Guilin to Yangshuo Travel, Tours & Unique China Holidays

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Bamboo Sailing through Yangshuo Karst Mountains

Route: Guilin - Yangshuo (or vice versa)

While travelling through China from Guilin to Yangshuo, you won't want to miss a visit to the beautiful karst mountains. This area is known as the most beautiful in China.

Naturally, you'll want to experience this part of China in the best possible way. The boat ride offered by most travel organisations from Guilin to Yangshuo, does not do justice to one of the most beautiful areas in China. It involves hours of boats honking their horns and peddlers screaming across the river. That's why this karst mountains module will take you to Yangshuo overland.

You'll start off with a bike ride and bamboo boat trip along the Yulong River. A guide will tell you all about life in this area. The following day you'll be free to do as you choose, go biking, hiking through farm land, hot air ballooning or just take a walk around Yangshuo and admire the scenery.

If you'd like to start building your China holiday, take a look at our bite-sized China trips. Or alternatively, you can choose from one of our ready-made holidays in China.

Duration:	4 days / 3 nights	Departure:	Daily
Comfort level (1-4):	3 (see accommodation)	Accommodation:	Three nights in a double occupancy room (accommodation only) with shower/ toilet and air conditioning
Price:	£148 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included:	Transport, accommodation, bike ride/boat ride with English speaking guide in small group
Transport:	Transfer from Guilin to Yangshuo	Excluded:	Meals and drinks, other excursions, entrance fees

Day 1: Arrival in Yangshuo

In order to reach Yangshuo's karst mountains, you’ll fly to the city of Guilin first. You will then be collected and transferred to your hotel in Yangshuo.

Your accommodation during this trip will be a charming retreat surrounded by farmland and rice paddies located between the karst mountains in Yangshuo. The hotel you will stay at during this China trip is peaceful and the staff are very friendly and will make you feel right at home. There are mountain bikes, kayaks, bamboo rafts and tubes for rent and naturally this area is great for walking. You can hike to the river and catch a glimpse of the bamboo boats you'll be sailing in the next day.

If you would prefer to stay in a hotel in Yangshuo town, please let us know and we will give you more information on accommodation options.

Day 2: Yangshuo - bike, bamboo boat excursion Yulong River

On day two of your Yangshuo trip, a bike tour and bamboo boat ride are on the agenda. We'll arrange a bike, a boat and an English-speaking guide for you. You'll travel in a small group along with other Western travellers and discover more about life in this area as you cycle through the villages.

Your day will start with a bike ride along the Yulong River. A real highlight of your China holiday, the scenery here is extremely beautiful and it features a dramatic array of Yangshuo's karst mountains on the banks of the river. You'll leave the main roads and cycle along the river through farmland and rice paddies. You'll be able to stop for drinks or snacks in the small villages that you'll pass during your ride.

After a while, you will find a bamboo raft waiting to take you down the river. You will then sail down the river watching the peaks of the karst mountains by your side. After a few kilometres, you'll get back on your bike and cycle towards Moon Hill. You can choose to climb the hill if you wish. In warm temperatures, this could be quite a strenuous climb. However the view from the top makes it worth it. Later, when you return to your hotel, you can unwind with a beer or glass of wine on the terrace and think about the beautiful sights you've seen today on day two of your Yangshuo trip.

Day 3: Yangshuo

On day three of your Yangshuo trip, you’ll have the entire day to spend as you please; there's plenty to do in this area. You can rent a kayak from the hotel, spend another day on a bicycle to explore the area on your own, or you can even take Kung Fu lesson for an hour. .

In the evening, how about going to the 'Zhang Yimou light show' set along the Li and Yulong rivers. Zhang Yimou is China’s most famous theatre director and is best known for producing the 2008 Olympic Games opening ceremony. He’s created a stunning show complete with illuminated karst formations, gigantic decor and hundreds of actors. This show is truly enjoyable set against a backdrop of Karst Mountains and we would recommend adding it to your travel plan. Just ask one of our friendly travel specialists for more information.

Guilin to Yangshuo - Zhang Yimou Light Show

Day 4: Yangshuo - Guilin (optional - Ping'an)

After this tour from Guilin to Yangshuo, many travellers decide to add a trip in China which takes them to see the Rice terraces and Zhuang villages. If you decide to do this as well, you’ll drive to Ping' An, about three hours from Yangshuo, where you’ll stay in a traditional village with wooden houses in the middle of the mountains. The rice paddies surrounding the village are some of the largest and highest altitude rice paddies in the world.

If you're stuck for time and can't visit Ping' An, you’ll fly from Guilin to your next destination. Usually this will either be a Shanghai trip or a trip to Guangzhou, before beginning a Hong Kong trip, where your China adventure will end. A trip to the beach on a Hainan holiday is also possible with a lay-over in Guangzhou (Canton).

Guilin to Yangshuo - Accommodation (click to enlarge)

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