Guilin Yangshuo Self-Guided Tour: Reliable Guide's Guilin Travel Route Tips, Must-Visit Attractions in Guilin

Recommendations for a self-guided tour guide in Guilin Yangshuo. Which must-visit attractions in Guilin are worth our visit? A curated travel route ensures you don't miss any highlights of Guilin's scenic spots within a limited number of days. Exchange experiences with fellow travelers online to make your Guilin trip worry-free, convenient, and cost-effective.

For this trip to Guilin, we contacted many fellow travelers online and were recommended a quality self-guided tour guide in Guilin named Da Age (Big Brother). Da Age quickly arranged our itinerary, and they were quite professional. It is said they used to work as tour guides and now specialize in local guide services for independent travelers! The service was excellent, and their explanations of scenic spots were professional. If you are going to Guilin, you can contact him. Hiring a local guide to arrange your itinerary in Guilin offers better prices, making your trip worry-free, convenient, and cost-effective!

The main tourist attractions in Guilin include:

1. Elephant Trunk Hill: Elephant Hill is famous for its神奇 (magical) appearance. Firstly, it looks exactly like an elephant in shape and spirit; secondly, between the trunk and legs, there is a round opening that reflects the moon on the water, creating the wonder of "Elephant Hill and Water Moon." Therefore, Elephant Trunk Hill is the city emblem of Guilin and the symbol of Guilin tourism. It is located at the confluence of the Li River and Taohua River in the center of Guilin, resembling a giant elephant. Between the trunk and legs is a round cave about 150 square meters, through which the river flows like a bright moon floating on water. The Water Moon on the west bank and the Chuan Yue Rock on the east bank of the Li River face each other—one hanging in the sky, the other floating on water—forming the unique landscape of "Li River Double Moons."

2. Yangshuo West Street:

3. Li River: The Li River is a typical karst landform area, known as the Hundred-Li Li River and Hundred-Li Gallery. The back pattern of the new 20-yuan RMB note features a section of the Li River landscape. The Li River appears differently in various weather conditions: clear days show green peaks reflected in the water; cloudy days feature misty mountains; rainy days present a dreamlike drizzle. The main ways to tour the Li River are by boat, bamboo raft, or on foot. Boat tours include the highlights tour, Yangshuo water tour, and urban water tour.

4. Longji Rice Terraces: Longji Rice Terraces is an extremely large terrace group in the Guilin area, divided into three parts: Jinkeng Terraces, Ping'an Zhuang Terraces, and Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Terraces. Visiting Longji Rice Terraces mainly involves hiking, sightseeing, and photography; many photography enthusiasts come specifically for the sunrise. You can also try local farmhouse dishes and experience minority ethnic customs.

5. Xingping Ancient Town: Located on the east bank of the Li River, where the river meanders and turns. It is the location featured on the back of the 20-yuan RMB note. Compared to the bustling West Street, Xingping is ancient and weathered, with smooth bluestone slabs that better showcase the original charm of Yangshuo. It contains eight major scenic areas and over 20 scenic spots, including Nine-Horse Fresco Hill, Snail Hill, Lotus Rock, and Tianshui Fort.

6. Ten-Li Gallery: Composed of Lotus Pond, Swallow Lake, and Primitive Tribe, this is a man-made scenic area integrated with local pastoral and mountain-river landscapes. Boating on the lake, you can see water-driven norias, wind and rain bridges, and bronze drum towers, and enjoy ethnic dance performances. On foot, you can view the folk village clusters of various northern Guangxi minorities and review ancient cultures such as wine-making, paper-making, and printing among Guangxi's minorities.

7. Silver Cave: Silver Cave Scenic Tourist Resort is located in Maling Town, Lipu County, Guilin City, with convenient transportation, 85 km from Guilin city and only 18 km from the famous tourist destination Yangshuo. Extending through 12 peaks, the developed tour route in Silver Cave is 2000 meters, divided into three parts: lower cave, main hall, and upper cave. There are 28 beautiful and exquisite scenic spots inside the cave. The peculiar natural landscape is truly a masterpiece of nature, with colorful and diverse stalactite pillars, towers, drapes, and waterfalls, forming myriad wonders of world karst art, earning it the reputation of "World Karst Cave Wonder." It integrates natural and cultural landscapes, rich in tourism resources and diverse in types. Natural landscapes mainly include cave landscapes, peak forest and peak cluster landscapes, spring landscapes, and pastoral scenery. The scenic area has a total of 58 scenic spots, including 30 outside the cave and 28 inside.

Our travel itinerary:

Guilin + Li River + Xingping Ancient Town + Longji Rice Terraces + Yulong River Rafting + Yangshuo + Silver Cave + Elephant Hill 5-day, 4-night tour

Day 1: Arrive at Guilin North High-Speed Rail Station. Da Age arranges pick-up and checks into a hotel in Guilin city center.

Day 2: After breakfast, head to [Longji Rice Terraces], acclaimed as the world's number one terrace wonder and the crown of terraces. Visit [Huangluo Yao Village], known as the "World's Long-Hair Village"! The Yao people here belong to the "Red Yao" subgroup, with over 300 women having long hair averaging over 1.4 meters, truly rare! Visit [Jinkeng Dazhai], where the Jinkeng Terraces have been awarded by UNESCO as a world wonder, a unique landscape in global tourism. The magnificent and imposing momentum, cloud-shrouded mountain peaks, distinctive Yao villages, and colorful customs create a grand picture. This place is not only a photography paradise for Chinese and foreign photographers but also a world wonder for leisure and sightseeing.

