Guilin Highlights Tour Li River to Yangshuo and Xianggong Hill
Description
Embark on this Li River cruise and feast your eyes on the stunning scenery of bamboo groves, towering karst peaks, water buffaloes wading in the river, and quaint villages—views that often inspire traditional Chinese paintings. After the cruise, take a leisurely stroll through the vibrant West Street. A delicious lunch will be served on board, making this a truly memorable experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby at around 8:00 am. After a approximately 50-minute drive, you will arrive at the pier. The driver guide will assist you in collecting your boat tickets at the pier. Please let us know your hotel name, and we will pick you up from anywhere within 20 kilometers of Guilin city. Note: Driver who also acts as a guide Note: During the summer holiday (July to August), National Holiday or May holiday, please book your tour with us as early as possible, as boat tickets are difficult to secure. If regular boat tickets are unavailable, we will arrange an electric boat for you from Yangdi to Nine Horses Hill.
The Li River cruise lasts about 4 hours, arriving in Yangshuo at approximately 1:30 PM. Along the journey from the pier to Yangshuo, you’ll pass by countless grotesque peaks, creating a picturesque landscape. The river winds like a green ribbon, while the peaks rise like bamboo shoots, forming a breathtaking natural gallery. As you cruise down the river, you’ll be captivated by the inverted reflections of the fantastically shaped peaks, the crystal-clear water, the lush green hills, and the bamboo groves. You’ll also have the chance to see the iconic scenery featured on the 20 Yuan note in Xingping Town. You will enjoy a relaxing 3 to 4-hour cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, passing countless karst hills along the way - a truly unforgettable experience. Note: You will be on the boat independently during the cruise. Your driver/guide will not accompany you on the boat but will meet you at Yangshuo Dock upon arrival. Please send us your info, we will book boat tickets for your group.
Take some time to visit the renowned West Street at your leisure on your own. Here, you’ll find charming old-style buildings made of gray bricks and tiles, which have been transformed into a variety of souvenir shops, bars, coffee shops, and more.
We will then head to Xianggong Hill, where visitors can experience the stunning karst landscape in a unique way by climbing one of the karst mountains. Xianggong Hill is the perfect choice for this adventure. The climb to the top takes about 20 minutes, and once there, you’ll be rewarded with a bird’s-eye view of the Li River valley, surrounded by towering peaks. This breathtaking sight is one of the most spectacular views in China and an absolute must-see during your tour.
After a wonderful day exploring Xianggong Hill, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Guilin. The journey takes about 1 and half hour, giving you time to relax or take a nap. You will arrive at your Guilin hotel around 6:00 pm, concluding your memorable day trip.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will have a sign of traveller's name to meet at the lobby of Hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 1 people per booking is required.
- A maximum of 15 people per booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(62)
This a must-do when in Guilin. The scenery is stunning and unique to this region. Sandy was a wonderful guide and made sure that everything was perfect for our experience!
Thank you for booking the tour with us and for your amazing review of our services. We are sure that you have chosen one of the best tours in the Guilin area. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in China and an absolute must-visit. Not many destinations offer endless hills and stunning views in every season. Even on rainy days, with clouds resting on the hills, alongside bamboo groves, bamboo rafts, and fishermen with cormorants, the scenery looks just like a traditional Chinese painting. Guilin is a once-in-a-lifetime destination that is truly irreplaceable and unbeatable. Enjoy the rest of your trip in China!
Was a good trip rained quite a bit during the boat trip and would have been much nicer if we had had a sunny day but was worth the money and we enjoyed it.
Thank you for your amazing review of the tour with us. The weather was changeable while you were on the boat cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. It might have been better if it had not rained or been too sunny; however, rainy days offer a different view of the Li River. A famous saying goes in China: "Night view in Shanghai, foggy view in Chongqing, and rainy and misty view in Guilin are the best." In other words, the rain and mist make the scenery different and even more romantic. You can imagine the mists and fogs lingering among the hills, bamboo groves along the riverbank, along with boats, fishermen, cormorants, and water buffaloes making the Li River so beautiful. Different weather brings different views and feelings; the view of the Li River will never disappoint you at any time or in any season. This is one of the best tours in Guilin, waiting for your discovery.
Carrie Zhang, China Highlights was a great Tour Advisor for our Guilin trip in March, 2026 Carrie did a phenomenal job putting together the itinerary and tailoring the tour to our preferences and interests. She was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. She has a strong interpersonal skill and have communicated with us every detail of the trip. Enjoyed travelling to Li River Cruise, Yangshuo Countryside visit, West Street of Yangshuo, Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. Enjoyed the walk on the green Yangshuo Countryside . Evening well spent with Carrie and Chan( our tour guide). Carrie stopped by our Hotel in the evening and had a great time with us, She also provided great personalized recommendations on where to go at night after she had left us. Having her arranging our trip and take care of everything made it very convenient and worry-free. Would love to return to Guilin again. Date of experience: March 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear that you had a great time in Guilin with Carrie. It’s great that you enjoyed the Li River Cruise, Yangshuo countryside, West Street, Reed Flute Cave, and Elephant Trunk Hill. We’re glad our guide could make your trip easy and worry-free. Thank you for choosing Guilin Private Tours, and we’d love to welcome you back to Guilin again!
