Guilin city, the Li River, Yangshuo countryside, and the Longji terraces - the complete first-visit loop.
Bottom line: Five days is the sweet spot for a first Guilin trip: it covers Guilin city, the Li River cruise, Yangshuo countryside, and adds the Longji Rice Terraces (95 km / 2.5 hours from Guilin) without rushing. Budget about $500-800 per person mid-range.
This plan builds on the 3-day core and inserts Longji on day 4 and the ancient town of Xingping on day 5. It works best with a car or private transfer for the Longji leg, but buses and DiDi can cover it too. It suits first-time visitors who want the headline sights without a rushed schedule, couples who like a mix of city, nature, and villages, and photographers who want both the Li River and the terraces. If you only have three days, the shorter plan covers the essentials.
| Time | Activity | Transport | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | Elephant Trunk Hill | DiDi | ¥55 |
| 16:00 | East-West Alley and city wall | Walk | Free |
| 19:30 | Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise | DiDi | ¥185 |
Arrive, settle in, and do the compact city highlights. Keep evening plans light so you are fresh for the cruise tomorrow.
| Time | Activity | Transport | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Li River cruise Guilin-Yangshuo | Cruise | ¥300-500 |
| 14:00 | Check in Yangshuo | DiDi | Hotel |
| 17:00 | West Street evening | Walk | Free |
The 4-hour cruise is the scenic centerpiece. In Yangshuo, base yourself near West Street for food or toward the Yulong River for quiet.
| Time | Activity | Transport | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Yulong River bamboo raft | E-bike | ¥160-320 |
| 10:30 | Ten Mile Gallery e-bike loop | E-bike | Free-¥30 |
| 15:00 | Moon Hill or cooking class | E-bike | ¥30-120 |
A full day on two wheels (or an e-bike) is the best way to feel the Yangshuo landscape. See the Yangshuo attractions guide, the e-bike rental guide, and the Yulong River guide.
| Time | Activity | Transport | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Drive/transfer Guilin-Yangshuo to Longji (95 km) | Car / shuttle | ¥150-400 |
| 11:00 | Jinkeng Dazhai or Ping'an terraces | Cable car / walk | ¥80 entry |
| 15:00 | Village walk and viewpoint | On foot | Free |
| Overnight | Stay in a terrace guesthouse | Car | ¥200-500 |
Longji is a 2.5-hour drive each way, so start early. The terraces are tiered rice fields climbing the hills; in May-June they are flooded and mirror the sky, in September-October they turn gold. Our Longji guide covers which village to pick, and Guilin to Longji transport explains the drive.
| Time | Activity | Transport | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Longji to Xingping (via Yangshuo) | Car / bus | ¥80-200 |
| 10:30 | Xingping ancient town and 20-yuan viewpoint | Walk / e-bike | Free |
| 14:00 | Transfer to Guilin airport / train | DiDi / shuttle | ¥60-120 |
Xingping is where the famous 20-yuan banknote scenery is; a short walk or e-bike ride from the old town reaches the viewpoint. From Xingping it is about 30 minutes by road to Yangshuo and 1.5 hours to Guilin airport.
April-May and September-October are ideal: mild weather, full rivers, and the terraces at their best - mirror-flooded in May-June or golden at harvest in September-October. July-August is hot and the domestic peak; December-February is cold and quiet. Avoid National Day (early October) and Spring Festival.
Longji is 95 km from Guilin, about 2.5 hours by car on good highways. With a Chinese license, self-driving is the most flexible - you stop at viewpoints and continue to Xingping the next day. Without a license, book a private transfer (¥400-700 round trip) or the scheduled shuttle bus from Guilin or Yangshuo. The self-drive guide covers license rules.
Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) is 40-50 minutes from the city by DiDi or airport bus. High-speed trains from Guangzhou (2.5 hrs) and Shenzhen (3.5 hrs) are comfortable alternatives to flying.
Guilin rice noodles (mifen) are a cheap, filling breakfast; Yangshuo's beer fish (pijiu yu) is the signature dinner. Expect ¥15-30 for a bowl of noodles and ¥60-120 for a sit-down meal. Street snacks around West Street are fun but pricier than side-street restaurants.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels (4 nights) | ¥400-720 | ¥1000-1800 |
| Food (5 days) | ¥300-500 | ¥700-1200 |
| Li River cruise | ¥300 | ¥500 |
| Longji entry + transfer | ¥230 | ¥500 |
| E-bike + local transport | ¥120 | ¥260 |
| Total | ¥1350-1870 | ¥2960-4260 (– $420-610) |
Source & verification: Driving distances and times use August 2026 mapping estimates; Longji entry and cruise prices are operator estimates and vary by season.
For most travelers, yes. Five days lets you add Longji Rice Terraces to the Guilin-Yangshuo core without rushing. Four feels tight; seven is for slow travelers.
Use day 4 as a Longji day trip from Guilin or Yangshuo (95 km, about 2.5 hours each way by car), or sleep near the terraces and continue to Xingping the next morning.
Both work. Self-driving makes Longji and Xingping far easier (buses exist but are slower and less flexible). Without a Chinese license, use private transfers or the scheduled shuttle buses.
Two nights Guilin (or one Guilin + one Longji), two nights Yangshuo. That minimizes packing and keeps you near the day's sights.
Yes. Day 4 covers Longji and day 5 covers Xingping and the 20-yuan viewpoint before you fly out. See the Xingping guide.
About $500-800 mid-range: more hotel nights and the Longji transfer or entry (¥80) add to the 3-day baseline. Self-drive adds rental and fuel.
With 7 days you can sleep in Xingping and add a second Yangshuo day. See the 7-day plan.
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