the gathering hotel on their own and check in with "China-TravelNote+Name".


Friends who arrive earlier can arrange their itinerary freely:

Guilin's landmarks, Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Guilin Museum, and Seven Star Park are all good choices for day trips;

If you want to see the night view, representative attractions include Xiaoyao Tower and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night View. Afterwards, you can go shopping and dining in the East and West Alley shopping district, and then enjoy a Gui Opera to learn about Guilin's intangible cultural heritage.

Driving distance: None

Day 2 Guilin → Xianggong Mountain → Li River Hike → Nine Horses Painting Mountain → Xingping Ancient Town → Yangshuo

08:00

In the morning we headed to Xianggong Mountain Scenic Area

Xianggong Mountain is a mecca for photographers, with its sea of ​​clouds and mist attracting enthusiasts. As a result, it has become one of Yangshuo's few popular online destinations.

Reaching the summit is easy, a leisurely 15-minute hike to a breathtaking view overlooking the Li River. Peaks rise like bamboo shoots after rain, while the Li River meanders through the peaks like a jade hairpin. The scenery is breathtaking and intoxicating.

11:00

We then headed to the starting point for the hike and warmed up before starting our hike along the Li River Essence section of one of the top ten classic hiking routes in China.

Along the Li River, you will see the Guilin landscape, occasionally pass by quiet ancient villages, and occasionally walk to the river beach to enjoy the clear Li River and feel the charm of the Li River.

At noon, we had a light meal in the farmhouse restaurants and village shops along the way, took a short break, and then continued hiking to the vicinity of Jiuma Painting Mountain. Here we said goodbye to the bustling cruise tourists and could quietly watch Jiuma Painting Mountain. Everyone can count a different number of horses. Jiuma Painting Mountain has been described in different poems by literati throughout the ages.

3:00 PM

After crossing the river, we continued walking along the greenway along the Li River to Xingping Ancient Town.

Stroll through the town's old streets, old theaters, and old docks to experience this thousand-year-old town. Of course, you can't miss the 20-yuan RMB background shot - the reflection of the yellow cloth.


In the evening we checked into the Yangshuo hotel.

Driving time: Guilin to Xianggong Mountain, about 1.5 hours; Xianggong Mountain to the starting point of the Li River hike, about 0.5 hours; Xingping Ancient Town to Yangshuo, about 1.5 hours;

Hiking: 10km, 4-5 hours, mainly on flat roads, with tractor-pipe roads, stone slabs, and riverbanks. You need to bring a dry lunch.

Day 3 Yangshuo → Yulong River → Bamboo Rafting → Caving → Yangshuo

08:30

In the morning, we will go cycling along the Yulong River (mountain bike, not electric bike)

Say goodbye to the bustling tourists along the Yulong River and successfully avoid the crowds along the scenery along the Yulong River. The experience is super cool.

You can ride the breeze and chase the waves of Yulong River all the way. Of course, there are various check-in cameras waiting for you. Here you can feel the artistic conception that Guilin's landscape is the best in the world and Yangshuo's scenery is the best in Guilin.


After riding to the pier, we will experience a round trip on the Yulong River bamboo raft (Yulong Bridge - Rhinoceros Pond or Xinglong Pier - Xiangui Bridge, 2 people per raft, 2.5 kilometers, experience time about 30 minutes)

The bamboo rafts here are not electric ones. They are powered by humans and are more natural. Without the noisy sound of motors, the tour process is more familiar and comfortable.

2:30 PM

We set off to Yangshuo Caves to experience caving

After a warm-up, we were led by a professional caving instructor who gave us a briefing, distributed caving equipment, and shared cave knowledge along the way. We learned about various types of stalactites, including stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone flowers, and stone terraces, and learned about the formation principles of calcium carbonate deposits in each stalactite.

Have a dark experience, feel the various sounds of the cave, and there is an underground river that we need to cross. Walking in the icy river water is a full summer vacation experience.


In the evening, we can go to Yangshuo West Street on our own. This is Yangshuo’s famous pedestrian street, and of course, Yangshuo cuisine is indispensable. In the evening, you can taste Yangshuo’s cuisine here, or go to West Street to hang out in bars and experience the strong night life of Yangshuo.

Driving time: Yangshuo to caving, about 1 hour; caving to Yangshuo, about 1 hour

Hiking: Cycling about 20 kilometers; Caving about 4 kilometers

Day 4 Yangshuo → Via Ferrata → Guilin

08:30

Depart for Yangshuo to experience via ferrata

The instructors at the base provided on-site instruction. We'll tackle Route B, the longest of the Via Ferrata routes, featuring the same route Wang Yibo featured in "Exploring New Realms." The route includes exciting attractions like a sky ladder, a zipline, and a single-plank bridge. The experience lasts approximately 1-1.5 hours. (Children or those with a fear of heights can opt for the less challenging Route C.)

After setting off from the starting point, adjust the ladder and travel along the rock wall. There are also challenges such as cliff log bridges and iron chain bridges along the way. The last 80-meter zip line feels the speed and passion in the air. The combination of the winding Jinbao River and the karst peaks under your feet makes you feel like you are riding the wind throughout the journey.

12:00

After checking out of the hotel and having a quick lunch, we head back to Guilin to disband.

We will be transferred to Guilin Airport between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM. Please book flights after 4:00 PM.

We will be transferred to Guilin Railway Station between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Please book a train after 4:00 PM.

Driving time: Yangshuo to Via Ferrata Camp, about 1 hour; Yangshuo to Guilin Airport, about 1.5 hours

  • Guilin is an ancient city steeped in culture. With over 2,000 years of history, it possesses a rich cultural heritage. After Qin Shihuang unified China, he established the Guilin Commandery and dug the Lingqu Canal, connecting the Xiang and Li Rivers. From then on, Guilin became a vital city connecting the sea to the south and the Central Plains to the north. Located in the southwestern part of the Nanling Mountain Range, with an average elevation of 150 meters, Guilin boasts a typical karst landscape. Millions of years of weathering and erosion have shaped the city's unique landscape of thousands of peaks, a city embraced by a river, and stunning caves and rocks. This unique landscape has earned the acclaim of "Guilin's landscapes are the best in the world."

  • Yangshuo: "Guilin's landscapes are the best in the world, and Yangshuo's landscapes are the best in Guilin." Yangshuo, also known as Yangshuo County, is part of Guilin City, Guangxi Province, and covers an area of ​​1,428 square kilometers. Here, you'll find the legendary thousand-year-old banyan tree where the Zhuang singing fairy Liu Sanjie sealed her love by throwing a ball of embroidery; the breathtaking Moon Cave, a wonder that captivates tourists both domestically and internationally; and the Yulong River, known as the "Little Li River." Stretching for dozens of miles, the mountains rise like bamboo shoots from the ground, with the mountains surrounding the water and the water circling the mountains, earning it the reputation of "China's Famous Tourism County."