3 Days in Guilin — The Perfect Itinerary: Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Li River Cruise & Yangshuo 2026

Why 3 days

The city, the river and the countryside in one trip

Guilin is not a place you can see in a single day, because its best parts are spread across three settings. There is Guilin city itself, with oddly shaped limestone hills rising in the middle of town and lakes that light up after dark; the Li River, which deserves a whole day of cruising past karst peaks all the way to Yangshuo; and the Yangshuo countryside, with bamboo rafts, bikes along the paddy fields, and Xingping — the spot that is literally printed on the 20-yuan note.

This 3-day plan is built for most first-time visitors to Guilin, and three days is the length that fits best. Day one covers Guilin city, day two is the full Li River cruise to Yangshuo, and day three is the Yangshuo countryside before you head back. It deliberately leaves out the Longji rice terraces, which need a full day and sit in a different direction — if you want Longji too, step up to the 4-day plan. Every leg here runs on buses, taxis, DiDi, boats and the high-speed train. Guilin has no urban rail system; everything moves on roads and water.

Shorter trip? See the 2-day plan, which covers Guilin city and the Li River cruise in tighter form. More time? The 4-day plan adds a full day at the Longji rice terraces.

Day One

Guilin city & twin pagodas over the lake

A hill shaped like an elephant drinking from the river, a cave of stalactites lit in colour, a cruise under bridge after bridge, and gold-and-silver pagodas glowing on the water — the day you see why Guilin is famous.

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Day 1

Elephant Trunk Hill · Reed Flute Cave · Two Rivers Four Lakes

Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin — a limestone hill shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River, the city's emblem

Morning · ~3 hours

Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山) — the city's emblem

Start the first morning at Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin — a limestone hill shaped exactly like a giant elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River. The arch between the "trunk" and the body (Water Moon Cave) is what makes the elephant shape so unmistakable. Walk the riverside park, photograph it from several angles, and if you have the energy, climb to the top for a wide view over the city and river.

It is a good gentle opener: it sits in the heart of the city, close to hotels in the Two Rivers Four Lakes area, an easy walk or short DiDi away. Read the best angles and opening hours in the Elephant Trunk Hill guide.

Getting there: Central · ~15-minute walk from the Zhengyang Street / Two Rivers Four Lakes area, or a ~¥10 DiDi / taxi

Cost: ~¥55 (~$8 USD) · Open ~07:00–21:30 (the hill is floodlit in the evening)

Tip: If you would rather not pay, the hill is clearly visible from the far bank or a nearby bridge — but the park gives you the classic shot

Afternoon · ~3 hours

Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩) — a lit cave of stalactites

In the afternoon, take a DiDi or taxi northwest of the city to the Reed Flute Cave — a limestone cave with a walking route of about 240 metres, packed with stalactites, stalagmites, pillars and curtains of rock, all lit with coloured LED light so it feels like walking through a film set. The highlight is the "Crystal Palace of the Dragon King", a vast chamber with a still pool that mirrors the whole cavern. The walk takes 50–60 minutes in a cool, steady temperature year-round.

The cave is named for the reeds at its mouth, once cut to make flutes. It is an ideal indoor activity if the afternoon turns hot or wet. Check details and entry slots in the Reed Flute Cave guide.

Getting there: ~5–7 km from the centre · DiDi / taxi ~¥20–30 (15–20 min) or bus route 3 (¥2)

Cost: ~¥110 (~$15 USD) · Open ~08:00–17:30 · Visited in timed groups

Tip: It is cool and the path is slippery in places — wear grippy shoes · The reflection in the Crystal Palace pool is the best photo

Timing tip: The cave is a little outside town, so slot it into the afternoon and get back to the centre before evening for the cruise. If you are tired today, you can swap the cave to the last morning before you head back to Guilin.

Evening · ~2.5 hours

Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise + Sun and Moon Pagodas (两江四湖)

Close the first day with Guilin at its most beautiful after dark — the Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise. This ring of water through the centre of the city links the Li River and the Taohua River with four lakes — Shan, Rong, Gui and Mulong. The boat glides past old bridges in many styles, illuminated trees along the banks and light shows the whole way, over about 60–90 minutes.

The stars of Shan Lake are the Sun and Moon Pagodas — a 41-metre golden pagoda (the tallest bronze pagoda in the world) paired with a 35-metre silver one, reflected beautifully on the water at night. If you would rather not cruise, walking the Shan Lake shore to see the lights and pagodas is free and almost as lovely. See the Two Rivers Four Lakes guide.

