What to see in Guilin and Yangshuo: a complete guide with a Li River cruise

Are you looking for What to see in Guilin and YangshuoYou've arrived at one of the most impressive natural areas in the world, and we'll tell you about our real experience so you can plan your visit. NO errorsOn our second trip to China we wanted to sail through the li river and delve into its landscapes of karst mountains (those who inspired the world of Dragon Ball and the mythical Mount Paozu where Goku grew up!), that official print of the 20 yuan banknoteIn this guide we tell you all the logistics for travel to Yangshuo independentlyThe Li River cruise, the route in electric motorcycle by the Ten Mile Gallery, bamboo raftingWhere to sleep and what to eat. You can find our full video at the end of the post! 🎬

To make it easier for you to read, below is an interactive index with the key points of this Guilin and Yangshuo guide following a logistical order:

Guilin: the base camp before the cruise

To take this route, we arrived from northern China at Guilin station the previous afternoon. Honestly, the city itself isn't bad, but It doesn't have many attractions beyond being the perfect starting point for crossing the Li River We took a boat to Yangshuo. We spent the night in the center of town. Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center (super central and highly recommended), we enjoyed the bustling nightlife and treated ourselves to a first feast of its street food before the adventure of the next day.

The Li River Cruise (from Guilin to Yangshuo)

El Li River Cruise It's one of the best experiences we had in China. Sailing surrounded by gigantic karst mountains (yes, these are the famous ones) Mountains that inspired Dragon Ball and the mythical Mount Paozu where Goku grew up), see the Water buffalo grazing on the banksthe small bamboo rafts crossing and, of course, coming face to face with the famous print on the 20 yuan banknoteIt's incredible.

We traveled on a ship of 4 stars that included buffet food on board, which made the approximately 4-hour journey super enjoyable and comfortable. You can go up to the top deck to take amazing photos.

💡 Golden tip: Be careful with transfers to the dock

As we explained in the video, We made a logistical errorWe picked up a sealed moving package in bus from Guilin to the cruise terminal + the ship with buffet (It cost us €56 per person, although now, while writing this blog, I've seen that the price is higher). The result: we wasted a lot of time. We were stuck on a bus for 1,5 hours The boat kept stopping at several hotels, and the entire guided tour was in Chinese, so it was completely unhelpful. While the boat itself wasn't bad, we wasted almost two hours of our lives that day.

If you use ride-hailing apps like DidiWe highly recommend buy only the boat ticket onlineA 4-star cruise ship costs from €45, and then you need to order a Didi taxi to the cruise terminal. We checked, and from our hotel in Guilin Going directly to the terminal would have cost us about 55 yuan (€7) and It would have only taken us 40 minutesYou'll be able to travel at your own pace and save time and money. Remember that you can choose between 3, 4, and even 5-star boats. We think the 4-star option is sufficient.

What to see and do in Yangshuo: Electric motorbike route

Upon disembarking from the cruise ship, we were already in Yangshuo. This town has a fantastic atmosphere, tons of tourists, and a very vibrant nightlife. Once settled in, the best decision you can make is... rent an electric scooter. U.S We rented it from our own hotel for only €5 a dayIt was super convenient because they delivered it to our door and it included a helmet and phone holder. Plus, They didn't ask us for an international driver's license, or one from our country, nothing!

With the motorbike fully charged, we set off to explore the famous Ten Mile Gallerya scenic route spectacular among the karst mountains, the river and the rural landscapes. Along the way we stopped at:

• Rice Fields and Cafeterias: There are some really cool cafes nestled into the landscape. We stopped at a very special one with breathtaking views (we'll leave you the link). location in case you want to go).

• Moon Hill: A mountain with a crescent-shaped holeNote: For now, it can only be viewed from the scenic area below, as the ascent on foot is closed due to construction.

• Yulong Bridge and Big Banyan Tree: Classic stops to appreciate the ancient architecture and the immensity of the local nature.

• Rural life: Simply get lost on the back roads, admiring the agricultural plantations and the enormous rice terraces.

Bamboo Rafting on the Yulong River (Logistics)

Another of the star activities to do in Yangshuo is rafting on traditional bamboo rafts through the Yulong River (much calmer and narrower than the Li River). There is a short out-and-back route, and the long and spectacular 90-minute routewhich is the one we did for some 20€ per personWe bought the tickets right there. in situ (no need to book in advance, but Yes, it is essential to bring your passport.).

