Fifth Timezone Travel
Gallery of Mountains and Waters · Longji Guilin 5 Days
山水画廊 · 桂林龙脊 5 日
Watch sea of clouds and waves of rice in Longji Terraced Fields, cruise through the Nine-Horse Fresco Hill on the精华 section of Li River, bamboo raft on Yu Long River and slow time at West Street—all in one trip collecting the terraced culture, riverside scenery, and natural beauty of Guilin.
An upgraded version beyond Guilin's classic route: Day 1, upon arrival, see Elephant Trunk Hill and the night scenery of Two Rivers and Four Lakes; Day 2, enter Longji Terraced Fields—the "Seven Stars Accompany the Moon" in Ping'an Zhuang Village and the three viewing platforms in Jin'keng Village change with the seasons, mirror-like flooded fields from May-June, golden waves rippling from September-October, paired with a bamboo tube chicken farmhouse meal; Day 3, board at Mopan Mountain Pier, cruise the 4-hour精华 section of Li River through Nine-Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Reflection, disembark at Xingping Ancient Town and climb Laozhai Hill for sunset; Day 4, bamboo rafting on Yu Long River plus cycling through Ten-Mile Gallery, stroll West Street in the evening; final day, Reed Flute Cave and airport transfer.
Throughout the trip, selected hotels in Guilin and Yangshuo, private guide and dedicated vehicle, cruise, bamboo raft, and bicycle all included. Suitable for travelers and photography enthusiasts who want to avoid the crowds of conventional tours, to experience both terraced culture and outdoor mountain and water activities.
Tour highlights行程亮点
- Longji Terraced Fields Seven Stars Accompany the Moon Viewing Platform
- Li River精华 section cruise 4 hours (Mopan Mountain—Xingping)
- Xingping Ancient Town and Laozhai Hill sunset
- Yu Long River Golden Dragon Bridge—Jiuxian County bamboo rafting
- Ten-Mile Gallery countryside cycling
- Two Rivers and Four Lakes with Elephant Trunk Hill night view
Day-by-day itinerary每日行程
D1Arrive in Guilin · Elephant Trunk Hill · Two Rivers and Four Lakes
Private vehicle picks you up from the airport and transfers to your Guilin city hotel. In the afternoon, first visit Elephant Trunk Hill: the city's emblem at the confluence of Li River and Peach Blossom River, the reflection in Shuiyue Cave is Guilin's calling card, about 1 hour; then climb Xiaoyao Pavilion for a panoramic view of Li River, stroll Dongxi Alley historical and cultural district, where Ming-Qing architecture and arcade teahouses stand under the walls of Jingjiang Prince City. Dinner recommended: Guilin rice noodles; after dinner, walk along Ronghu and Shahu lakes for the精华 section of Two Rivers and Four Lakes, the best city night view when the Sun and Moon Twin Towers light up. Practical tips: Pick-up available from airport and train station; recommend booking flights arriving before 14:00; comfortable walking shoes needed as there's much walking in the city. Accommodation: Guilin.
D2Longji Terraced Fields One Day (Ping'an Village / Jin'keng Village)
After breakfast, drive about 2 hours to Longsheng Autonomous County. Main route through Ping'an Zhuang Village: follow stone paths to "Seven Stars Accompany the Moon" and "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" viewing platforms, terraced fields like chains and ribbons winding from mountain foot to peak, Zhuang stilted villages dotted in between, about 3 hours; for those with more energy, switch to Jin'keng Village—cable car up and down, Jinfo Ding viewing platform offers the broadest vista. Lunch in the village with bamboo tube chicken and bamboo tube rice, paired with a cup of Yao family oil tea. Seasonal tip: From May-June, flooded fields are like a thousand mirrors; September-October, golden waves of rice; winter after snow, another ink-wash painting mood. Return to Guilin in the evening. Practical tips: Stone steps in terraced fields are slippery, wear anti-slip shoes; mountain is 3-4 degrees colder than the city, bring a light jacket. Accommodation: Guilin.
D3Li River精华 Cruise · Xingping Ancient Town · Laozhai Hill
Early morning, take private vehicle about 40 minutes to Mopan Mountain Pier, board the Li River精华 section cruise (about 4 hours): boat passes Yangdi Misty Rain, Nine-Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Reflection, the 20 RMB banknote's backdrop is in the Xingping section, simple meal and viewing deck provided on board. After lunch, disembark at Xingping Ancient Town: slowly stroll the bluestone old street and Guandi Temple, then visit Xingping Fishing Village to see Qing Dynasty residences. If energy allows, climb Laozhai Hill (about 40 minutes up): the pavilion at the top faces the great bend of Li River, at sunset the peaks are gilded, the most photogenic spot in Xingping. In the evening, drive to Yangshuo (about 40 minutes) for check-in, dinner with authentic beer fish at West Street. Practical tips: Cruise tickets need to be booked in advance during peak season (already included); steps on Laozhai Hill are steep, know your limits. Accommodation: Yangshuo.
D4Yu Long River Bamboo Raft · Ten-Mile Gallery Cycling
Morning Yu Long River rafting: from Golden Dragon Bridge to Jiuxian County section takes about 2 hours, manually paddled through 8 weirs, phoenix bamboo and rice fields slowly recede on both banks, more intimate and peaceful than Li River; after landing in Jiuxian, enjoy a countryside farm-to-table meal. Afternoon, cycle or ride an electric bike along Ten-Mile Gallery: Big Banyan Tree, Moon Hill and Butterfly Spring unfold one by one, or alternatively take the pastoral greenway from Jima to Jiuxian, fewer people and beautiful scenery; evening back to Yangshuo West Street—a pedestrian street with over 1400 years of history, lined with bars, craft shops and food stalls, try a field snail stuffing. Practical tips: Keep your phone waterproof during rafting; wear a hat for sun protection during cycling, light is softest around sunrise and sunset. Accommodation: Yangshuo.
D5Reed Flute Cave · Airport Transfer
After breakfast, drive about 20 minutes to Reed Flute Cave: in this billion-year-old Karst cave, stalactites, stone pillars and stone waterfalls are dreamlike under the lights, the "Crystal Palace" hall can hold a thousand people, tour about 1.5 hours; after the cave, see the mountain and water reflection in Fanglian Pond. Lunch back in the city for the last Guilin rice noodles, the guide will recommend braised rice noodles or three-fresh rice noodles according to your taste. Afterward, transfer to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (about 45 minutes drive) based on flight time. Practical tips: Recommend booking flights after 14:00; souvenir recommendations: osmanthus cake, chili sauce and landscape fan; if time allows, Reed Flute Cave can be replaced with a half-day deep tour of Dongxi Alley. Accommodation: None (departing the same evening).
What's included费用包含
- 4 nights of selected hotels (2 nights in Guilin + 2 nights in Yangshuo)
- Breakfast + 4 lunches (including Longji bamboo tube chicken farmhouse feast)
- Li River Mopan Mountain—Xingping精华 cruise ticket
- Longji Terraced Fields entrance fee and scenic area shuttle bus
- Yu Long River bamboo raft and Ten-Mile Gallery bicycle
- Private guide and dedicated vehicle for the entire trip
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
Photos from the road实拍照片