Getting there: The main pier is central (near Shan / Mulong lakes), walkable from the Zhengyang Street area

Cruise ticket: ~¥185–215 (~$26–30 USD) for the night cruise · Walking the lakeshore is free · Climbing the Sun-Moon Pagodas ~¥27–55

Dinner: Restaurants around Zhengyang Street / the pedestrian zone · Try Guilin rice noodles for your first meal · ¥30–120 per person

Tip: The night cruise is far prettier than the daytime one — you get the bridges and pagodas lit up. Book ahead in peak season (April–October). Stay central in Guilin tonight, as you need to reach the Li River pier early tomorrow.

Day Two

The full Li River cruise to Yangshuo

The highlight of the whole trip — a day on the water past karst peak after karst peak, fishing villages and the 20-yuan-note view, arriving in Yangshuo just in time for the evening on West Street.

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Day 2

Li River Cruise · Yangshuo · West Street

A cruise boat on the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, passing rows of karst limestone peaks reflected in the clear water

Morning · boat departs ~09:30

Boarding at Mopanshan Pier (磨盘山码头)

It is an early start today, because the Li River cruise leaves mid-morning at around 09:30–10:00 from Mopanshan Pier, south of Guilin — roughly 40–60 minutes from the city centre. Most people book the cruise with a hotel pickup to the pier included, which is far easier than finding your own way. Confirm your pickup point and time the night before.

A 3-star cruise serves a Chinese lunch on board. It is nice to get a window seat, but really the peaks are beautiful on both sides in turn — head up to the deck and shoot freely the whole way.

Getting there: Mopanshan Pier ~40–60 min from central Guilin · A ticket with hotel pickup is recommended

Cruise ticket: 3-star boat ~¥215 per person (~$30 USD), includes lunch · Departs ~09:30–10:00

Book ahead: Find Li River cruise tickets on Klook · Seats sell out fast in peak season

Through the day · ~4–5 hours on the water

83 kilometres of karst peaks + the 20-yuan-note view

This is what everyone comes to Guilin for. The boat runs 83 kilometres down the Li River over 4–5 hours, past oddly shaped limestone peaks one after another, water buffalo on the banks, fishermen on bamboo rafts, and little villages that look straight out of a Chinese ink painting. The most beautiful stretch is around Xingping — the spot that gives you the view printed on the 20-yuan note (have a ¥20 note ready to hold up against the real thing).

Shoot it all on the way. The boat docks at Yangshuo (Longtoushan wharf) in the afternoon, from where a short transfer takes you into Yangshuo town. See the full route in the Li River cruise guide.

Distance / time: Guilin → Yangshuo ~83 km · 4–5 hours · docks at Yangshuo in the afternoon

Highlights: The 20-yuan-note view near Xingping · Nine Horses Hill · fishing villages

Note: In winter, low water can mean the boat only does part of the route (Guilin–Yangdi) with a transfer onward — check before you go

Tip: If you are on a tight budget or short on time, there is a "half-river" option by small boat or bamboo raft from Yangdi to Xingping, which is cheaper and covers the prettiest stretch — but the full cruise is more comfortable and includes lunch. Choose by budget and time.

Evening · ~2.5 hours

West Street, Yangshuo (西街) + beer fish for dinner

Check into your Yangshuo hotel, then walk West Street — a pedestrian lane in the heart of Yangshuo that has been here for over 1,400 years. Quiet by day, it turns into the liveliest street in town after dark, lined with restaurants, bars, cafés, souvenir shops and neon, a mix of local spots and Western-style places. After a full day on the boat, an easy stroll here is just right.

For dinner, try beer fish (啤酒鱼), Yangshuo's signature dish — fresh river fish cooked with beer, tomato, chilli and spices, bold and savoury, served with steamed rice. See where to eat it in the Yangshuo beer fish guide, and what else is around the street in the West Street guide.

Getting there: West Street is in central Yangshuo, walkable from town hotels

Cost: Free · Restaurants ¥40–150 per person · Beer fish ~¥70–120 a dish (serves 2–3)

Stay: Sleep in Yangshuo tonight — in town near West Street, or a countryside resort by the Yulong River

Show option: For an open-air show, "Impression Liu Sanjie" — directed by Zhang Yimou and using the Li River and the peaks as a real backdrop — runs roughly 19:30–21:00. Find tickets on Klook — or, if the cruise has tired you out, save it for another night.

Day Three

The Yangshuo countryside & the 20-yuan-note view

A bamboo raft on a clear river, a bike ride along the paddy fields, and the walk up to Xingping's classic photo spot — the day you get closest to Guilin's nature, before heading back to the city.

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Day 3

Yulong River · Cycling · Xingping · Back to Guilin

A bamboo raft drifting on the Yulong River in the Yangshuo countryside, among karst peaks and green paddy fields

Morning · ~3 hours

Yulong River bamboo raft (遇龙河) + cycling

Start the last day gently on the Yulong River, a small tributary of the Li River in the Yangshuo countryside — clearer, calmer and far less crowded than the main river. Take a bamboo raft, poled slowly past low weirs beneath karst peaks that mirror on the still water. The popular stretch runs from Shui'edi through the paddy fields, taking about 40–90 minutes depending on the route, peaceful and painting-like the whole way.

