Arrive, drop bags and confirm next-day Li River cruise ticket pickup or meeting point; the hotel is centrally located for quick taxi access to city sights.
A spectacular limestone cave with illuminated stalactites and stalagmites—great for a first taste of Guilin karst scenery and photography in cooler underground air. Typical opening: 08:00–18:00 (last entry may vary); arrive early evening to avoid crowding.
Iconic riverside karst formation shaped like an elephant drinking—walk the park, take photos, and enjoy short riverside paths; park usually open 08:00–18:00/19:00 depending on season.
Scenic lakes and river corridor in central Guilin with illuminated bridges and lakes—ideal for an early evening walk to see Guilin lit up. Optional short night cruise runs in evenings (check seasonal times).
Many visitors refer to the evening illuminated events along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes or city night parades as the 'Golden Dragon' style display—timings vary by date, typically an evening show around 19:00–20:00 in high season; check local event schedule or ask hotel concierge and book a seat if available.
Take a taxi or Didi (typical 10–20 minutes inside central Guilin) back to Holiday Inn Express Center to rest and prepare for Day 2. Taxis are frequent; ask hotel to call one if needed.
Try a local rice-noodle spot near the hotel for Guilin rice noodle (mi fen) and local liangpi; light and quick — great after a day of travel and walking.
Have breakfast, confirm/collect Li River 'Three-star' cruise boarding pass at the hotel or ticket desk, then taxi to the cruise terminal (Shili Pier area) — allow 30–45 minutes for check-in & boarding. Booking ahead saves queuing time.
Classic Guilin-to-Yangshuo cruise through the most celebrated karst landscapes—this is the highlight for many travelers, with postcard scenery along the river. Cruise duration is long (approx. 4–5 hours) and typically runs through midday to late afternoon; check your ticket for exact boarding times.
After disembarkation in Yangshuo, take the short Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Tie Lu / Ten-Mile Gallery) sightseeing shuttle or local short electric cart to see the clustered karst peaks and famous photo points—this lets you sample Yangshuo scenery without a long excursion.
Gentle bamboo rafting on the Yulong River between Jinlong Bridge and Jiu Xian provides close-up rural karst views and a serene late-afternoon experience; many operators run until early evening—book a licensed raft operator and confirm the latest departure time (often until sunset).
Catch an express bus (frequent) or high-speed coach from Yangshuo back to Guilin—buses run into the evening; choose the earliest departure that still allows you to finish rafting and Ten-Mile Gallery. For time savings, prebook a direct coach or hire a private transfer (faster) to ensure arrival at the hotel by ~8:00pm.
Taxi from Guilin bus station or direct coach drop-off back to the hotel; rest after a long scenic day. If you used a private transfer, you'll be dropped directly at the hotel for faster turnaround.
Try an evening spot near the hotel that serves local river fish specialties or stir-fried seasonal vegetables—perfect to refuel after river cruising and rafting.
Leave the hotel by private transfer (recommended for time savings and door-to-door service; ~1.5–2 hours) or take the scheduled tourist bus to Longsheng/Longji. Private car is faster and flexible; the express bus is cheaper but has fixed stops.
Explore the famous layered rice terraces carved into the hills—walk the scenic trails, visit minority villages and lookouts (e.g., Dragon's Backbone viewpoints). Summer/autumn lighting is excellent for photos; park/entrance areas open widely but check cable car times if using one.
Choose a short ridge hike for panoramic late-afternoon light or take the cable car down (if available) to save legwork and time—cable cars run on scheduled hours; confirm times on arrival.
Board your prebooked private transfer or evening bus back to Guilin; private transfer shortens return time so you can arrive at the Holiday Inn Express Center by around 7:30–8:00pm.
Have a relaxed dinner near the hotel—opt for a place serving local specialties like water-cooked fish or Guilin cold noodles if you want something lighter.