Guilin Yangshuo Itinerary: 3 Days of Karst Peaks, Bamboo Rafts, and Rice Field Rides

I almost didn’t go to Yangshuo. Everyone kept telling me “Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven” and honestly, I assumed it was just another overhyped tourist trap on the Chinese travel circuit. Then a friend dragged me onto a bamboo raft at Jinlong Bridge at 7 a.m., the morning mist still hugging the karst peaks, and I shut up real quick. Two hours later I was cycling through rice fields with wet shoes and a stupid grin on my face.

So here’s the itinerary I wish someone had handed me before I went. No “10 must-see spots” fluff — just three days that actually work.

Day 1: Arrive and Hit the Yulong River

Fly into Guilin Liangjiang Airport. Skip the taxi queue — grab the airport shuttle straight to Yangshuo (about 70 minutes, 30 RMB). If you’re coming by high-speed train, buy a ticket to Yangshuo Station, not Guilin. Yangshuo Station sits in Xingping town, and from there it’s a 40-minute shuttle to the county seat.

Check into your guesthouse, then rent an electric scooter. In 2026 the going rate is 40–50 RMB per day. You’ll need it — private cars get banned from the Ten-Mile Gallery scenic road between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and honestly, a scooter is way more fun anyway.

Head straight to the Yulong River. The Jinlong Bridge to Old County bamboo raft route is the one you want. It runs about 90 minutes, costs 320 RMB per raft (two people max), and crosses nine small dams along the way. The drops aren’t scary — they’re just splashy enough to make you laugh. The water is ridiculously clear and the peaks on both sides look like something out of a Chinese ink painting.

Pro tip: bring sandals. Your feet will get wet at the dams.

After the rafting, spend late afternoon cycling the loop: Yulong River Pier → Gongnong Bridge → Big Banyan Tree → Moon Hill → Jima Village. Gongnong Bridge at sunset is the best spot to watch rafts cruise through — the light hits the water just right. Jima Village has endless rice paddies that glow golden around 5 p.m.

Day 2: Li River and Xingping

Wake up early. Like, 5 a.m. early. You’re going to Xianggong Mountain.

A taxi from Yangshuo takes about 40 minutes. Entry is 60 RMB. The climb is steep but short — maybe 20 minutes if you’re reasonably fit. What you get at the top: the Li River twisting through karst peaks below, usually wrapped in morning mist. Photographers call the river bend the “dragon spine.” You’ll see why.

After coming down, head to Xingping Ancient Town. This is where the famous 20 RMB note background lives. Walk the riverside path from Xingping toward Nine Horses Fresco Hill — it’s about 5 km one way, flat and easy, with the Li River on one side and limestone cliffs on the other. You’ll pass bamboo groves, water buffalo, and old fishermen with cormorants. The whole thing feels like you’ve walked into a scroll painting.

If your legs are shot, you can take a motorized raft back to Xingping pier. Grab lunch in the old town — the Li River fish is solid, and a bowl of Guilin rice noodles costs next to nothing.

Spend the evening back in Yangshuo county. West Street is touristy and loud, but the side alleys have decent little bars where you can sit outside with a cold beer and watch the limestone peaks turn purple at dusk.

Day 3: Caves, Villages, and One Last Ride

Yangshuo has over 200 caves, but Silver Cave (Yinzi Yan) in Lipu county is the standout. The Chinese saying goes — “visit Silver Cave and you’ll never be short of money.” The cave system is massive, with illuminated stalactites and stalagmites that look like frozen waterfalls. Give yourself about two hours.

If you’d rather skip the underground for more time above ground, bike the Yulong River again but take the northern stretch this time — toward Yulong Bridge, a stone bridge from the Ming Dynasty that’s still standing. The villages around it are quiet and mostly untouched by tourism. Old women sell chilled mung bean smoothies for 5 RMB a cup from roadside stands. Best thing you’ll drink all trip.

Before you leave, make one last stop at the Ten-Mile Gallery for photos. The rice fields in summer are impossibly green, and the karst backdrop never gets old.

When to Go

July and August are hot (28–34°C) but also when the river is fullest and the landscape is at its greenest. Bamboo rafts are cooler than you’d expect — dipping your feet in the river helps. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer milder weather and fewer crowds.

What This Trip Actually Costs

Not much, by Western travel standards. Bamboo raft tickets: 200–320 RMB per raft. Guesthouses: 150–300 RMB per night for something decent. Scooter rental: 40–50 RMB daily. Meals: 30–80 RMB per person. You can do three days comfortably for under 2,000 RMB (about $280 USD) excluding flights.

Yangshuo surprised me. It’s one of those rare places where the reality matches the postcard — and sometimes even beats it.