After the raft, rent a bike or e-bike and ride along the Yulong River on small lanes past fields, villages and old stone arch bridges — the most fun and scenic way to explore the Yangshuo countryside. Rental shops are all over Yangshuo town. See routes and raft put-in points in the Yulong River guide.

Getting there: From Yangshuo town, a DiDi / taxi to the raft pier ~15–25 min (~¥30–50) · or cycle out yourself

Cost: Bamboo raft ~¥200–320 per raft (seats two, varies by route) · Bike rental ¥30–60/day · e-bike ~¥60–100/day

Tip: Go early for fewer people and softer light · Bring a light rain layer — the raft can splash at the weirs

Afternoon · ~3 hours

Xingping (兴坪) — the real 20-yuan-note view

This afternoon, head to Xingping, an old town on the Li River north of Yangshuo — the exact spot where the view on the 20-yuan note was taken. From Xingping town it is about a 20-minute walk along the riverside path to the viewpoint (free from the roadside), where holding up a ¥20 note against the real scene is the photo everyone wants. Xingping's old town also has ancient stone streets, old timber houses and a small wharf to wander.

For a closer angle you can take a bamboo raft or small boat from Xingping wharf out to the banknote view. Xingping old town is quieter and more charming than central Yangshuo. See how to reach the viewpoint in the Xingping old town guide.

Getting there: Bus from Yangshuo bus station → Xingping ~45–60 min (~¥7–20, every 30–60 min), or DiDi ~45 min

Cost: The 20-yuan-note viewpoint is free from the roadside · ~20-minute walk from Xingping town · A raft to the view costs extra

Walking time: Old town + viewpoint together ~2–3 hours

Tip: Xingping is exactly where the Li River cruise passes — if you saw this view from the boat on day two, today you come back for the ground-level angle and a relaxed wander through the old town.

Evening · the journey back

Back to Guilin — bus or high-speed train

This evening, head back to Guilin for your flight or a final night — two options. The bus from Yangshuo bus station to Guilin Railway Station in the city centre takes about 1.5 hours (~¥30–50), handy if your hotel is central. Or the high-speed train from Yangshuo Railway Station to Guilin North takes just ~24 minutes (~¥30) — but both Yangshuo and Guilin North stations sit outside their town centres, so allow another ~30 minutes to transfer into the city.

If you fly out the next day, sleep in Guilin tonight and head to the airport in the morning. Guilin Liangjiang International (KWL) is ~28 km southwest of the city: the airport bus (Line 1) is ~¥20 (~60 min), a taxi ~¥80–100, or a DiDi ~¥70–90.

Yangshuo → Guilin: Bus to Guilin Railway Station ~1.5 h, ¥30–50 · or HSR Yangshuo → Guilin North ~24 min, ¥30

Airport (next day): KWL is ~28 km from the city · airport bus Line 1 ¥20 (~60 min) · taxi ~¥80–100 · DiDi ~¥70–90

Tip: Book HSR tickets ahead on Trip.com / 12306 (passport needed) · allow transfer time from the out-of-town stations into the centre

Tip: If your return flight leaves in the afternoon or evening of day three, trim today (pick either the Yulong River or Xingping) and go straight to the airport. For full time in the countryside, sleep in Guilin tonight and fly out the next morning.

Practical info

Where to stay · getting around · budget

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Where to stay

This plan sleeps in Guilin on night one (the Two Rivers Four Lakes / Zhengyang Street area, central and walkable to Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun-Moon Pagodas), then Yangshuo on night two (West Street or the Yulong River countryside). Prefer not to move? Stay in Guilin both nights and day-trip to Yangshuo. See options in the Top 10 Guilin hotels or the 6 luxury picks.

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Getting around

Guilin moves on roads and water — in town you use buses (¥1–2) (scan a QR in Alipay / WeChat) and taxis / DiDi (flagfall ~¥9–10, the easy default). To Yangshuo, take a bus, boat or high-speed train (Yangshuo → Guilin North ~24 min). In the countryside it is bikes / e-bikes and bamboo rafts. Use Amap or Apple Maps rather than Google Maps. See the high-speed rail guide if you are continuing to another city.

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Payments

Link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay (via its international mode) before you travel. Most shops in Guilin and Yangshuo accept only Alipay or WeChat Pay, and some take no cash at all — see the Alipay & WeChat Pay guide and the internet, VPN & eSIM guide to set up before you go.

