If you and your family want to explore awesome natural landscapes and have a love for Chinese ethnic culture, Guilin and Yunnan are the two must-visit destinations for your trip to China. Guilin is renowned for its stunning karst landscapes, pristine rivers, and picturesque countryside, while Yunnan is celebrated for its diverse cultures, vibrant history, and breathtaking scenery.
This article aims to assist you in planning the perfect trip to Guilin and Yunnan.
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China Highlights
Ms. Susan was also incredible people who were knowledgeable, warm, welcoming and sharing many interesting insights about life in China and helping to immerse oneself in this expansive country and its friendly and hard working people. more
Oct 2024, Richard E Patterson
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Our guide Lele was great
Our guide Lele was great. From helping us check into our Guilin hotel to helping us check in for our flight to Shanghai, Lele was awesome. more
Oct 2024, Luia F
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Our guide Lele in Guilin was fantastic.
Our guide Lele in Guilin was fantastic. Lele was always smiling, polite, helpful and willing to answer our questions. Given that our group know a lot about Chinese history, this probably put a little extra pressure on Lele to answer our questions. Lele was very knowledgeable, and importantly took care of us. The food on the trip was excellent.highly recommend Lele for your Guilin tour. more
Oct 2024, Sarah A
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How Long to Spend in Guilin and Yunnan
Generally, a classic itinerary for Guilin and Yunnan spans 12 days, with 3–4 days dedicated to Guilin and the remaining 8 days used to explore Yunnan. Given that Yunnan offers a vast area to explore with more cities and immersive activities, it's recommended to allocate more time to Yunnan to fully experience all that it has to offer.
How Long to Spend in Guilin
In Guilin: For a leisurely travel experience, we recommend spending at least 4 days exploring the highlights of Guilin, including Guilin city attractions, a Li River cruise to Yangshuo, and the Longji Rice Terraces. Here are some popular tour arrangements:
Guilin city: 1 day to explore city landmarks such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and Two Rivers and Four Lakes
Yangshuo: 1–2 days to enjoy rock climbing, countryside biking, a cooking class, local farming activities, and so on.
Longji Rice Terraces: 1–2 days to explore the terraced fields and a minority village.
How Long to Spend in Yunnan
For a classic tour itinerary in Yunnan, we recommend 8 days to cover its top destinations, including Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, and Shangri-La. Spending 2 days in each location would total 8 days in Yunnan for an ideal exploration experience.
If you're short on time, consider staying for just 1 night in Kunming and focusing your visit on Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. For a condensed itinerary of 5 days, prioritizing Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang offers a wonderful glimpse into the essence of Yunnan's charm.
A Classic 12-Day Guilin and Yunnan Tour
For a classic tour covering Guilin and Yunnan, we suggest spending 4 days in Guilin and dedicating 8 days to exploring Yunnan's key cities, including Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La.
- Day 1: Guilin arrival
- Day 2: A day tour of the Longji Rice Terraces
- Day 3: A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
- Day 4: Yangshuo countryside tour (rock climbing, cycling, and cooking)
- Day 5: Yangshuo to Guilin and take a flight or train to Kunming
- Day 6: Kunming (Naigu Stone Forest)
- Days 7–8: Dali (Erhai bike ride and making flower cakes)
- Days 9–10: Lijiang (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Naxi culture)
- Days 11–12: Shangri-La (a Tibetan village and Songzanlin Monastery)
In Guilin, you would spend a day discovering Longji Rice Terraces, which have sustained local ethnic minorities for centuries. Ascend to the top for panoramic views of lush rice fields cascading over rolling mountains. Visit a Yao family to learn about their unique bamboo rice cooking technique and oil tea culture before enjoying a chat and lunch.
It is recommended to return to Guilin after exploring Longji so that you could avoid the hassles of changing hotels and packing. Additionally, you would have a smooth transfer to the pier the next morning, ensuring you catch your Li River cruise departing before 9am without any delay. The next day, take a luxurious 4-hour Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, then explore the countryside of Yangshuo by bike, immersing yourself in village life and vast fields.
In Kunming, we suggest exploring the tranquil and rustic Naigu Stone Forest for a peaceful and leisurely travel experience away from the crowds and commercial Stone Forest. Experience a geological wonderland that offers a unique escape, perfect for enjoying science fiction adventures or playing "name the rock" with your kids.
In Dali, Erhai is one of the must-visit attractions. The best way to explore the lake is by cycling. A bike ride around Erhai is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) so we recommend that you choose to ride about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Caicun Village to Xiaguan at the western bank with fewer tourists. With the help of your experienced guide, you would visit the best scenic parts to see the stunning scenery of meadows, rice fields, and Cang Mountain.
Biking around Erhai LakeIf your kids are too small (under 10 years old) for such a long ride, then taking an Erhai cruise would be a good option to explore. To entertain your kids, you would join a delightful baking class at a flower farm to learn the craft of making Yunnan's iconic flower cakes. Explore Zhoucheng Village to witness the Bai culture at the market and partake in a family tie-dye workshop.
In Lijiang, you would visit the sacred site of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Ascend by cable car to Spruce Meadow at 3,240 meters (10,630 feet) to enjoy stunning views and learn about local legends.
Experience the Naxi culture with a meal and Naxi pancake-making at our best-selected Naxi-operated restaurant. Discover Naxi characters and enjoy traditional music by visiting a shaman's house.
Later, travel from Lijiang to Shangri-La, stopping at Tiger Leaping Gorge to hear the powerful Jinsha River's roar.
In Shangri-La, you would have the opportunity to hike from Renan Valley through meadows and jungles to Shangri-La Town, passing by the picturesque Tibetan village of Wujia, with its vibrant wildflowers and grazing yaks. Then, explore the majestic Songzanlin Lamasery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan.
Discover the captivating Pudacuo National Park the next morning, with its stunning lakes, Bitahai and Shudu, surrounded by picturesque mountain landscapes.
A Classic 10-Day Guilin and Yunnan Essence Tour
If you have limited time, you could still enjoy the highlights of Guilin in just 3 days. Here is a sample itinerary for your tour:
- Day 1: Guilin city highlights (Elephant Trunk Hill and Reed Flute Cave)
- Day 2: A Li River cruise and Xianggong Hill climbing experience
- Day 3: Bullet train ride from Guilin to Kunming
- Day 4: Kunming (Naigu Stone Forest)
- Days 5–6: Dali (Erhai bike ride and making flower cakes)
- Days 7–8: Lijiang (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Naxi culture)
- Days 9–10: Shangri-La (a Tibetan village and Songzanlin Monastery)
To ensure you make the most of your time in Guilin and enjoy its essential landscapes in a limited time frame, we recommend dedicating a day to exploring the city and another day to take a cruise and discover Yangshuo. Visit the top attractions, including iconic sites like Elephant Trunk Hill, a city symbol, and the mesmerizing Reed Flute Cave.
In Yangshuo, your experienced guide would arrange a visit to the enchanting Xianggong Hill, a hidden treasure along the Li River that offers spectacular panoramic views of Guilin's captivating landscape.
The tour itinerary in Yunnan follows a similar pattern to the one mentioned above.
How to Choose the Best Time to Visit Guilin and Yunnan
Li River, GuilinGuilin and Yunnan are destinations that could typically be visited throughout the year. For the best weather, consider planning your trip in autumn, from September to November. During this time, you could expect clear, sunny days with comfortable temperatures typically ranging from 15 to 25°C (59–77°F), which are ideal for outdoor adventures.
If you are keen on witnessing blooming flowers, spring (from March to May) is another excellent time to visit. During spring, Guilin experiences increased rainfall, resulting in frequent foggy days that transform the landscape into a picturesque, misty setting. Also, you could witness the stunning mountain wildflowers in bloom, particularly in Yunnan.
Traveling with school-age children? Consider summertime (June, July, and August) for your trip. Yunnan is considered to be a suitable place to visit during summer as it has pleasant daytime temperatures of 18–24°C (64–75°F). Although summers in Guilin are hot at 28–33°C (82–91°F) on average and intermittently experience stormy rain, these showers are typically short-lived and mostly occur at night. Therefore, your family could still enjoy outdoor adventures, such as hiking, cycling, and being immersed in nature.
In Yunnan, cities in the northern and central regions, such as Dali, Kunming, and Lijiang, typically receive less rainfall than their southern counterparts. During the summer, remember to book your tour early as it is the peak travel season in China. Expect large crowds and higher travel expenses during this time.
If your family seeks a distinctive Christmas and New Year celebration, consider visiting during winter. Yunnan enjoys relatively mild winters (from December to February) compared to several other regions in China. In Guilin, winter could be chilly on some days, with a few days having temperatures lower than 10°C (50°F). In lowland areas of Yunnan, such as Kunming, Dali, and Xishuangbanna, you could expect cool/mild daytime temperatures between 10–20°C (50–68°F).
Note: When deciding on the best time to visit Guilin and Yunnan, it's advisable to avoid popular public holidays, such as National Day (October 1st–7th), May Day (May 1st–5th), and the Chinese New Year holiday. These periods tend to attract large crowds, which could significantly impact your travel experience.
Travel Costs for a Guilin and Yunnan Tour
Generally, a private tour to Guilin and Yunnan typically costs about US$200–250 per person per day for a group of 2–5 individuals. This price covers attraction tickets, domestic transfers, a private vehicle, accommodation in 4-star hotels, and the services of a local guide.
During peak periods, such as the summer vacation in July and August, National Day (October 1st–7th), May Day (May 1st–5th), and the Spring Festival (January or February), travel costs could increase by 50–100%, mainly due to higher hotel rates and airfares. If you plan to travel during these busy times, we recommend booking your trip well in advance (at least 2 to 3 months prior).
How to Travel Between Guilin and Yunnan
When it comes to traveling between Guilin and Yunnan, there are two primary options: flights and trains. There are direct trains connecting Guilin and Yunnan's major cities, such as Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang. Direct flights are available between Guilin and Kunming as well as Lijiang.
Guilin to Kunming or Lijiang by flight (recommended): Opting for a direct flight from Guilin to Kunming or Lijiang cuts down the travel time to approximately 1½–2 hours. We recommend choosing this option to save time on your journey. Keep in mind that direct flights are not available every day. It's advisable to book your flight in advance to secure your travel plans.
By train: There are direct high-speed trains connecting Guilin and Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang, with the journey typically lasting about 7–9 hours. It's advisable to book your train tickets as early as possible, especially during peak seasons as the tickets are sold out quickly.