5-Day Guilin and Yangshuo Highlights with Longji Hiking Tour

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

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

After a brief rest, you will visit the Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's iconic landmark—a massive rock formation resembling an elephant drinking from the river.

Lunch today will be enjoyed at a local specialty restaurant, with the guide selecting an appropriate venue and recommending dishes based on your preferences. 

After lunch, you will visit Reed Flute Cave, famous for its unique karst formations, including stone pillars, stalactites, and stalagmites, enhanced by colorful lighting.

After the tour concludes, the guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel for some well-deserved rest. Today's itinerary comes to an end.

• 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".

Located approximately two hours by car from Guilin, the area is surrounded by several villages. The terraces span an area of 66 square kilometers (25 square miles) and were constructed by local ethnic minorities around 600 years ago. The terraces in the village range from 300 to 1,100 meters in elevation.

This excursion promises to quicken your pulse and requires a moderate amount of walking, necessitating a certain level of fitness. Typically, vehicles must stop outside the village, and you will take an electric cart up the mountain to the first viewpoint to admire the terraces' spectacular beauty.

Today, you will visit a local ethnic minority family to learn the art of making bamboo rice and savor its unique flavors. Bamboo rice is a specialty of Longji, known for its delicious taste and rich bamboo aroma. During this experience, you can engage in conversations with the family, explore their traditional wooden home, and gain insight into the life of the mountain minorities. 

Afterward, you may walk for about 30 minutes to another viewpoint for a different perspective. You can then descend on foot.

We will arrange for you to enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Longji scenic area, with your local guide recommending specific venues based on your interests and schedule.

Stay tonight at a guesthouse at the foot of Ping’an Zhuang Village in Longji, right beside the terraced fields. Experience the tranquility of the mountains in the evening, and wake up to a stunning view of the terraces outside your window in the morning.

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

After enjoying breakfast at the guesthouse, you'll embark on today's hiking journey. Trekking from Ping’an Village to Dazhai along the terraced fields is a remarkable experience. The pastoral scenes and picturesque countryside will immerse you in the essence of rural life.

Be well-prepared, as there are many steps along the way. This hike typically takes about five hours. Since March to April is the rainy season in Guilin, your guide will discuss alternate routes with you based on the weather conditions.

Today's lunch will be at a restaurant along your hiking route. Your local guide will recommend specific options based on your interests and itinerary. Some typical dishes from Longsheng include bamboo tube rice, pork or bacon stir-fried with bamboo shoots, and seasonal dishes like egg-stirred fresh bamboo shoots.

After lunch, you will continue your hike and reach the destination, Dazhai Village, in the afternoon.

After descending the mountain, your driver and vehicle will be waiting at the exit with your luggage. You will then drive back to downtown Guilin. Once you've checked into your hotel, relax and unwind, concluding the day's itinerary.

• Yangshuo Mountain Retreat or a hotel of comparable caliber
• Breakfast, Lunch

Following breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will meet you at the agreed time to transfer you to the Zhujiang Wharf in Guilin. Your journey begins with today's enchanting Li River cruise to Yangshuo.

During this three-hour voyage, you will be captivated by scenery reminiscent of a traditional Chinese ink painting: jagged peaks, lush bamboo groves, crystal-clear waters, slender bamboo rafts, and tranquil villages that glide quietly past, as if the boat is floating atop the verdant hills.

A light meal will be served on board by the cruise company. A light meal will be served on board by the cruise company. You are expected to arrive in Yangshuo around 1:30 to 2:00 PM.

After disembarking, the guide will lead you on a walk through the pedestrian street, West Street. Following a brief stop, the guide will coordinate with the driver to take you to the hotel.

After checking in and enjoying a short rest, the guide will lead you to explore the picturesque countryside of Yangshuo by bicycle or e-bike.

After the tour, the guide and driver will return you to the hotel to rest, and the remaining time will be at your leisure.

• Breakfast

The itinerary in Guilin has concluded. At the appointed time, the guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to Guilin's train railway station or airport, where you will depart by train or plane.