Start with Elephant Trunk Hill first, because it’s the one Guilin landmark that actually feels like “you’re here” the moment you see it. Go in the late afternoon when the light softens and the river views are better, and plan around 1 to 1.5 hours for the park and the obvious photo stops. If you only do the classic outside view, you’ll still get the famous elephant-in-the-water shot; if you have time, wander a little deeper into the park paths for quieter angles. It’s in the Xiangshan District, so this is a very easy first stop before you drift toward the lake area.
From there, head to Sun and Moon Pagodas at Shanhu Lake for golden hour. This is one of Guilin’s prettiest low-effort sights, especially when the towers start reflecting on the water, and 45 minutes is enough unless you want to linger with photos. After that, do the Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area cruise as your main night activity — this is the best way to see downtown Guilin after dark, with lit bridges, pagodas, and the whole lake loop looking much more polished than it does by day. The cruise is usually the smoothest “sit back and enjoy” part of the city, and it’s worth booking the evening slot so you get the full illuminated effect.
After the cruise, go straight to Dongxi Alley for snacks, wandering, and the most lively old-city atmosphere in central Guilin. This is the kind of place where you can graze instead of committing to one big meal, so it’s perfect if you want a casual mix of bites and people-watching. If you’re hungry for an actual dinner stop, Shangshui Delicacy Street is the practical move: expect about ¥40–80 per person, and it’s easy to find local staples like 啤酒魚, 竹筒飯, 椿記燒鵝, or 艾葉粑粑 without overthinking it. Keep the pace loose here — this part of the night is better when you wander and sample.
Finish with Xiaoyao Tower for the final skyline and night-scene view. It’s a strong closing stop because it gives you one last elevated look over Guilin without adding much travel, and 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. If you still have energy, this is the point to slow down rather than rush — the whole downtown area feels most atmospheric late at night, and ending here keeps the day compact and very doable on foot or with a short Didi between stops.
This is the day to lean into the postcard version of Guangxi. A morning Li River Cruise (漓江游船) from Guilin gets you the softest light on the karst peaks and a calm, unhurried arrival in Yangshuo around lunch. Once you disembark, keep the rest of the day easy—this isn’t the time to cram in extra detours, because the cruise is the main event and it does take the better part of the morning. If you’re choosing between cruise classes, the standard boat is perfectly fine; just book ahead and go for the earliest practical departure so you’re not eating into the afternoon.
Head straight into Yangshuo West Street (陽朔西街) for lunch and a reset. This is the most touristy street in town, but it’s also where Yangshuo’s energy makes sense: cafés, snack stalls, souvenir shops, beer bars, and plenty of places to sit down and watch the mix of backpackers, domestic tour groups, and locals passing through. For a signature meal, this is where you should try beer fish; good spots cluster all over the center, and you’ll usually pay around ¥80–150 per person depending on whether you add vegetables, rice, and drinks. If you want something lighter first, grab a coffee or a cold drink and wander a bit before continuing.
From West Street, the scenery shifts fast once you head out toward Ten-Mile Gallery (十里畫廊) in the Gaotian area. This stretch is best enjoyed slowly—by car, scooter, or as a stop-and-go loop—because the whole point is the karst scenery, roadside viewpoints, and little photo pauses rather than checking off a single sight. A relaxed 1 to 1.5 hours is enough if you’re keeping the day balanced. Then continue on to Silver Cave (銀子巖), which is one of the better cave visits around here because the chambers are huge and the lighting is genuinely dramatic instead of gimmicky. Expect about ¥65 and roughly 1 to 1.5 hours inside; bring a light layer, because caves can feel cool and damp even on a hot day.
After the cave, slow things down with a sunset stop at a river-view café near the Yulong River, like Misty Hills Coffee (遇龍河附近咖啡/river-view café). This is the right kind of pause before dinner: order a coffee, tea, or a small dessert, and just sit with the view for a while—budget around ¥35–70 per person. When it starts getting dark, head back into town for a final meal of beer fish dinner on Yangshuo West Street. Keep dinner simple and local; this is the dish Yangshuo is known for, and after a full sightseeing day it’s the perfect close. If you still have energy afterward, West Street is lively at night, but the real win is not overdoing it—Yangshuo is best when you leave a little room for wandering.
