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Guilin Attractions

the Lijiang River

Li River

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous Karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. Water buffalo patrol the fields,...

Li River

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous Karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. Water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the river become one of China's top tourist destinations.

The Li River cruise is over 52 miles (83 kilometers) long and is estimated to take four to five hours. The eye-feasting landscape and country scenery will never disappoint you.

The followings are the attractions along the cruise trip:

Elephant Trunk Hill
Situated majestically on the western bank of the Li River, the hill resembles an elephant sucking water from the river with its long trunk. It is supposed to be the landmark of Guilin landscape, which you can find on travel brochures or books. The most impressive is said to be the water reflection of a moon-like cave when the moonlight sprinkles over the river, hence the name 'Moon over the Water'.

Chuanshan Park
A few minutes down from the Elephant Hill, it is an idyllic park on the eastern bank of the river. The park is famous for its graceful natural scenery, with attractive spots like the Cockfighting Hills (formed by Chuanshan Hill and Pheasant Hill), Pagoda Hill, Moon Cave, and Chuanshan Hill Cave.

Daxu Ancient Town
Perching on the northern bank of the Li River, the ancient town keeps in its antique style from the  Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A flagging street, lined with old residences, shops and stalls, runs two kilometers along the river bank through the town. Some well-preserved residences hidden behind the street door may give you surprises you when you occasionally explore further into a shop. These are quarters for businessmen in the past times. Have a try on various dumping snacks on the stalls or peddle cars along the street. Some will surprise you with both its taste and cheap price. People in the town are very kind to tourists. Further to south, there is a single-arched bridge in the town named Longevity Bridge. The town is really a sight off-the-beaten track. Opposite the town on the other side of the river, a millstone-like rock with the running waters creates the scene of Grinding Grain.

Crown Cave (Guanyan)
A crown-like crag earns the hill its name. What makes the hill a worthy stop for both cruise tourists and those arrive from Guilin City by bus tour is its twelve kilometer long water-eroded cave. It is a wonderland of various stalactite, stone pillars and rock formations in the cave. Since it is open to tourists in 1995, illuminating lights, sound control tour guide system and escalators are equipped in the scenic area and sightseeing cars and boats enable visitors to tour inside the cave. The government plan to build this site as an all-round tourist area including cave visiting, country sightseeing and ethnic minority exploration. It is estimated to become an important excursion site along the the river. Tourists can stay in the hotels and villas in the scenic area.

Half-Side Ferry (Ban Bian Du)
Not very far from the Crown Cave on the western bank, a huge rock descends into the river and cuts off a footpath by the water edge. Villagers have to take a ferry to reach the other side and continue the way. So, this spot gets its name Half-Side Ferry (for usually ferry means to transport people by boat across a body of water and reach the opposite bank)

From Yangdi to Xingping
Down stream from Yangdi to Xingping, the Li River passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape. This part is the highlight of the cruise. Pinnacled peaks pop up and surprise visitors at each bend of the river. Water buffalos patrol on the fields; ducks paddle in the waters; peasants reap paddies in front of village houses; fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat and kids go home singing songs. All these create an idyllic and beautiful scene of the life removed from concrete cities.

A reputed attraction is Mural Hill, a 100-meter-high cliff face, which has been weathered and has stratified rock surface in various shades of colors. It is rumored that the colors present nine horses and a person who can identify them out is considered smart. Legendary stories are given to hill rocks and peaks and it is a delightful experience to appreciate the stunning landscape while listening to tour guide's interpretation of the stories behind it.
  Fisherman and Cormorants
Cormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.

You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.

 Xianggong Mountain
Also known as Xianggong Hill, Xianggong Mountain is the best spot to take a distant view picture of Li River. At the top of the mountain, you will find yourself in a wonderland composed of a sea of clouds, sunrise and rosy sunglows.

 Yellow Cloth Shoal
Boating downstream southward from the Mural Hill about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of their films for it.

Guilin Articles

Top Guilin Tours

$2350 Per Day

9 Days 8 Nights Guilin Yangshuo Guizhou tour

One of the most impressive tour in China, you are back to 200 Years ago while touring this area.  Because its recesse have not yet been completely explored, it appeal today tourists for its spectacular natural scenery (Guizhou is one of best kept area in China) as well as the minority.
You can check some photos from here.
    
Day 1:  Meet at the airport and transfer to your hotel, then visit Elephant Hill and Reed Flute Cave.
            ( L)     Stay in Guilin Bravo Hotel     4* 
Elephant Hill is situated in the confluence of Li River and Peach River, is the symbol of Guilin, the full moon of the hill looks like elephant' s trunk drinking water on Li River.
Reed Flute Cave is reputed as " the art palace of the nature"where you can see beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone flowers with various shape, all glistening in colorful lights which create breathtaking splendor.
    
