Guilin Mountains and Rivers: 4 Days 3 Nights Premium Tour
Guilin Mountains and Rivers: 4 Days 3 Nights Premium Tour
Popular Highlights / Internet-Famous Attractions / Diverse Activities / Pure Leisure Experience
City
Guilin
Experience China's Ancient Capitals: Guilin
A 4-Day Romantic Journey
Key Experiences:
- Silent Bamboo Rafting on the Li River
- Yulong River Drifting
- Exploring Karst Caves
- Guilin Scenic Wonders
- Yaoshan Mountain
—Discover the Essence of Guilin—
Day-by-Day Itinerary Overview
| Day | Itinerary | Meals | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Guilin Airport/Station Pickup > Check into Guilin Hotel > Free Time to Explore Guilin City | Self-arranged | Guilin |
| D2 | Guilin Scenic Wonders Photo Stop > Yaoshan Mountain Overlooking Guilin > Karst Cave (Guanyan) Land-and-Air Tour > Elephant Trunk Hill | Hotel Buffet Breakfast / Intangible Heritage Oil Tea Lunch | Guilin |
| D3 | Silent Bamboo Rafting on the Li River > Xitang Scenic Spot > Xingping Ancient Town (RMB 20 Background Photo Stop) > Ten-Mile Gallery > Check into Yangshuo Hotel | Hotel Buffet Breakfast / Fisherman’s Village Feast | Yangshuo |
| D4 | Dong Minority Drum Tower > Yulong River Bamboo Rafting > Wanfu Souvenir Gift > Airport/Station Drop-off | Hotel Buffet Breakfast / High Mountain Flowing Water Guest Feast | Return Home |
Highlights of the Journey
Guilin Scenic Wonders Photo Stop
Guilin Sunny Hills (Guihai Qinglan)
- Features: 1,000 acres of endless green meadows, over 200 layered mountain peaks, 12 crystal-clear lakes of varying sizes, and 60 acres of century-old pine forests with rustling waves.
- Experience: A perfect blend of nature and aesthetics, ideal for photography and relaxation.
Yaoshan Mountain Overlooking Guilin
- Significance: The best vantage point to overlook Guilin’s panoramic views and appreciate its karst landscape. Known for the saying, “You haven’t seen Guilin until you’ve climbed Yaoshan.”
- Elevation: Main peak at 909.3 meters, the highest in Guilin city.
Karst Cave (Guanyan) – Land-and-Air Dual Tour
- Uniqueness: Guanyan Cave stands out among countless caves with its exceptional “land-and-air” touring experience, thanks to its prime location and innovative exploration methods.
Elephant Trunk Hill
- Iconic Landmark: A classic symbol of Guilin’s山水 (shan shui, mountains and rivers), designated as Guilin’s city emblem in 1995 and a national AAAAA-rated scenic spot.
Silent Bamboo Rafting on the Li River
- Experience: Glide silently on an electric bamboo raft, tracing the contours of the water as nature reveals its beauty. “Mountains rise and fall, while you flow in harmony.”
Xingping Ancient Town
- Charm: Nestled between mountains and rivers, with pink walls, black tiles, and stone paths, it’s a living embodiment of “small bridges, flowing water, and homes.”
Ten-Mile Gallery
- Scenery: A dreamy corridor painted by nature, featuring peculiar peaks, serene waters, and poetic pastoral landscapes.
Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
- Serenity: “Boats drift on emerald waves, people travel through a painting.” Surrounded by green mountains, each bend in the river unveils unexpected beauty.
Tour Features
Unique Itinerary – Worry-Free Exploration
- Boutique group tour
- A return to authentic travel
- Playful adventures in trending scenic landscapes
Culinary Delights – Variety at Every Meal
- Intangible Heritage Oil Tea
- Fisherman’s Village Feast
- High Mountain Flowing Water Guest Feast
Premium Accommodation in Guilin & Yangshuo – Central Business District
- 3 nights in carefully selected, highly-rated local hotels
- Includes 3 hearty buffet breakfasts
Heartfelt Service
- Complimentary Guilin souvenir gift included
- Memories made flavorful and meaningful
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Guilin
Pickup > Check into Guilin Hotel > Free Time to Explore Guilin City
- Meals: Self-arranged
- Accommodation: Guilin
- Details:
- Welcome to Guilin, a world-renowned tourism city! Our dedicated staff will greet you at the airport or station, ensuring a warm and enthusiastic start to your journey.
- After a long trip, rest easy in a reputable Guilin hotel, carefully chosen for your comfort.
- If time permits, explore the city center with a leisurely city walk. Stroll along Binjiang Road to enjoy the breeze and Guilin’s dazzling scenery, visit Dongxi Lane or the pedestrian street for a taste of local life, or mingle with locals in Tiexi to hunt for unique food experiences.
