6-Day Photography Tour of Longji and Yangshuo in Guilin

• Guilin Waterfall Hotel or a hotel of comparable caliber
• None

Upon arriving in Guilin, our guide will warmly greet you at the train station or airport and escort you to your hotel.

Enjoy a day of leisure and exploration at your own pace.

• Baike Hotel or a hotel of comparable caliber
• Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we will visit the Longji Ping’an Rice Terraces, home to over 50 families and more than 200 residents. Viewed from above, the terraces resemble the ribcage of a dragon extending from the steep slopes, hence the name "Dragon's Backbone".

The region is approximately a two-hour drive from Guilin and is surrounded by several villages. The terraces, spanning 66 square kilometers (25 square miles), were constructed by local ethnic minorities around 600 years ago. The elevation within the village ranges from 300 meters to 1,100 meters.

Once your vehicle arrives at Longji Ping'an Village, it will stop outside the scenic area, and your luggage will be delivered to your accommodation for the night, conveniently located near the entrance. You will then take an electric vehicle up the mountain to reach the first viewpoint, where you can marvel at the breathtaking scenery of the terraces.

As this tour involves walking through the village, your professional photography guide will select ideal locations for shooting along the way, requiring a certain level of physical fitness.

In Ping'an Village, predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities, your guide will take you to visit a Yao family to learn how to make their traditional snack—tea oil. This beverage quenches thirst and alleviates rheumatism caused by the mountain's humidity. You can learn the tea oil preparation and engage with the locals who have lived there for generations, while also capturing these unique experiences. 

Today's lunch features authentic Longsheng cuisine, with typical dishes including bamboo tube rice, pork or bacon stir-fried with bamboo shoots, and eggs with fresh bamboo shoots, a seasonal spring delicacy. Your local guide will recommend specific restaurants tailored to your interests and itinerary.

In the afternoon, your guide will lead you to the village's highest point. The Nine Dragons and Five Tigers is the perfect spot to overlook the terraces and capture the sunset. Don’t miss the unique Zhuang dwellings, especially in September and October, when locals hang an abundance of red peppers and golden corn cobs beneath the eaves. 

After capturing the sunset, you will descend the mountain on foot and return to your homestay to relax, a guesthouse at the foot of Ping’an Zhuang Village in Longji, right beside the terraced fields. 

• Guilin Waterfall Hotel or a hotel of comparable caliber
• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, your guide will accompany you to Qixing Banyu, an ideal spot for capturing the sunrise over the terraces. If the weather is unfavorable, the guide will adjust the itinerary accordingly.

• Yangshuo Xingping Island Resort or a hotel of comparable caliber
• Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you'll capture the stunning sunrise at Huixian Glass Fields, departing from the hotel around 4 a.m. The exact time will be confirmed by your professional photography guide. The ideal spot to view the sunrise is on the mountain beside Muguantou Village, where a long viewing platform offers an exceptional vista. It takes approximately 25 minutes to ascend from the foot of the mountain.

After photographing the Glass Fields and descending the mountain, your guide will take you to the village for rice noodles. Then, you'll drive to Tianxin Village, located 7 kilometers northeast of Guilin. This picturesque karst village is home to well-preserved ancient architecture, such as old stone bridges, making it a superb spot for capturing rural beauty and attracting photographers worldwide.

Moreover, Tianxin Village has produced many scholars in the Qing Dynasty imperial examinations, over 20 villagers became successful candidates, with 11 achieving "jinshi" status, and 4 becoming Hanlin academicians.

After concluding the shoot, you may take a short break before enjoying lunch. The local guide will recommend a suitable restaurant based on your preferences and schedule.

In the afternoon, you will visit Daxu Ancient Town, located approximately 18 kilometers southeast of Guilin near the Li River. Renowned for its well-preserved ancient architecture, weathered stone pathways, and traditional culture, Daxu once served as a crucial waterway hub between Guangdong and Guangxi and is one of Guangxi's four famous towns. Exploring and photographing the ancient city will take about two hours.

After completing the shoot at Daxu Ancient Town, the guide and driver will take you to Xingping Ancient Town, where you will stay overnight at a local guesthouse. The drive will take approximately 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, the guide will handle the check-in so you can relax. Tomorrow will be an early start once again.

• Yangshuo Xingping Island Resort or a hotel of comparable caliber
• Breakfast, Lunch

Around 4:30 a.m., you will depart from the hotel to Xianggong Mountain to capture the magnificent sunrise. The drive from the hotel takes about 30 minutes, followed by a 20-minute ascent to the mountain's peak, where you'll await the breathtaking sunrise over the Li River.

One kilometer from Xianggong Mountain, there is a café with a spacious viewing terrace that offers sweeping views of the karst landscape. After descending from the mountain, we can pause there for a while to savor a cup of coffee before having lunch. Your local guide will recommend a specific restaurant based on your tastes and schedule.

After lunch, return to the guesthouse for a brief rest. In the afternoon, we will visit Xingping Ancient Town. 

Xingping Ancient Town, once the largest town along the Li River, lies on its eastern bank. The historical relics are mainly concentrated on Xingping Old Street. This morning, the focus will be on exploring and freely photographing this street and its surroundings.

Around 6 p.m. (depending on the season), your guide will lead you to the Li River to capture another highlight of Guilin: the stunning rosy sunset (let's hope for clear skies). You'll photograph a fisherman on a bamboo raft, accompanied by cormorants, with a kerosene lamp glowing above him. The session will last approximately 1.5 hours. You'll surely enjoy the fisherman as he naturally poses in various fishing stances. Your guide will ensure you capture the best photos of him against the river's sunset.

After the photo session, return to the hotel for rest.

• Breakfast

Depart at 4:30 a.m. for the Li River to board a bamboo raft and capture the enchanting sunrise moments. 

After capturing the sunrise at the Li River, your photography tour in Guilin concludes. Return to the hotel for a rest, and enjoy lunch there. Following lunch, your guide and driver will escort you to Guilin's train station or the airport for your departure.