EMPTY NEST LISTLESS SOMEDAY. MORE LET’S GO.Follow along ↗
THE ITINERARY COLLECTION
CHINA / GUILIN & YANGSHUO

Guilin & Yangshuo Itinerary: 3 days

The train gives way to river scenery. One full day belongs to the Li River and Yangshuo.

A three-day Guilin itinerary with a two-night hotel base, a Li River cruise and time in Yangshuo before an onward flight.

Explore the itinerary
Alisha and Matt together on a Bora Bora beach

A trip from Alisha & MattPlanned with couples in mind.

Alisha and Matt on a boat with the Li River’s karst hills behind them
Li River
River bends.

YOUR TIME3 days · 2 nights

THE FOCUSLi River · karst peaks · Yangshuo

THE BASESShangri-La Guilin

THE PACEArrival + exploring + departure

THE EXPERIENCES TO BUILD A TRIP AROUND

Give these places their time

Give the Li River and Yangshuo the middle day between journeys.

A PLACE IN THE PLAN

Yangshuo

Use the village time for a walk and browsing before returning to the base.

See where it fits →
GET TO KNOW THE PLACE

River bends.
Limestone horizons.

Give the Li River and Yangshuo the full middle day, with Guilin nights on either side. Arrange the cruise and road transfers together so the journey works as a whole. Arrival and onward flight days leave less sightseeing time than the three-day title might suggest.

Arrive from Hong Kong, settle in at Shangri-La Guilin, then use the full middle day for a river outing and Yangshuo. The third day is onward travel to Xi’an. Cruise arrangements and road transfers must be booked together.

See how the route fits together ↘
A LITTLE ORIENTATION

Get your bearings before setting out.

Arrive from Hong Kong, settle in at Shangri-La Guilin, then use the full middle day for a river outing and Yangshuo. The third day is onward travel to Xi’an. Cruise arrangements and road transfers must be booked together.

ROUTE DIAGRAM · NOT TO SCALE
GuilinTwo-night base
Li RiverCruise day
YangshuoWalk and shops
GuilinReturn and onward flight
3 DAYS · 2 NIGHTS · YOUR OWN ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PLAN

ON THE MAP

See how the journey fits together.

Follow the numbered stops alongside the day plan. The lines show the order of the journey; use your transport booking or navigation for the actual route.

Explore the places in the list below.

  1. 01 Guilin
    Day 1 →Place ↗
  2. 02 Li River
    Day 2 →Place ↗
  3. 03 Yangshuo
    Day 2 →Place ↗
  4. 04 Guilin
    Day 3 →Place ↗

Place coordinates: Wikidata , Wikipedia and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Geography: Natural Earth. Select a place for its source.

THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE

Your Guilin & Yangshuo route and overnight stays

DayRoute or focusOvernight
1HONG KONG → GUILINShangri-La Guilin.
2LI RIVER → YANGSHUO → GUILINShangri-La Guilin.
3GUILIN → XI’ANXi’an, if continuing.
THE PLAN

Your Guilin & Yangshuo itinerary, day by day

Open a day for the stops and practical advice. Let the plan help you decide where to linger.

3 days · 2 nightsA ROUTE TO MAKE YOUR OWN
GUILIN & YANGSHUO · THE ROUTE
123
DAY1

Arrive among the hills.

HONG KONG → GUILINArrival and settling in · use the time your journey leaves

Leave room for the rail journey and station transfer.

  • Current rail connectionBook the actual service and allow for the border and station procedures at the departure end.
  • Shangri-La GuilinCheck in and leave the afternoon light. A tai chi session was part of the escorted trip; arrange your own class if you want one.
  • An easy local dinnerChoose a meal near the base and discuss tomorrow’s pickup and return with the operator.

THE DAY’S ROUTEHONG KONG → GUILIN

MEALS & BREAKSAn easy local dinner

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Shangri-La Guilin.

DAY2

A river day and Yangshuo.

LI RIVER → YANGSHUO → GUILINMain visiting day · give the featured stops their time
Alisha and Matt beside the boat rail with limestone peaks across the river
Li River cruise

Protect the whole day for the excursion.

  • Li River cruiseBook the departure pier, route, ticket and transfer rather than assuming every cruise runs the same stretch. Leave time to watch the karst scenery from the boat.
  • Lunch arrangementsConfirm whether a meal is included and request dietary needs in advance.
  • Yangshuo walkLeave a little time for West Street and a wander. This is a short visit from Guilin, not a multi-day Yangshuo stay.
  • Return to the hotelArrange the return road transfer before departing. Finish with dinner and an unhurried evening.

THE DAY’S ROUTELI RIVER → YANGSHUO → GUILIN

MEALS & BREAKSLunch arrangements

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Shangri-La Guilin.

DAY3

Fly onward.

GUILIN → XI’ANA journey day · include bags and each connection

Keep this as a travel day.

  • Breakfast and checkoutConfirm the actual airport, transfer and flight reporting time.
  • Onward to Xi’anThe following guide begins with this arrival day. Add another Guilin night if you want more countryside time.

