The Essence of Guilin

Day 1 Arrival in Guilin, Boat trip to Two Rivers & Four Lakes

Ni Hao! Welcome to Guilin! As one of China's well-known tourist scenic cities, Guilin is also a historic and cultural city with a history of over 2,000 years.

Your Guilin tour begins with a welcome meeting at 16:00pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travelers.

Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We will collect/check your passport, insurance and next of kin information at the group meeting, please have these on hand. After the meeting maybe head out to explore the pedestrian streets - with your hotel located centrally, a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. Perhaps kick off your Guilin adventure with a taste of an iconic dish - Guilin rice noodle.

After dinner, take a boat trip to Two Rivers and Four Lakes. You will enjoy more than ten famous mountains such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Mountain, Diecai Mountain, LoYan Hill, Baoji Mountain, etc; The relics pagoda, Hongqiao Dam, Zhuzi memorial archway, One legged Pavilion and other places of interest along the Peach Blossom River; You can also visit Chinese classical gardens, ecological gardens, and the Song Historical and Cultural Park; Appreciate the World Famous Bridge Expo Park, Famous Flowers and Trees Expo Park, Pavilion Expo Park, and Sculpture Expo Park in the scenic area. Be dazzled by performances along the coast such as: Guiju Opera, local folk art, Guihu Fishing Fire, and Lefang Yao Long Hair Dance - Lotus Pond Dressing. You can appreciate why there is a sigh of "I would rather be in Guilin than in a Fairy tale" in the world.

Day 2 An Excursion to Longji Rice Terraces & Minority Villages

After your breakfast at hotel, an excursion to the rice terraces of Longji awaits you after breakfast. Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 8:00 am. These terraces were first built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271AD to 1368AD) and their construction continued until the early Qing Dynasty (1644AD to 1911AD).

The terraces change their appearance according to the season. In spring, when the water is irrigated into the fields, the terraces look like ribbons stretching along the hillside. During summer, it looks like waves of green are rushing down the hills from above. Autumn, the season of harvest, is when the hills look golden brown. And in winter, when it snows, the hills are decked in white.

As well as its amazing scenery, Longji is a great destination to experience the culture of China’s ethnic minorities. It is home to Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups.

Return back to your hotel in Guilin in the late afternoon after the excursion is over.

Day 3 From Guilin cruise Li-River down to Yangshuo

Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to a Li River pier after breakfast. The journey takes about 60 minutes. Board a 4-star cruise boat on reaching the pier and sail down the meandering Li River. The journey from Guilin dock to Yangshuo via Yangdi, Jiu Ma and Xingping takes around 4 hours.

Li River looks like a jade-green belt winding its way among countless mountains. The sides of the river unwind like a paper scroll, unraveling beautiful scenery as the boat drifts down the river. No wonder people call the river a colorful gallery.

No matter how bad or good the weather is, travelers are always in for a surprise during their journey down the river. While a sunny day can mean clear water with countless fishes swimming leisurely beneath you, clouds and mist play hide-and-seek around hills and mountains on a cloudy day.

You'll be transferred to your hotel and check in after the boat arrives at Yangshuo pier.

This evening is free time for you, there is a spectacular outdoor cultural show staged by Zhang Yimou, director of the Beijing Olympic's opening ceremony, is a definite highlight and highly recommended (optional).

Day 4 Countryside cycling & rafting on Yulong River

The dramatic countryside surrounding Yangshuo is best seen on a bike, today you’ll jump on a bike and explore the splendid green landscape surrounds and nearby villages, bamboo rafting on the Yulong River enjoy the idyllic scenery on both sides of the river, which is pleasing to the eye. Stop for lunch at the house of our local farmer friends for a tasty meal made from locally grown produce.

In the afternoon, a great optional activity for you to head out, what is one of the largest tea plantations in Yangshuo, in the plantation you’ll try on a Chinese reed hat to feel the atmosphere of a tea plantation, pick your own tea leaves and wander through the rows of tea and return to the lodge to experience the traditional tea service and learn the customs, climb up to the Xianggong hill to experience the spectacular panorama over the Li River Valley, from here you’ll see sunlight & shadow, clouds sea & the rosy clouds, If you're lucky, you can also see a beautiful rainbow.

It’s the last night in Yangshuo, enjoy an optional final farewell dinner to sample some of the best Yangshuo dishes, and wander up the busy West shopping street, then enjoy some time to browse the stores or relax in a cafe.

Day 5 Yangshuo (Departure Day)

Your Guilin tour comes to an end this morning. There are no activities on the final day and you are free to leave your accommodation at any time before 12:00am.

Kindly Reminder: If you have booked departure transfer through Truly China Travel, please confirm the pick up time with your tour leader in advance.

If you wish to leave a few days later in Yangshuo, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).