Guilin & Yangshuo
Guilin and Yangshuo are southern China's karst-mountain region — thousands of limestone peaks rising straight out of the Li River, a completely different landscape from Beijing, Xi'an, or Shanghai. Cruise the river from Guilin to Yangshuo (about 4-5 hours, from roughly $30) or bamboo-raft a shorter stretch near Xingping for the view printed on the ¥20 banknote. Fly into Guilin (about 3 hours from Shanghai or Beijing) and give the region 2-3 days, based in Yangshuo rather than Guilin city.
There's a version of China that shows up on calendars and desktop wallpapers more than any actual city does: soft, mist-wrapped limestone peaks stacked along a slow green river. That's Guilin and Yangshuo, and unlike a lot of over-photographed places, it looks exactly like that in person too — just bring a few extra days, because this region isn't a quick side trip from anywhere.
Li River cruise or bamboo raft — which one?
| Option | Route | Duration | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard river cruise | Guilin to Yangshuo (the full, famous stretch) | 4-5 hours | From ¥215 (~$30) |
| Bamboo raft | Xingping to Yangdi, or the Yulong River near Yangshuo | 1-1.5 hours | ¥120-220 (~$17-31) per raft, 2 people |
The full Guilin-to-Yangshuo cruise covers the best-known scenery, but a growing number of budget cruises now board partway downstream and skip the most dramatic Yangdi-to-Xingping stretch entirely — check exactly where your specific cruise starts before booking, not just the destination.
Getting to Guilin
| From | Method | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Direct flight | ~3 hours |
| Shanghai | High-speed rail | 8.5-9.5 hours (~$92) |
| Beijing | Direct flight | ~3-3.5 hours |
| Guangzhou | Flight or high-speed rail | Guilin's closest major-city connection — well under 3 hours either way |
What to do in Yangshuo
- West Street — Yangshuo's pedestrian main street, equal parts genuine old town and full-on tourist strip, worth an evening for the energy alone.
- Cycle the Yulong River — rent a bike and ride the quieter countryside loop past rice paddies and smaller karst peaks, away from the Li River crowds.
- Moon Hill — a natural arch atop a short, steep climb, with one of the best panoramic views of the karst landscape in the whole region.
- Impression Sanjie Liu — a large-scale outdoor night show staged directly on the river with the karst peaks as a backdrop, directed by Zhang Yimou (of Beijing Olympics opening-ceremony fame).
Best time to visit
April-May and September-October are the strongest windows — clearer water, better visibility of the peaks, and less rain. June-August brings heavy rain that can turn the river brown and cut visibility; winter (November-March) is cooler and quieter, with a real chance of atmospheric mist, though the river runs lower.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Day-tripping Guilin/Yangshuo from Guilin city on a single rushed round trip — stay at least one night in Yangshuo itself, where the actual atmosphere is.
- Not booking the Xingping bamboo raft or the ¥20-note viewpoint boat slot in advance during peak season (April-May, October) — both sell out by mid-morning.
- Assuming any Li River cruise covers the same scenery — budget boats that board downstream miss the best stretch; check the itinerary, not just the price.
What it costs
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Standard 4-star Li River cruise | ¥215-260 (~$30-36) |
| Higher-star cruise | ¥400-500 (~$55-70) |
| Bamboo raft (Yulong or Xingping), per raft of 2 | ¥120-220 (~$17-31) |
| Yangshuo guesthouse, per night | $20-45 |
| West Street street food meal | $3-6 |
No special permit is needed for Guilin or Yangshuo — standard China visa rules apply, the same as any other mainland destination. See our visa & entry guide if you haven't checked your nationality's rule yet.
Where to stay in Guilin & Yangshuo — hotels
Check live availability and prices for hotels, resorts, and guesthouses in Guilin & Yangshuo on Booking.com:
Search hotels in Guilin & Yangshuo on Booking.com ←We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.