THE DAY’S ROUTEGUILIN → XI’AN

MEALS & BREAKSBreakfast and checkout

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Xi’an, if continuing.

GET TO KNOW THE PLACE

Things to See in Guilin & Yangshuo

Get to know the main sights before putting them into your day. Open a card for the visit details and its place in the route.

Alisha and Matt on a boat with the Li River’s karst hills behind them

LI RIVER → YANGSHUO → GUILIN

The Li River

Take the river journey through the hill scenery.

Plan your visit

Leave time to watch the karst scenery from the boat.

A river day and Yangshuo.

See day 2

LI RIVER → YANGSHUO → GUILIN

Yangshuo

Use the village time for a walk and browsing before returning to the base.

Plan your visit

This is a short visit from Guilin, not a multi-day Yangshuo stay.

A river day and Yangshuo.

See day 2
Alisha and Matt looking out across the Li River toward the karst hills
A day on the Li River
MAKE ROOM FOR THIS

River bends.
Limestone horizons.

Give the Li River its own day. A short Yangshuo walk fits after the boat when the return transfer is already arranged.

A GOOD PLACE TO LAND

Find a base
that suits your days.

Start with where you want to spend the evening, then consider the next morning’s journey.

A PLACE TO LAND.
A BASE TO EXPLORE.

These stays give the route its overnight stops. Before booking, ask about the things that will shape your day: breakfast, arrival time and transfers. Check what your chosen room rate includes.

BEFORE YOU SET OUT

A little preparation makes a better day.

Use the links below for current visitor information, then check the details with the people arranging your visit.

China escorted route context ↗Shangri-La Guilin ↗

KNOW THE PACE BEFORE YOU GO

Make the day fit the visit

Give the Li River and Yangshuo the middle day between journeys.

GETTING THERE & AROUND

Count the whole journey

Arrange the rail arrival and hotel transfer first. Confirm the cruise’s pickup, finish and hotel return before building the afternoon.

WALKING & CHOICES

Choose the version you will enjoy

Keep the river day as the main outing. Yangshuo is a walk after the cruise, not another full touring circuit.

BEFORE YOU SET THE DATES

What to arrange first

Choose the cruise and return transport together, then book the hotel and onward airport transfer.

THE MAIN DECISION

Start with the parts that set the day

Arrange the rail arrival and hotel transfer first. Confirm the cruise’s pickup, finish and hotel return before building the afternoon.

YOUR OWN BOOKINGS

Match the details to your visit

Use the linked visitor information for the sites and journeys you choose. Check arrival instructions, entry and any guide or transfer against your actual booking. Meals and optional outings depend on what you arrange.

China escorted route contextShangri-La Guilin

PICK YOUR SEASON

Guilin & Yangshuo, month by month.

Compare average daytime highs and overnight lows to help choose a season and pack for the trip.

Guilin & Yangshuo

Reference station: Guilin · 166 m elevation

Average daily highAverage daily low°F
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Warmest average daysAugust

Coolest average nightsJanuary

Plan for the actual outingUse these averages to compare seasons, then check a forecast before packing. They do not show rainfall or guarantee the weather for your dates.

1991–2020 station normals reported to the WMO, via NOAA. High-temperature data ↗ · Low-temperature data ↗ Coastal, city and mountain conditions can differ. These are averages, not a forecast or record extremes.

View the monthly figures
Guilin & Yangshuo: average daily high / low
Month°F°C
January53° / 43°11.7° / 6.1°
February58° / 47°14.2° / 8.3°
March64° / 53°17.5° / 11.4°
April75° / 62°23.7° / 16.6°
May82° / 69°27.9° / 20.7°
June87° / 75°30.5° / 23.8°
July91° / 77°32.8° / 25.2°
August92° / 77°33.2° / 25°
September87° / 73°30.8° / 22.6°
October79° / 65°26.3° / 18.3°
November69° / 56°20.8° / 13.1°
December59° / 46°14.9° / 8°
A NOTE FROM ALISHA & MATT

Choose the visit
that suits you.

Book the visits that determine the day, then give the gaps a purpose: lunch, the journey and a chance to sit down.

Alisha & Matt
01

Book the complete excursion.

The pier transfer, boat itinerary and return from Yangshuo need to agree.

02

Do not assume private access.

Tai chi and hosted meals came from an escorted package. They require a separate arrangement when travelling independently.

03

Add time for the countryside.

Cycling, villages and longer Yangshuo stays would need extra days beyond this route.

BEFORE YOU GO

A few questions
before you go.

Can I combine this with the other guides?

Yes. Join the guides at the travel days, then count the hotel nights. One guide’s departure can be the next guide’s arrival, so adding all the day counts would give you time you do not actually have. Match the connections before booking.

How do we keep a copy?

Use “Save this trip” to bookmark the guide in this browser. For a copy to take along, choose “Print this itinerary”: every day opens for printing, and your device’s PDF option lets you save the plan.

THERE’S MORE TO SEE, TOGETHER.

Where shall
we go next?

Follow along for more places we have been and ideas to help plan your own visit.

Find us on Instagram ↗