Guilin Yangshuo 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Guilin

Morning: Fly into Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) or arrive by high-speed train at Guilin North or Guilin West station. Most flights from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou take 2-3 hours.

Afternoon: Check into your hotel. If you arrive before 3pm, visit Elephant Trunk Hill — Guilin's most famous landmark, right in the city center. It's a 30-minute walk and the viewpoint is best in late afternoon light.

Evening: Walk along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes (Ronghu and Shanhu). The Sun and Moon Pagodas light up after dark. For dinner, try Guilin rice noodles at a local shop — expect to pay 10-15 RMB for a bowl. Try Chongshan Rice Noodles near the city center.

Stay: Guilin city center, near the lakes. The area around Zhengyang Pedestrian Street has good options at every budget.

Day 2: Li River Cruise to Yangshuo

Morning (8:00 AM): Take a taxi or pre-booked transfer to the Yangdi or Mopanshan pier (about 1 hour from Guilin). Board the Li River cruise. The classic Yangdi-to-Xingping section is the most scenic — this is the stretch you see in every photo. If you're on a bamboo raft (recommended), you'll do the Yangdi-to-Jiuma section (about 1.5 hours on the water).

Midday: Arrive in Xingping around noon. Walk up to the Xingping viewpoint (the spot on the 20 RMB note). It's a 15-minute walk from the dock. Grab lunch at one of the riverside restaurants — try beer fish, a Yangshuo specialty.

Afternoon: Take a local bus or taxi from Xingping to Yangshuo town (about 40 minutes). Check into your Yangshuo hotel. If you still have energy, rent a bicycle and ride a short loop through the countryside west of town — the late afternoon light on the karst peaks is incredible.

Evening: West Street (Xi Jie) comes alive after dark. It's touristy but fun for one night. Try a local cooking class if you're interested — several schools offer evening sessions.

Stay: Yangshuo. West Street area for nightlife and convenience, or a countryside guesthouse 2-3 km outside town for peace and better views.

Day 3: Yangshuo Countryside

Morning (7:30 AM): Rent a bike or e-bike and ride the Ten Mile Gallery road. Start early to beat the tour buses. This 10 km stretch runs alongside the Yulong River with karst peaks on both sides. Stop at the Yulong River bridge for photos. If you want to do a bamboo raft on the Yulong, go early — the queues build by 10 AM.

Late Morning: Hike up Moon Hill. It's about 800 steps to the top. The view from the natural stone arch is the best panorama in Yangshuo. Takes about 30-40 minutes up.

Afternoon: Depending on your departure time: if your flight or train is late afternoon, squeeze in a visit to a local village or a tea plantation. If you're leaving mid-afternoon, head back to Guilin by bus or taxi (1-1.5h) and allow 2 hours at the airport before your flight.