Day 3: After breakfast, head to the pier to take a boat tour of [Xingping Fishing Village]. Xingping is the essence of Guilin's landscape, with an old saying: "Yangshuo's scenery surpasses Guilin, and Xingping is the most beautiful in Yangshuo." Here are famous scenic spots such as the 20-yuan RMB background scene. Throughout history, Xingping's beautiful mountains and waters have inspired countless literati. Sailing on the river feels like unfolding fantastic landscape paintings, where you can see reflections of strange peaks and idle fishermen, truly experiencing the ethereal Li River wonderland of "boats sailing in the river, people traveling in paintings." The Li River, encounter romantic Yangshuo.

Visit [Xingping Ancient Town], Xingping Old Street is a bluestone street over 1 km long from the southeast of Xingping Ancient Town to the Li River Rongshu Pond and ancient ferry dock, convenient for residents and merchants.

Head to [Yulong River Multi-Person Bamboo Rafting]. The picturesque scenery, green hills, clear waters, ancient bridges—everything captivates the soul. The whisper of the breeze, the chirping of birds, the gurgling of waterwheels, folk songs echoing, and the chorus of frogs in the fields and distant roosters in the mountain village are full of poetic charm, refreshing the mind and delighting the eyes.

Then freely stroll along the world-famous "Foreigner Street"—Yangshuo West Street, walking on the unique bluestone slabs, viewing ancient dwellings, and at candlelight, enjoying nearly a hundred bars, pubs, and Western restaurants, interacting and drinking with tourists from all over the world—endless fun.

Day 3: After breakfast, head to [Minority Ethnic Village]. The unlocked doors witness the Dong people's belief—worship of Sa: Dong people are not allowed to steal. Dry wells, quaint bluestone alleys, and gray-white brick walls tell the history and culture of the Dong people. Let us visit their homes and truly understand the ethnic culture of the Dong minority, experiencing the villagers' ancient, tranquil, and slow-paced life.

Day 4: Visit [Silver Cave], a typical karst cave passing through twelve peaks, a multi-layered cave. It contains stalactites from different geological ages, known as the most beautiful karst cave in Guilin, with stalactites up to tens of meters high, magnificent, strange, graceful, and beautiful, like silver or diamonds. The peculiar natural landscape inside the cave is truly a masterpiece of nature, with colorful and diverse stalactite pillars, towers, drapes, and waterfalls, forming myriad wonders of world karst art, leaving visitors reluctant to leave. Former US President Bill Clinton in 1998 specially delayed his flight to Hong Kong to visit Silver Cave!

Head to the beautiful east bank of the Li River, [Shenlong Valley Scenic Area], with a forest coverage rate of over 80%. You can experience wild fun while feeling at home, and deeply experience China's mysterious and retro dragon culture and Kunwu tribe culture. In this natural environment returning to nature and leaning against mountains and rivers, it creates a leisure atmosphere with spring flowers, autumn moon, summer breeze, and winter snow. Then check into [Light Luxury Resort Villa Huazhu · Qinglan Ju], where you can hear the sound of flowing water along the way. The hotel's design is unique, with rooms built against the mountain, and the corridors retain protruding rocks. In the morning, sunlight streams through the large windows, making you feel so comfortable you could marry the bed! Waking up early, from the room's large balcony, you can overlook the scenery, see mountains and water surrounded by clouds and mist. At this moment, you only want to enjoy a quiet dream and never leave!

Dinner features [Qinglan Bamboo Basket Chicken]: The tranquility of the valley blends with the fresh taste of free-range chicken and the light fragrance of bamboo, filling the air with aroma. Just the smell whets your appetite. After eating, it leaves a lingering fragrance in your mouth, unforgettable... After dinner, take a short rest and start the [Bonfire Party]. Light the bonfire, as music begins, dance with the ethnic minority brothers and sisters in colorful costumes around the blazing fire, forgetting all worries and immersing in a sea of happiness. If you are so inclined, you can even hold a concert in this quiet valley, singing loudly and having a great time.

Day 5: After breakfast, visit [Zizhou · Elephant Hill]. Zizhou is located on the east bank of the Li River, opposite Elephant Trunk Hill, integrated with the Li River and the Elephant Hill Water Moon, complementing each other for a thousand years. It is the historical origin of viewing the city emblem Elephant Trunk Hill. When drizzle is misty and smoke is hazy, the islet is shrouded in a light veil, appearing faintly, like a Penglai fairyland, known as one of the Eight Scenes of Guilin—"Zizhou Misty Rain." End the happy journey.

Reasons to choose guide Da Age:

1. Flexible time: Customers decide the playtime; Da Age only accompanies, coordinates, and arranges relevant resources!

2. Not rushed: Da Age does not make the trip as rushed as group tours; instead, they take it slowly, savoring the scenery, only playing with the view, no tricks. See the most beautiful and quintessential spots of Guilin. If you want to look longer, you can; if you think it's not good, we move to the next spot to enjoy.

3. Sleep in: Freedom to set wake-up time, sightseeing time, attraction arrangements, hotel choices, meal times, specialty snacks, transportation standards, choice of male or female guide... In short, this self-guided tour is not the negative-fund operation of traditional travel agencies.

4. Clear and transparent spending: Don't worry that you haven't paid enough and will be set up locally. All our spending is clean, clear, and transparent!

5. No forced shopping, no stopping at shops.

6. See the best scenic spots, beautiful places that regular travel agencies don't visit: Take guests to see the scenic spots worth visiting in Guilin, places worth seeing, avoiding wasting time on spots not worth visiting, allowing guests to spend time on what interests them.