Guilin in 2 days
Two days is the sweet spot. Day one is Guilin city on foot — the emblem hill, a lit cave and the night-lit lakes. Day two sends you down the Li River to Yangshuo for a bamboo raft and the lantern lanes of West Street. If you only have one day, see the 1-day routes.
With two days you can be flexible, but still pre-book the Li River cruise (real-name, 1–2 days ahead through your hotel or an official seller) and the free Elephant Trunk Hill timed slot via WeChat ("桂林市象山景区"). Set up Alipay with an international card for metro, DiDi and the bamboo raft.
Day 1 — Guilin city on foot
Everything walkable or one short taxi apart, ending with the classic night-lit lakes.
- 09:00 Elephant Trunk Hill 1 hr — the free city emblem; cross to the opposite bank for the full-elephant photo. Bring your slot QR.
- 10:30 Reed Flute Cave 1.5 hr — taxi north (~$6–10); the cool, lit show-cave. About $12.70 at the gate.
- 13:00 Lunch Back in the centre — a Guilin rice-noodle shop or beer fish.
- 14:30 Seven Star Park 2 hr — karst crags, a cave and a small zoo; the easy green half-day. About $7–10.
- 17:30 Sun and Moon Pagodas 45 min — walk the lake; the towers glow after sunset. Exterior free, tower climb about $5.
- 19:30 Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise 1 hr — board after dark for the lit bridges; about $25–30. Walk the lakeside free if you skip the boat.
Day 2 — Li River to Yangshuo
A morning cruise to Yangshuo, a bamboo raft on the Yulong, and West Street after dark.
- 08:00 Li River cruise (Guilin → Yangshuo) 4 hr — the classic 3-star (~$30) or 4-star (~$51) boat; the bus collects you in the city and drops you in Yangshuo.
- 13:00 Lunch in Yangshuo Beer fish is the local speciality; West Street has cafes too.
- 14:30 Yulong River bamboo raft 2 hr — a quieter tributary drift between the peaks; about $25–35, booked on site or via your hotel.
- 17:30 Cycle to Xingping or rest Optional: train or van to Xingping for the 20-yuan-note bend, or relax by the river.
- 19:00 Yangshuo West Street 2 hr — dinner and the lantern-lit pedestrian spine of town. Free to wander.
- 20:30 Impression Liu Sanjie (optional) 70-min open-air river show; about $40–70. Book a seat earlier in the day.
Looser combos
- Skip the long cruise if short on time — take a smaller boat from Yangshuo up to Xingping, or train to Xingping and walk the riverside for the same karst view.
- Swap the bamboo raft for a bike loop around the Yulong River if you prefer wheels to water; Yangshuo is flat and easy to cycle.
- Stay in Yangshuo after Day 2 instead of returning — West Street and the river are better at dawn before the tour buses.
A third day is best spent on a Longji terraces day trip. Back to the Guilin hub.
Itinerary last reviewed: 2026-10-18.