4-Day Guilin Tour: Li River Cruise, Reed Flute Cave & Yangshuo

Overview

Guilin and Yangshuo are twenty kilometres apart by road and a day apart by river, and the river is the reason to come. The Li River cruise runs through the tower karst of the South China Karst World Heritage site, past the peaks that have been painted and printed for a thousand years, and arrives in Yangshuo, which is small enough to walk in an hour and surrounded by the same landscape.

This four-day programme takes the cave and the city first, then the river, then leaves a day free in Yangshuo for the Yulong valley and the countryside. It is a good short trip on its own and also works as the first half of a longer Guangxi journey.

Highlights

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, the classic 83-kilometre run through the tower karst landscape
Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes circuit in Guilin city
The Reed Flute Cave, a limestone cavern with Tang-era inscriptions on its walls and a walk-through of about 240 metres
West Street in Yangshuo, and the countryside beyond it by bicycle
The Yulong River, quieter than the Li, with bamboo rafts and the village lanes along its banks
The Impression Liu Sanjie open-air production, staged on the river with some 600 local performers
Moon Hill above Yangshuo and the terraced country behind the town

Itinerary

Day 1Arrival in Guilin: Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night Cruise

Afternoon — Arrival in Guilin
Your guide and driver will welcome you at the airport or railway station arrivals hall with a name sign, then transfer you by private vehicle to your hotel. Your guide assists with check-in and offers a brief orientation to Guilin, a city set among dramatic limestone karst peaks on the banks of the Li River. The remainder of the afternoon is free to rest and settle in before the evening highlight.

Evening — Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night Cruise
Embark on a serene boat cruise through Guilin's iconic Two Rivers (the Li River and Peach Blossom River) and Four Lakes (Ronghu, Shanhu, Guihu, and Mulong). Gliding past illuminated pagodas, arched bridges, and cliffs reflected on the still water, you see the city's karst scenery transformed for the night. The route links the lakes and rivers through a series of locks into one continuous scenic waterway. This tranquil journey offers a magical introduction to Guilin's natural and cultural beauty.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2Guilin Highlights：Elephant Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Transfer to Yangshuo

Morning — Elephant Trunk Hill
Visit Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's emblem, a natural limestone formation resembling an elephant drinking from the Li River. Explore the park's caves, pagodas, and riverside paths, and see the Water Moon Cave where the moon seems to float on the water at night.

Afternoon — Reed Flute Cave
Discover Reed Flute Cave, a luminous underground world of millennial stalactites, stalagmites, and colorful illuminated formations. Highlights include the Crystal Palace chamber and rock shapes named after myths—an otherworldly natural spectacle.

Evening — Transfer to Yangshuo
In the evening, transfer to Yangshuo and check into your hotel. Stroll West Street, a lively mix of cafés, souvenir shops, and street performances blending Chinese and Western atmospheres.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3Yangshuo Adventures: Yulong River Bamboo Rafting, Countryside Cycling, Impression Liu Sanjie Show

Morning — Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
Glide down the Yulong River on a traditional bamboo raft, surrounded by karst peaks, rice paddies, and grazing water buffalo. This peaceful, less-crowded alternative to the Li River offers intimate rural views.

Afternoon — Countryside Cycling
Cycle through Yangshuo's idyllic countryside, passing villages such as Chaoyang and Jiuxian. Stop at a local farm for a hands-on cooking class to learn Guilin rice noodles or beer fish, immersing in authentic rural flavors.

Evening — Impression Liu Sanjie Show
Watch the open-air “Impression Liu Sanjie,” directed by Zhang Yimou and staged against the Li River's natural backdrop. Over 600 performers use lights, music, and Zhuang ethnic traditions to retell the folk tale of Liu Sanjie, the “Song Fairy.”

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4Li River Cruise, Departure from Guilin

Morning — Li River Cruise
Take a short Li River cruise toward Xingping, an area whose karst peaks appear on the 20-yuan banknote. Capture the iconic Nine Horses Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal before returning to Guilin. Your guide points out the landscapes that define this classic Chinese scenery.

Afternoon — Departure
Transfer to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport or the train station for your onward journey.

Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure as you travel onward.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Booking Price

Group Size	Adult(Age:8-80) Price/p.p	Child(Age:4-7) Price/p.p	Infant(Age:0-3) Price/p.p
2 PAX	from $1564	/	/
4 PAX	from $1149	/	/
6 PAX	from $1018	/	/
8 PAX	from $949	/	/
10 PAX	from $859	/	/
20 PAX	from $853	/	/
30 PAX	from $786	/	/

Includes

Accommodation for 3 nights at a 4-star or equivalent hotel, twin share, with daily breakfast
Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (breakfasts and lunches as shown)
Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)
All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them
Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme
Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them
Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

Excludes

International air tickets and any domestic flights not listed in the itinerary
China visa or visa-free entry documentation fees
Meals not specified in the daily itinerary and all beverages/alcohol
Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff (suggested USD 8-12 per person per day)
Personal expenses: laundry, telephone, minibar, shopping
Optional activities and any item not listed under Price Includes
Single-room supplement if a traveller requires a room alone
The Li River cruise upper-deck supplement, if available on the day, is payable locally
The Impression Liu Sanjie performance is included; Moon Hill entrance is payable locally if you climb it

Trip Notes

Please read these notes before booking. The Li River cruise departs in the morning to a fixed schedule and the boats are public rather than private; the upper deck is the better place to sit and is worth booking ahead. The cave is humid and has steps. The Yulong rafts are small and carry two passengers each; life vests are provided. Guilin is wet from April to June and the river can run high, in which case the cruise is shortened.

Q: Is this tour private or shared?
A: It is a private tour for your own party, with a dedicated English-speaking guide and vehicle.

Q: Are airport transfers included?
A: Yes. Arrival and departure transfers in Guilin are included, and your guide meets you with a name sign at the airport or rail station.

Q: Can the itinerary be customised?
A: Yes. Days can be added, removed or swapped, hotel categories upgraded, and business or school visits arranged, all before you confirm.

Q: How do we book and pay?
A: Send us your dates and group size for a same-day quotation. A deposit confirms the booking, the balance is due before arrival, and prices are guaranteed for 7 days.

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4-Day Guilin & Yangshuo: the Li River, Reed Flute Cave & West Street