Start early for Yulong River bamboo rafting (遇龍河竹筏) in the Baisha / Yulong corridor, because this is the softest, most beautiful part of the day and the water is calmest before the crowds build. The rafts here are the classic two-person bamboo ones, and the ride is slow enough that you can actually hear the oars and the water—much more peaceful than the big Li River cruise. Expect around ¥200-ish per raft depending on the section and season, with the usual ride taking about 1.5 hours including loading and waiting. Go with the flow, not the clock: on a good morning the limestone peaks, farm fields, and water buffalo views feel like the real Yangshuo everyone comes for. If your driver is dropping you off, aim to arrive a little before opening so you’re not stuck in a queue with the tour groups.
After rafting, head to Shangri-La of Guilin (世外桃源) in the southern Yangshuo area for a lighter, more cultural stop. It’s one of those places that works best as a contrast stop: after the quiet river, this gives you a mix of gardens, minority-style village scenery, and a more staged but still pleasant landscape walk. Budget around ¥60 for entry and plan on 1.5 hours unless you’re in a rush. From there, continue to Xingping Ancient Town (興坪古鎮) for lunch and a slow wander. Xingping is the kind of place where the charm is in the lanes, the riverfront, and the fact that it still feels lived-in rather than polished. For lunch, keep it simple at Lijiang Fisherman’s restaurant / a local rice noodle spot in town—go for rice noodles, maybe beer fish if you want something more local, and expect ¥30–60 per person. If you want a no-fuss meal, this is the right stop.
Once you’ve eaten, do the short Xingping river viewpoint walk along the waterfront. This is the easy scenic stretch people come for when they want the famous 20-yuan note landscape without committing to a full hike. It’s only about 45 minutes, but it’s worth slowing down here and just looking—this is one of the best places in the region to understand why the karst scenery is so iconic. After that, make a relaxed final stop at a Yangshuo countryside café on the way back to town, ideally somewhere between Xingping and Yangshuo where you can sit down with an iced coffee, lemon tea, or beer and let the day wind down. A good café stop costs about ¥30–50 per person, and it’s the perfect buffer before the evening back in Yangshuo—no need to rush, because the best version of this day is one where the afternoon feels unstructured and scenic rather than packed.
Today is your big mountain-landscape day, so go straight for the views and don’t rush it. From Yangshuo, the drive up to Longsheng is the one part of the itinerary where paying for a private car really earns its keep, because it gets you there in time to enjoy the terraces before the day slips away. Once you arrive, keep your first couple of hours focused on the broad ridge views around Longji Rice Terraces (龍脊梯田) — this is when the light is usually clearest, and you’ll want time to stop for photos, tea, and a slow walk rather than trying to “see everything.” Bring proper shoes; the paths can be muddy, steep, and a little slippery even on a good day.
Head into Ping’an Zhuang Village (平安寨) for the most practical terrace base: it’s the easiest place to combine viewpoints, village life, and lunch without burning too much energy. This is where the day slows down nicely — wander the stone lanes, follow the signposted terrace paths, then sit down for a simple mountain meal at a Longji terrace tea house / farmhouse. A good lunch here usually runs around ¥50–90 per person, and the best order is the local style: bamboo rice, stir-fried mountain greens, and whatever the farmhouse has fresh that day. If you want a comfort drink, most places will make hot tea or simple coffee, and the terrace-facing tables are worth waiting for.
After lunch, continue to Huangluo Yao Village (黃洛瑤寨) for a shorter cultural stop. This is the place for a quick village walk rather than a long visit: you’re here to see the Yao traditions, the long-hair displays, and the more lived-in side of the Longji area. Give yourself about an hour; that’s enough to look around without turning the visit into a forced performance. The pace is slower in the afternoon, which is actually ideal here — you can browse small stalls, take a few photos, and keep moving without overdoing the sightseeing. If the weather is clear, the terraces often look best late in the day when the rice fields catch softer light and the hills start to feel layered.
Once you’re back in Guilin, end the trip in the easiest possible way: a relaxed stroll through Guilin Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street (桂林市正陽路步行街), then a massage/spa near Zhengyang Road to reset before departure. This is a good area for casual souvenir shopping, snacks, and one final look at the city lights without needing a full dinner commitment. A decent foot massage usually falls around ¥120–250 per person, and it’s worth booking or walking in early if you want a clean, quieter place rather than the first storefront you see. If you still have energy afterward, stay in the central area for one last snack rather than heading far afield — today has already done the hard work, and this final evening should feel unhurried.