Imperial history meets surreal karst scenery along the Li River
Combine Beijing's imperial grandeur with the otherworldly karst landscapes that have inspired Chinese painters for a thousand years. Cruise the Li River, bike through Yangshuo's countryside, and hike Longji's rice terraces. This is the trip for travelers who want both history and nature in one journey.
Operational review
Route and price basis reviewed October 2026
Private driver and air-conditioned vehicle; Domestic flight Beijing-Guilin; Li River cruise ticket
Regular sightseeing walks with private transfers; suitable for most travelers when normal city walking is comfortable.
Four-star accommodation unless the itinerary or dated quote states otherwise; exact hotels remain subject to availability.
Planning benchmark only. Dates, party size, room choice and live rail or air fares are repriced in the written proposal.
Openings, schedules and supplier availability can change. The dated proposal takes precedence over this planning page.
| Duration | 9 days / 8 nights |
| Group Type | Private (1-10 travelers) |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Best Season | April-October |
| Cities Visited | Beijing, Guilin, Yangshuo, Longji |
| Regions | North China, South China |
| Price Basis | From price per person based on 2 travelers sharing a room with 4-star hotels in low or shoulder season. |
Four hours through karst peaks, water buffalo, and bamboo groves — the landscape that inspired Chinese painting for millennia.
Explore Li River Cruise →Bike through rice paddies between limestone peaks, float on a bamboo raft down the Yulong River, and watch sunset from Moon Hill.
Explore Yangshuo Karst Countryside →Dragon's Backbone terraces cascading down mountainsides — golden in October, mirror-like in May, emerald in summer.
Explore Longji Rice Terraces →
Walk atop China's most iconic structure at its best-preserved, least-crowded section — with cable car up and toboggan slide down.
Explore Great Wall (Mutianyu) →Old Beijing's labyrinthine alleyways — hidden courtyards, local life, and the city's authentic heartbeat.
Explore Hutong Alleyways →Airport pickup and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner: Peking Duck.
Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Hutong rickshaw tour.
Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel
Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car. Afternoon: Ming Tombs.
Overnight: Beijing 4-star hotel
Morning flight to Guilin. Afternoon: Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill.
Overnight: Guilin 4-star hotel
Board a cruise boat on the Li River — 4 hours through karst peaks, water buffalo, and bamboo groves. Arrive in Yangshuo. Evening: Impression Sanjie Liu light show on the river.
Overnight: Yangshuo 4-star hotel
Morning cycling through karst countryside and villages. Afternoon: bamboo rafting on the Yulong River. Chinese cooking class in the evening.
Overnight: Yangshuo 4-star hotel
Drive to Longji (Dragon's Backbone) rice terraces. Hike among the terraced fields and visit Zhuang and Yao minority villages. Optional: stay overnight in a village guesthouse.
Overnight: Longji guesthouse or Guilin hotel
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Guilin airport for departure flight.
Transfer to airport for international departure.
Reference Price
Based on double occupancy
Reference price for 2 travelers sharing a room, using 4-star hotels in low or shoulder season.
Single supplement: +$540
Free quote within 24 hours · No deposit required