To do the long one you have to organize the logistics wellBecause you don't end where you start. That's how we did it:

• We went with our electric scooter and left it parked in the Jiu Xian Comprehensive Dock (the end point of rafting).
• Right there we took a shuttle bus that took us upriver to the Jin Long Bridge Dock (the starting point). The bus cost us 10 yuan (approx. €1,30).
• We got on our raft and enjoyed 90-minute descent through 9 super fun waterfalls.
• Upon reaching the end in Jiu Xian, our motorbike was already waiting for us to continue the route!

💡 Local Guide Tip: Water enters the pond at the waterfalls. quick-drying clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wetKeep your phone safe!

Impression Sanjie Liu Show and the Xingping Area

The Night Show: Impression Sanjie Liu

In the evening, one activity we loved was going to see the show Impression Sanjie LiuIt is directed by Zhang Yimou (of the Beijing Olympics ceremonies) and The setting is the Li River with the illuminated royal karst mountains in the background. Hundreds of local extras participate. We were able to book it at the hotel reception and then exchange the ticket at the official box office, but we recommend Book it now online here (Remember to bring your passport so you can print your tickets at the box office later).

Xingping and the cormorant issue

Many people get up very early to go to the town of Xingping We wanted to see the landscape of the karst mountains at dawn, but we decided to avoid it so we could rest and keep up with the rest of our trip through China.

Furthermore, it is there that many tourists love to take the iconic photo with the traditional fishermen and their cormorants (birds they use for fishing). Unfortunately, nowadays this is whole fake (a setup for the tourist) and we are totally against animal exploitation for an Instagram photo. It used to be a real fishing technique where they put a ring around the bird's neck so it wouldn't swallow the fish, but today it's just a tourist circus.

Where to stay in Yangshuo and Guilin: Our Hotels

Yangshuo town center has a very lively and noisy atmosphere at night, so Choosing a good hotel is key to being able to rest. We chose this one hotel in Yangshuo And it was a great choice. It's right in the center, just a few minutes' walk from the cruise terminal, but strategically located in a sort of very quiet alleyIt's ideal for escaping the noise, super quiet, it has Free laundry (perfect for backpackers!) and, as we mentioned before, They rent and manage the electric scooter for you right there, in a super comfortable way.

What to eat in Guilin and Yangshuo

At night, the streets of Yangshuo become a hive of activity street food stallsTake note of these amazing dishes that you absolutely must order during your stay (you can find them all in the following video):

• Guilin noodles: The classic rice noodles of the area.
• Steamed pork with taro from Lipu: A super mellow dish, the taro (tuber) absorbs all the flavor of the meat.
• Beer-braised duck or fish (Yangshuo Fish/Beer Duck): Cooked in a wok with Yangshuo beer.
• Bamboo Rice: Glutinous rice with meat cooked inside a bamboo cane over hot coals.
• Chicken soup in a bamboo tube: more like chicken bone broth hehe.

Video of our trip through Guilin and Yangshuo

In the following video of our YouTube channel You have our complete visual guide on What was the cruise like, the Ten Mile Gallery route by electric motorbike, the bamboo rafting, and the best street food?. ¡Subscribe now And don't miss our adventure through China!

How to get to Yangshuo: Important notice if you are coming by train

As we mentioned, coming from the north, our logical stop was Guilin station. We spent the night there and, the next day, traveled down the Li River to Yangshuo. However, if your itinerary in China comes from cities in the south or westYou will most likely arrive directly at Yangshuo train station (Yangshuo Railway Station). Watch out for this! This station is quite far out, about a 45-minute drive from the town center. Upon arrival, you'll need to take a bus or a ride-sharing service (Didi) to get to your accommodation. Keep this extra travel time in mind when planning your departure day from Yangshuo to your next destination.

📱 Internet in China: eSIM with built-in VPN (a must)

To pay for your street food with Alipay, order a Didi to the station, or rent an electric motorbike in Yangshuo, you need a constant internet connection. We use the eSIM from Holafly, which offers unlimited data with a built-in VPN (vital for using Google, Instagram, or WhatsApp without blocks). You have a 5% discount guaranteed using the code LOCALGUIDEGRANCANARIA or by accessing it directly from this button:

🏥 Travel insurance for China (5% discount)

For independent electric motorbike tours in Asia or bamboo rafting trips, we always travel with IATI insurance. Private healthcare for tourists in China is extremely expensive. For these kinds of active trips, the policy is essential. IATI Backpacking Is the best option.

We hope this super guide helps you plan your trip through the most beautiful landscapes in China.

To help you plan your trip, here are the articles about the other stops on our route through China: