6 Days in Guilin: First-Timer Plan

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Six days keeps the five-day spine (Guilin city, the Li River cruise, Yangshuo’s countryside, a Longji overnight) and adds a night in Xingping for the Yellow Cloth Shoal sunrise. Drop to the 5-day plan if Xingping isn’t a priority; the 7-day version adds one more slow day, and 2 or 4-day plans cover the short version.

Book these before you go

Day 1: Guilin city classics

Elephant Trunk Hill (¥55, hours per travelchinaguide.com ), Reed Flute Cave (¥90, constant ~20°C, bring a layer), and Seven Star Park (¥55, +¥45 for the cave). With the extra time this trip allows, add Solitary Beauty Peak inside the walled Jingjiang Princes’ City for city-wall views from the summit. Close with the Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise (¥210 adult/¥105 child).

Day 2: The Li River cruise to Yangshuo

One-way from Mopanshan (¥215, 3-star) or Zhujiang Pier (¥360-480, 4-star with meals), 3.5-5 hours through the Yangdi-Xingping stretch’s Nine Horse Fresco Hill. Check into Yangshuo and catch Impression Sanjie Liu (tiers ¥200-680) that evening, closed January-February.

Day 3: Yangshuo countryside

Bike the Ten-Mile Gallery route (maps at travelchinaguide.com ) to Moon Hill, then Yulong River bamboo rafting (¥200-320 per raft) in the afternoon. Beer fish for dinner on West Street, confirm the per-catty price out loud before it’s cooked.

Day 4: Up to Longji, the Dazhai/Jinkeng side

With the extra day this trip allows, go for the bigger Dazhai/Jinkeng terraces (about 2.5 hours from Guilin, cable car ¥60 one-way/¥110 return, three sunrise/sunset platforms). The ¥80 combined ticket also covers Ping’an and Huangluo Yao Village. Withdraw cash before heading up, foreign-card ATMs thin out fast past Guilin, and settle into a village guesthouse for the night.

Day 5: Sunrise at Longji, then on to Xingping

Catch first light at West Hill Music or Golden Buddha Peak (cable car), then travel back through Guilin toward Xingping, since direct transfers between Longji and Xingping are limited. Reach Xingping by bus from Guilin (~1.5 hours, ¥40) or via Yangshuo (~30 minutes, ¥15) if you route that way instead. Settle in for the night; sunrise the next morning is the point of staying over.

Day 6: Xingping and departure

Rise early for the ¥20-banknote view at Yellow Cloth Shoal, roadside and free, best at sunrise. Wander Xingping’s old town, founded 1506 as a Ming fishing village, then bus back to Guilin (~1.5 hours, ¥40) for your flight, or book any onward high-speed rail via trip.com if you’re continuing on from Guilin.

Getting around and where to stay

Guilin city suits days 1 and 6; Yangshuo suits days 2-3; a Longji village guesthouse covers day 4; Xingping covers day 5. Search hotels on Booking.com for the city legs, and see our Guilin day trips guide for the Longji and Xingping details.

One concrete tip: shoot Yellow Cloth Shoal at sunrise, not midday. The elevated platform (¥5-10) and the raft-level view both look flat under harsh daylight; the same scene at first light is the actual 20-yuan-note shot.