Day 2:  Guilin to Yangshuo    by boat     ( B/L/D)    Stay in Yangshuo Magnolia Hotel     3*
Meet you at your hotel at 8:00 -8:30 and transfer to Zhujiang pier at 9:30. Li River cruise (4 hours) to Yangshuo with lunch on board, you will feast your eyes with the reflection of fantastic peaks with various shapes, crystal clear water, green hills, bamboo groves, the river passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape.  Disembark at Yangshuo about 2 pm, roam in the West Street.
     
Day 3:  Yangshuo Countryside Tour, visit villages,  Bamboo rafting in Yulong River, Moon Hill.   
             ( B/L/D)    Stay in Yangshuo Magnolia Hotel   3*
Explore Yangshuo villages, you will see beautiful limestone karst towering peaks, rice paddies, bamboo groves, local's custom and lifestyle. Visit Yulong River, a major tributary of Li River, Yulong River flows through some of the most beautiful Karst (limestone) scenery near Yangshuo. Local people use rafts as daily transportation up and down the river between house, markets, and rice paddies. Sitting on the reclining chair on the raft, you can enjoy an all around view of the natural, rural life down the river.
You can see Moon Hill, Moon Hill has a natural round cave at the peak, the cave (a hole in the peak) resembles the moon.
    
Day 4:  Yangshuo--Longji rice terraces   ( B/L/D)   Stay Jintian Hotel. 
Rice Terraces tour,  meet you at 9 am and drive to Rice Terraces, visit Dazhai village( Jinkeng Rice Terraces)  They were first built in the Yuan dynasty and completed in the Qing dynasty by Zhuang people. The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountaintop, with the highest place of an elevation of 885m and the lowest 380m.  You will find nice wooden houses, long hair women with colorful clothes, heavy, silver hat and earrings, customs and lifestyle.    
    
Day 5:   Longji rice terraces to Sanjiang Chengyang Village  ( B/L/D)   Stay in Chengyang Hotel
With its unique Dong minority architecture of Drum Towers, Wind and Rain Bridges and Dong minority buildings, you can see wooden houses, river, waterwheels, villages and so on.     
    
Day 6,   Sanjiang---Tangan village-- Zhaoxing    ( B/L/D)    Stay in Zhaoxing Hotel.
Tanan village:  You will find beautiful rice terraces, village gate, drum tower, drama tower, ancient graveyard, ancient well, and water-powered roller for grinding grain, barns and the pit to worship the female ancestors of Dong people. There are also ancient stone paths and wood houses in the village. Zhaoxing is an old Dong village deeply hidden in the dense mountains. The ancient wooden architecture, century-old practices, the hospitable locals and the fertile terraced fields. 
    
Day 7,  Zhaoxing---Basha---Rongjiang    ( B/L/D)   Stay in Rongjiang Dongmixiang Hotel.
Drive to Basha Miao Village , Basha is a very special and old Miao Ethnic village and is virtually untouched in any way by modernization. Basha residents still live in their wooden houses, practice centuries-old customs and have their own unique beliefs. You can see the men with traditional long hair.     
    
Day 8,  Rongjiang---Xijiang    ( B/L/D)     Stay in Xijiang Qiansen Hotel.   3*
Drive to Xijiang village,  the biggest Miao village in China , a 1000-households village,  in Leishan county, 75km from Kaili, surrounded by green hills and blue waters, rows upon rows of pile dwellings stand in the bamboo forests on the mountain slope. Famous for its Silversmith craftsmanship and Harvest Celebration. The local silversmiths have unique craftsmanship for silver ornament making. All the silver ornaments that a Miao girl puts on weight about 9 kg.      
       
Day 9,  Xijiang---Guiyang Airport
Transfer to Guiyang airport for departure.   
The quotation per person in usd.
1 persons: 2350
2-5 persons: 1430
6-9 persons: 1030
over 9 persons : 835

Quotation Inclusion:
A.   Admissions of the sights mentioned.
B.   Hotel accommodation mentioned (based on 2 persons sharing one standard twin room)
C.   Personal Guide Services.
D.   Private transport between airports or train stations, hotel and all the scenic spots
     mentioned in the itinerary by air-conditioned car, van or mini-bus.
E.   Breakfasts, chinese lunches and dinners.
Quotation Exclu
sion:
A.   Air tickets.
B.   Personal expenses and extra activities.
C.   Gratuities to the service staffs.
D.   Others not mentioned above.