- Tips:
- Complimentary pickup service is included; our guide/staff will contact you in advance—please keep your phone accessible.
- Check-in is typically available after 14:00. Early arrivals can store luggage at the hotel.
- No guide accompanies free activities; please safeguard your valuables.
Day 2: Guilin Scenic Wonders > Yaoshan > Guanyan Cave > Elephant Trunk Hill
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Intangible Heritage Oil Tea Lunch
Accommodation: Guilin
- Details:
- Start with a hotel buffet breakfast.
- Visit Guilin Scenic Wonders (Guihai Qinglan) (~60 mins): A trendy new landmark in Guilin, featured in Oriental Selection’s New Year livestream by Dong Yuhui and host to the Strawberry Music Festival. With stunning natural beauty and diverse leisure options, it’s a must-visit for art lovers, nature explorers, and vacationers alike. Perfect for Instagram-worthy shots.
- Explore Yaoshan Mountain (~90 mins): A 4A-rated scenic area and Guilin’s highest peak (909.3m). Once an ancient seabed 350 million years ago, it now boasts a new Austrian-imported cable car (2023, fee not included), aerial gardens, rainbow trails, a cloud-top café, and wind chime paths—all highly photogenic. “A thousand peaks surround the plains, a river embraces the city”—this view embodies Guilin’s essence. Lunch features a unique ethnic-style Nine, like the Nine-Bowl or Bamboo Basket Feast.
- Discover Guanyan Cave (~60 mins): A karst cave with a 1,000-year history, famously explored by Xu Xiake in 1637 (recorded in his travelogue). Enjoy a dreamy seven-color floating bridge over an underground river, a 36m-high elevator (Asia’s tallest cave lift), a scenic slide, or a mini-train through time tunnels (additional fees apply for slide/train).
- Visit Elephant Trunk Hill (~30 mins): Guilin’s city emblem and a karst icon. Snap a photo with the textbook cover backdrop from Spring Festival Gala fame, and marvel at the “moon in the water, moon in the sky” phenomenon at Water Moon Cave.
- Optional evening activity (no obligation): Night Cruise on Four Lakes (~60 mins) to enjoy Guilin’s illuminated ring-city water system.
Day 3: Li River Rafting > Xitang > Xingping > Ten-Mile Gallery
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Fisherman’s Village Feast
Accommodation: Yangshuo
- Details:
- Enjoy a hotel buffet breakfast.
- Embark on a Silent Bamboo Raft Tour of the Li River (~60 mins): Drift past endless peaks in a surreal wonderland. Upgraded to a luxurious electric raft (“the Ferrari of the water”), this is the best way to experience “Guilin’s mountains and waters reign supreme.”
- Stop at Xitang Scenic Spot: Face breathtaking mountain vistas head-on.
- Explore Xingping Ancient Town: Photograph the RMB 20 bill backdrop amid stunning scenery.
- Savor Yangshuo’s famous beer fish for lunch.
- Drive through Ten-Mile Gallery: A scenic corridor featuring Butterfly Spring, Sheep Horn Hill, and Camel Crossing the River—your window becomes the ultimate viewpoint.
- Evening free time at Yangshuo West Street: With 1,400 years of history, this “Foreigners’ Street” blends ancient charm with Western flair. Shop, eat, or wander at your leisure.
Day 4: Dong Drum Tower > Yulong River Rafting > Departure
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / High Mountain Flowing Water Guest Feast
Accommodation: Return Home
- Details:
- After breakfast, visit the Dong Minority Drum Tower: Step into ancient stone lanes and gray-brick homes to experience the Dong people’s rich, mysterious, and leisurely culture.
- Drift on the Yulong River Bamboo Raft (~45 mins): “Not the Li River, yet surpassing it.” Float gently through emerald waters framed by bamboo groves, peaks, and fields—perfect for singing mountain songs on a clear day.
- Enjoy a High Mountain Flowing Water Guest Feast for lunch.
- Pick up a refined Guilin souvenir before heading back.
- Our team ensures a smooth drop-off at the station/airport for a perfect trip finale.
- Tips:
- Book trains after 18:00 or flights after 20:00 to align with the itinerary.
- If your return is delayed, enjoy free time; drop-off staff will adhere to the scheduled time. Late arrivals causing delays are not our responsibility.
Note: Itinerary timing may adjust due to flights, weather, or road conditions. Guides will rearrange the order without affecting standards.
Day 4: Dong Drum Tower > Yulong River Rafting > Departure
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / High Mountain Flowing Water Guest Feast
Accommodation: Return Home
- Details:
- After breakfast, visit the Dong Minority Drum Tower: Step into ancient stone lanes and gray-brick homes to experience the Dong people’s rich, mysterious, and leisurely culture.