Budget

Approximate cost per day, per person

Item	Budget	Mid-range	Comfort
Hotel (per night)	¥80–180 (~$11–25)	¥250–500 (~$35–70)	¥600–1,500+ (~$85–210+)
3 meals	¥60–110 (~$8–15)	¥130–250 (~$18–35)	¥280–500 (~$39–70)
Transport (road / boat / train)	¥30–80 (~$4–11)	¥60–150 (~$8–21)	¥150–350 (~$21–49)
Tickets / activities	¥30–110 (hill / cave)	¥215–450 (Li River cruise + Yulong raft)	¥450–800 (add show / tours)
Daily total (approx.)	¥200–480 (~$28–67)	¥655–1,350 (~$92–190)	¥1,480–3,150+ (~$208–443+)

Indicative rates at roughly ¥7 ≈ $1 USD · the full Li River cruise at ¥215 per person is the trip's single biggest cost · prices are approximate and vary by season — check before you go.

Frequently asked

FAQ · 3-day Guilin plan

Is 3 days enough for Guilin?

Yes — and three days is the sweet spot for most travellers. Day one covers Guilin city (Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave and the Two Rivers Four Lakes night cruise), day two is the full Li River cruise to Yangshuo, and day three explores the Yangshuo countryside and Xingping. You get the city, the river and the most beautiful scenery in one trip. The one thing you have to skip is the Longji rice terraces, which need a full day and lie in a different direction. If you want Longji too, extend to four days — see the 4-day plan; if you have less time, the 2-day plan still covers the main highlights.

What is the best time of year to visit Guilin?

April to October is lush and green with full rivers, when the karst scenery looks its best — April–May and September–October are the most comfortable. Summer (June to August) is hot, humid and the wettest time of year, though mist drifting around the peaks can be dramatic. Winter (December to February) is cool, around 5–12 degrees Celsius, often foggy or drizzly, and low water on the Li River can shorten or reroute the cruise. The classic misty-karst photos usually come on overcast or drizzly days, not blazing sun. Avoid Chinese New Year and Golden Week (1–7 October), when crowds peak and prices double or triple. See the best time to visit China guide.

How much is the full Li River cruise and how long does it take?

The full Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo runs about 83 kilometres and takes 4–5 hours. Boats leave from Mopanshan Pier, south of Guilin, in the morning at roughly 09:30–10:00. A 3-star cruise ticket is around ¥215 per person and includes a Chinese lunch on board; prices can be adjusted if low water means the boat can only complete part of the route. You arrive in Yangshuo in the afternoon. It is the highlight of the whole trip, passing karst peaks, fishing villages and the 20-yuan-note view at Xingping. Book ahead, as seats sell out fast in peak season. See the Li River cruise guide.

What is a realistic budget for 3 days in Guilin?

A mid-range budget runs roughly ¥500–1,000 per person per day, covering a 3–4 star hotel (¥200–500 per night), three meals (¥100–250), transport — taxis, DiDi, buses and the train to Yangshuo (¥30–120) — and entry tickets. The big single cost is the full Li River cruise at ¥215 per person; the other days are far cheaper (Elephant Trunk Hill ¥55, Reed Flute Cave ¥110, a Yulong River bamboo raft ¥200–320 per raft for two, bike rental ¥30–60 per day). Budget travellers in hostels eating at local spots can get by on ¥350–500 per day.

Which nights should I stay in Guilin and which in Yangshuo?

This plan sleeps in Guilin on night one (the Two Rivers Four Lakes / Zhengyang Street area in the centre, walkable to Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun-Moon Pagodas), then cruises to Yangshuo on day two and sleeps in Yangshuo on night two (West Street or the Yulong River countryside). On day three you explore the countryside and return to Guilin in the evening by bus or high-speed train. If you would rather not change hotels, you can stay in Guilin both nights and day-trip to Yangshuo, but you will lose more time in transit. See the Top 10 Guilin hotels for options.

Do I need a VPN in Guilin?

Yes, if you want to use Google Maps, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook or Gmail. Download and activate your VPN before you leave home — most VPN websites are themselves blocked inside China. Apps that work without a VPN include Alipay (payments), WeChat, DiDi (taxis) and Amap or Baidu Maps. With Guilin's and Yangshuo's sights spread out across the city, river and countryside, a maps app that works inside China is genuinely useful — see the internet, VPN & eSIM in China guide.

Guilin City Guide

Hotels, sights, Elephant Trunk Hill · Li River · Yangshuo · transport overview

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Li River Cruise

The 83 km route, Guilin → Yangshuo · price · timing · the 20-yuan-note view

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Yulong River, Yangshuo

Bamboo rafts · cycling along the paddy fields · the prettiest countryside route

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Top 10 Guilin Hotels

Two Rivers Four Lakes · Zhengyang Street · near the railway station — every budget

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