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$350 Per Day

9 DAY Overland Na&Cul-ture Tour From Guilin To Guizhou

Tour Feature: Crossing Provinces, Landscape, Ethnic, Hiking, Cycling.
Fitness level required: ***(Moderate)
Road condition: **-***(OK-Good)
Time of availability: All the year

Tour Overview


Day1 Guilin---Yangshuo--Moon Hill--Big Banyan Tree--Yangshuo--Impression Liusanjie.Nightstay in Yangshuo.
Morning, head to Yangshuo, the best of Guilin, then visit Moon Hill, Big Banyan Tree Park, by cycling in the beautiful countryside of Yangshuo. Afternoon, easy walk in the West street in the center of Yangshuo’s prosperity, find a nice dinner place for your stomach. Evening watch the well-known night show called Impression Liusanjie which is directed by Zhangyimou --the very director of 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony. Be prepared to be shockingly impressed by the visual dream in reality.


Day2 Yangshuo--Yangdi--Xingping--Silver Cave--Yangshuo. Nightstay in Yangshuo.
Morning, drive out for a bamboo boat rafting from Yangdi to Xingping, sit and enjoy essence of Guilin’s chinese-traditional-painting-liked landscape. Visit Xingping old town at the rafting end, Afternoon, visit Silver Cave--one of 10 best spots of Guilin. Night, Be free like a bird.


Day3 Guilin--Yangshuo--Ping’an. Nightstay in Ping’an.
Morning, drive back Guilin for a visit to Diecai Hill, take a bird’s eye view of this beautiful city as the last sight and goodbye, then long drive to Ping’an where the Minority Zhuang & Yao have been living for centuries. After hotel check-in, Climb up to some spots to enjoy the amazing picture drawn by parallel lines of fields. If weather allows. Stay longer for the sunset. Night, relax with quietness and forget the city life for one night.


Day4 Ping’an--Golden Hole- Nightstay in Chengyang.
Morning, pack snacks and water for a classic hike(4.5hours) from Ping’an to Golden hole. go through mountains to appreciate different parts of terrace.( An easier option: drive in another direction to Golden Hole). After it, leave for Chengyan in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, where we can experience the rich culture of Dong People, visit the marvelous Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge--the most well-known architecture in Dong culture, then take an easy walk in 8 Dong villages to see local’s everyday life and listen to Dong songs with beautiful harmony.

Day5 Chengyang---Zhaoxing in Guizhou Province. Nightstay in Zhaoxing.
Morning, Drive to Zhaoxing crossing the border between Guangxi and Guizhou Province for a tour in the biggest Dong village in China. When get to Tang’an village located on the top of mountain, we could hike down to Zhaoxing, and meet our van at the foot. Afternoon, visit the surroundings to explore more in this well-known village.
                                                       
Day6 Zhaoxing--Congjiang---Biasha. Nightstay in Congjiang.
Morning,Walk in the morning of Zhaoxing to experience the fresh view in a different time. visit the Dong museum to know every aspect of this minority,Afternoon, At noon, drive 2 hours to Congjiang, pay a tour to Biasha Miao Village,where lives the last gunner tribe of China.
                                                      
Day 7 Congjiang--Kaili--Xijiang.Nightstay in Xijiang.
A day on the wheels, long drive. If time allows, visit Langde village where resides long-skirt Miao. Night, enjoy the night scene of Xijiang Thousand Family Village--the biggest Miao village in China.

                                
Day8 Day6 Xijiang--Kaili--Zhenyuan. Nightstay in Zhenyuan.
Morning, Explore Xijiang on foot with camera, get to know Miao by visiting the museum and village. Afternoon,drive to Zhengyuan ancient town. Night, be ready to be amazed by it at night.(An option:Boat trip on the river)
                                                                  
Day9 Zhenyuan--Guiyang.
Morning, hike up to the top of Zhenyuan for a bird eye view. Visit Qinglongdong Temple to know the history of Zhenyuan.
Afternoon, Leave for Guiyang. Happy Ending.

 

Inclusions:

All Entry Tickets
Accommodation: 3-star hotel or guesthouse.
Transportation: What's kind of transportation we use depends on the No.of travelers.The case usually goes like below:
1-2 : Public Bus.
3-7 :Private Van of 7-9 seats ( or Public bu and Partial Private Van Combined)
8+: Private bus.
Meal:Chinese Meal
Guide: An experienced English speaking guide

Exclusions:
Snacks, Drinks,Laundry, tip and other personal expense.