Our guide Nélida from Chinahighlights took us, and we enjoyed it a lot
Thank you for choosing our tour! We’re confident you’ll love this experience, as you’ve picked one of the top tours in Guilin. Sit back and relax on the cruise to admire the rolling karst mountains. Explore the ancient streets of Yangshuo and enjoy panoramic views of the stunning hills. This will surely be an unforgettable journey for you. We have handpicked excellent tour guides for your Guilin trip. Wish you a wonderful remaining stay in China!
Excellent tour. The tour was conducted by Mr. Sandy, polite gentlemen on time. He picked us up at 8:30am dropped us off at the cruise dock at 9:30. Cruise went on for around 3 1/2 hours. He picked us up at Yanshaou dock when the cruise ended. Walked us through the town and then drove us to the mountain where we climbed up some steps to a very beautiful viewing point, which gives us an aerial view of the entire valley. Drove us back for one and a half hours back to our hotel downtown in guilin
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re glad you had a great time with us. Hope to welcome you back again soon. We really appreciate your kind words. Happy you enjoyed the tour and the beautiful views. Thank you for choosing us! Thanks for your nice feedback. It’s our pleasure to serve you. Wish you a wonderful stay in Guilin!
Jack was our tour guide. His English is excellent and he drives very safely. The car is comfortable and clean. He is very considerate and flexible with our needs and preferences. The 4 star cruise experience was very comfortable and pleasant. The food was good and plentiful. The mountains are breathtaking, as beautiful as anywhere in the world we’ve been. If you are in the region do NOT miss this tour! Highly recommended!
Thank you for booking the tour with us and for your wonderful review. All of you are very nice and friendly. We are pleased that you enjoyed the natural beauty and our driver-guide services. Our driver-guides have been taking tourists for over 10 years, and they are very considerate of the tourists' needs. We believe you chose one of the best tours in Guilin: taking a cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo to see the endless peaks, then walking up to the hilltop for a bird's-eye view of this area. Thank you for your kindness and recommendations, and we are confident that other tourists will take your recommendations into consideration. Wish you enjoy the rest of your trip in China.
The cruise on the Li River was a relaxing experience that allowed us to enjoy the characteristic panorama of the area. Sandy was a great guide: punctual, helpful and very friendly.
Thanks for your amazing review and you are so nice. Thank you for your trust of booking the tour and enjoy the natural landscape and our guide services. We believe that you make best option of the tour with us and we are sure you will enjoy this tour in such time if you only have one day in Guilin. If you have one day or 2 days, this is one of the best tour for the tourists and do the li river cruise from Guilin is still the classic tour not only in Guilin, but also in China, you will have complete vista of the biggest karst hill from Guilin to Yangshuo, so many hills, the endless peaks, just like you are on the traditional landscape paintings. Then to the Xianggong Hill to see the gorgous view. You can see the karst hill from river to the hilltop and it is very interesting and amazing tour. Hope you will enjoy the rest of your trip in China.
Highly recommend this absolutely beautiful tour. I got a fully solo private experience for all parts of the tour except for when I was on the boat. Sundy was my guide and he did an amazing job of telling me about the history and culture.
Thank you for your great feedback! We’re pleased you had a lovely tour and enjoyed the cultural and historical introduction with Sundy. You have chosen one of the best tours in Guilin. You experienced the endless karst hills along the Li River and the stunning views from the top of Xianggong Hill. We believe future tourists searching for tours in Guilin should not hesitate to book this tour with us, and we are sure they will have the same wonderful experience as you did. Our goal is to ensure tourist satisfaction and make your tour worthwhile. Thanks again for your recommendation.
A magnificent experience, at all times Leo was amazing as a guide and looked forward to everything going well. He also adapted the trip to my preferences with a lot of flexibility. Unbeatable in every way. Thanks Leo!!
Thanks for booking the tour with us, and we are happy that you enjoyed it very much. You mentioned that your guide was very nice, friendly, and tried to meet your needs. He showed you around the Yulong River, and you did the scooter tour along the river, which is one of the most beautiful places in the Guilin Yangshuo area. You are a very nice tourist too, and we were happy to guide you in our hometown, which is a very peaceful and beautiful place. Enjoy the rest of your trip in China.
If you are in Guilin you should not miss this tour. The boat ride, impressive, the visit to the village, interesting and the climb to the mountain, surprising. A 10/10 for the guide. He knew everything perfectly, told us many things about his country, drives well and is friendly and friendly. The scenery is breathtaking. I insist, a very complete tour that you should not miss if you have a chance.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We are delighted that you found the tour 'complete' and the landscapes 'stunning.' It is great to know that our guide made such a positive impression with his storytelling and safe driving. Our team takes great pride in showcasing the beauty of Guilin and ensuring our guests feel safe and well-cared-for. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope you had a fantastic rest of your trip in China.