- Drift on the Yulong River Bamboo Raft (~45 mins): “Not the Li River, yet surpassing it.” Float gently through emerald waters framed by bamboo groves, peaks, and fields—perfect for singing mountain songs on a clear day.
- Enjoy a High Mountain Flowing Water Guest Feast for lunch.
- Pick up a refined Guilin souvenir before heading back.
- Our team ensures a smooth drop-off at the station/airport for a perfect trip finale.
- Tips:
- Book trains after 18:00 or flights after 20:00 to align with the itinerary.
- If your return is delayed, enjoy free time; drop-off staff will adhere to the scheduled time. Late arrivals causing delays are not our responsibility.
Note: Itinerary timing may adjust due to flights, weather, or road conditions. Guides will rearrange the order without affecting standards.
Inclusions
- Tickets: First-entry tickets to listed attractions (bundled at group rates; no discounts/refunds for seniors/students; no refunds for skipped complimentary sites).
- Transportation: Round-trip transfers and local air-conditioned tour buses (one seat per person).
- Guide: Dedicated, excellent service from our professional guides.
- Meals: 3 breakfasts (hotel buffet), 3 lunches (30 RMB/person/meal; Oil Tea, Fisherman’s Feast, Guest Feast). 10 per table; reduced portions for smaller groups; refunded if <6 people; no refunds for skipped meals.
- Insurance: Guilin travel agency liability insurance.
- Children’s Fees: Under 1.2m—half-price meals and bus seat only; additional costs (e.g., height-based tickets) borne by parents, including complimentary sites.
Accommodation Options
- Guilin Comfort: Guboer, Shengshi, Jingxin, Wodun, Xinbin, Zhongyin, or similar
- Yangshuo Comfort: Ziwei, He’an, Shililang, Lisheng, Suchao, Beidou, or similar
- Guilin Luxury: Jinhuang, Qiyinshe, Nanhang Mingzhu, Ruiji Xishan, Kailiyade, Vienna, or similar
- Yangshuo Luxury: Biyu, Songshe, Haoyuan, Xishuo Yard, Fanbo, Shan Yu Cheng, Vienna Impression, or similar
- Notes:
- No single rooms provided; solo travelers may share with an extra bed or pay a room supplement.
- Guilin is a lower-tier tourism city; hotels prioritize hygiene and comfort but may fall below expectations—prepare accordingly.
- Options if dissatisfied:
- Refund at cost price for self-booking.
- Upgrade to a higher standard at the price difference.
- Free upgrade if we secure better hotels at no extra cost (subject to availability).
Exclusions
- Personal spending in shopping areas.
- Costs beyond children’s quoted fees.
- Transport, meals, or personal expenses during free time.
- Single room supplements or extra bed fees.
- No refunds for missed complimentary attractions due to special circumstances.
- Additional costs from delays, cancellations, or force majeure events.
- Non-included dining, laundry, haircuts, phone calls, drinks, tobacco, pay TV, luggage handling, etc.
- Unlisted fees: special tickets, boats, cable cars, scenic area shuttles, train tickets, etc.
- No personal travel or aviation insurance; losses from breaches, personal fault, or illness are self-covered.
Important Information
- This is a nationwide group tour; waiting for other guests may occur—please follow the guide’s instructions.
- Guides may adjust the itinerary/accommodation order based on local conditions for smoother travel—thank you for your cooperation.
- Unvisited sites due to force majeure are refunded at group discount rates (not listed prices); no refunds for complimentary sites.
- Leaving the group or skipping activities (hotels, meals, attractions) forfeits refunds. We do not arrange lodging or drop-offs for independent departures—consequences are your responsibility.
- Tickets are real-name booked; losses from personal errors or force majeure are borne by you. Provide accurate names and ID numbers.
- Attraction tickets are group-priced; no discounts apply (e.g., student, military, senior IDs).
- Air-conditioned buses provide one seat per person; no individual door-opening or AC during stops—do not leave valuables onboard.
- Scenic/hotel shops are not agency-arranged; we cannot handle related complaints. For shopping, visit reputable stores (e.g., for specialties like luohanguo, longan, osmanthus perfume, Guilin’s “three treasures”—chili sauce, fermented tofu, Sanhua liquor—white fruit, osmanthus cake). Avoid roadside fakes.
- Beware of fake “wild horse” guides at stations, restaurants, or scenic spots offering cheap deals (e.g., 50 RMB for Impression Liu Sanjie). They often scam—stick with our guides.
- Complete the “Tourist Feedback Form.” “Dissatisfied” ratings require reasons; we won’t handle disputes from blank/false forms—losses are your responsibility. Resolve complaints locally; post-trip claims are not accepted.
- Safety Note: Guilin’s humid climate makes surfaces slippery—walk carefully in public areas.
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