Notice:
Surcharges will be charged in (May 1st-7th),(October 1st-7th),and Spring Festival ( Chinese New Year).
The price quoted is to be used for reference only. A final tour quote will be provided to you at the time of  final confirmation on itinerary and standard. it may be lower or higher based on the No. of traveler and your traveling time


 

 

$300 Per Day

Zhangjiajie and Guilin 6 Days Tour

Itinerary:

Day 1.  Zhangjiajie Arrival

Arriving in Zhangjiajie Airport. Picking up and transfer to your hotel in Zhangjiajie. Free activities or having a rest at your hotel.

D 2.  Wulingyuan Scenic Area: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Golden WhipBrook, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain)

This day you are heading to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. The first main attraction in the park that you will visit is Golden Whip Brook. It covers a distance of 7.5 km from north to south, winding across mountains and valleys. The brook is limpid through the year, with many scenic spots along the way. Then you will take Bailong elevator (1,070 ft. glass elevator) go up to Yuanjiajie Senic Area. You will visit Greatest Natural Bridge, Enchanting Terrace and Heaven Pillar. Heaven Pillar is AVATAR Mountain. The movie AVATAR was shot here. Enjoy Hallelujah Mountain. In the afternoon, you are going to Tianzi Mountain by tourist car. You will see Xihai,Helong Park, Imperial Writing Brush Peaks, Fairy Dispersing Flowers, etc.

Suggested accommodation area: Wulinyuan District of Zhangjiajie.

D 3: Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge (The world's longest and highest glass bridge) -- Tianmen Mountain (the longest cable car of the world, glass skywalk)

In the morning, you will go to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon for seeing the highest and longest glass bridge in the world. It's about 50 minutes driving distance from Wulinyuan. Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge (also called Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge) is a bridge located in Zhangjiajie, China, above the Wulingyuan area. The bridge, built as an attraction for tourists, is glass-bottomed and is transparent. It is the longest and tallest glass bottomed bridge in the world. The bridge, opened to the public on 20 August 2016, measures 430 meters in length and 6 meters in breadth, and is suspended about 300 meters above the ground. The bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Hunan, China. After finished the glass bridge then you will go to Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. Your heart will beat fast on the world’s longest cable car at Tianmen Mountain. You will do the glass skywalk. It is a suspended glass walkway almost a mile (1,430 meters) above the ground. It built at the cliff-side of Tianmen mountain. You will take an eco-friendly bus driving on the ‘99 Bends’ mountain road.

Accommodation area: Yongding District of Zhangjiajie

D 4:  Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang (Phoenix Ancient Town)

Driving to Fenghuang from Zhangjiajie on highway in the morning (It takes 3.5 hours). You could take a boat ride on Tuo River and appreciate the beautiful river and the ancient town. Walking up and down both sides of Tuo River and enjoying the harmonious atmosphere in the ancient town. Get relax while watching the rows of traditional wooden houses built on stilts and looking at what the local people do. At night you will see the different beautiful view of the town. You will see the gorgeous lit up buildings and bridges.

Accommodation area: Fenghuang

D 5: Fenghuang to Longji Rice Terraces (Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces)

Driving to Longji Rice Terraces from Fenghuang in the morning (It takes about 6 hours. It is 370 km between these two places by car). Longji Rice Terraces also names Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces. It located in Longji Town, Longsheng County, Guilin City, Guangxi Province. It's the most popular attraction in Guangxi province, China.The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, between 600 to 800 metres (2,000 to 2,600 ft) above sea level. A coiling terrace line that starts from the mountain foot up to the mountain top divides the mountain into layers of water in spring, layers of green rice shoots in summer, layers of rice in fall, and layers of frost in winter. The terraced fields were mostly built about 650 years ago. Longji Rice Terraces consists of 3 main parts. They are Rice Terraces of Ping'an Village, Rice Terraces of Jingken Dazhai Village and Rice Terraces of Longji Ancient Zhuang Village. You will take a cable car up to the mountain top for getting a panoramic view of the rice terraces in Dazhai village. And you will also visit Ping'an Village as well.

Accommodation area: Longsheng County (Guilin)

D 6: Yangshuo: Yulong River

Driving to Yangshuo county from Longshen county for seeing Yulong River (It takes 4 hours). You will take a bamboo raft to do the rafting on Yulong River. It's the perfect way to enjoy the beauty area of the mountain and water.

You also have an option of taking a helicopter for seeing the best part of Yulong River area from a god view.

At the end of the tour, your driver will drop you off at Guilin Airport or train stations in Guilin (or Yangshuo) or your hotels in Yangshuo county or Guilin. (Depends on your requirement)