2-DAY Guilin Rice Terraces, Li River Cuise, YangShuo Leisure Tour

Longji’s rice terraces and the Li River’s karst peaks give you two very different sides of Guilin in just two days. One day is about mountain farming and minority culture; the next follows the river to Yangshuo by electric bamboo raft, with time for high views and country lanes.

I like the private vehicle for up to six people, since your guide can adjust the pace and route. I also like the practical guide team, including Jerry, Sundy, Jacky, Mike, and Molly, who have handled changes such as switching raft locations for a solo guest. The main drawback is that several entrance and transport fees are extra, and both days include long drives.

Key points at a glance

• Longji in one full day: Allow about two hours each way from central Guilin, plus time at Huang Luo Yao village and the rice terraces.
• A short Li River raft ride: The standard route runs about one hour from Yangdi Pier to Nine Horses Hill dock.
• A high viewpoint after the river: Xianggong Mountain gives you a broad view of the Li River’s famous limestone peaks.
• A gentler finish in the countryside: Yulong River brings rice fields, Fuli Ancient Bridge, walking, and biking options.
• A private group arrangement: The $250 price covers a group of up to six, with an English-speaking guide and driver and an air-conditioned vehicle.
• Extra costs matter: Rice terraces admission is CN¥80, Xianggong Mountain is CN¥60, and the electric bamboo raft is CN¥140 per person.

Two days that pair Guilin’s best scenery

This is a smart choice if you have only a short stay around Guilin and want more than a single river cruise. You get Longji’s steep terraces on day one, then the Li River and Yangshuo area on day two.

The route also gives you different rhythms. Longji is a full-day mountain outing with a long drive. The second day is broken into shorter scenic stops, so you are not sitting in the vehicle all day without a chance to walk, take photos, or look around.

The $250 rate is per private group of up to six people, not per person. For a full group, that can be good value for private transport and guiding. For one or two people, the cost is less of a bargain, although you gain flexibility and do not need to share the vehicle.

Keep a separate budget for the listed admissions. The three stated charges total CN¥280 per person before meals: CN¥80 for the rice terraces, CN¥140 for the electric bamboo raft, and CN¥60 for Xianggong Mountain. Meals and anything else not listed are also extra.

Day one: Longji’s terraces and Huang Luo Yao village

Your first day begins with pickup in the Guilin city center. The schedule gives an 8:30 a.m. hotel pickup for the Longji outing, while the general tour information lists an 8:00 a.m. start. Confirm the exact pickup time when your booking is confirmed.

The drive to the Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area takes about two hours. That transfer is a major part of the day, so this outing makes the most sense if you want the terraces badly enough to trade some road time for mountain scenery.

The first stated stop is Huang Luo Yao minority village. This adds a cultural element before the terrace views. You are not simply stopping at a viewpoint, taking one photo, and returning to Guilin. The village helps connect the dramatic hillsides with the people and farming traditions that shaped them.

Longji means Dragon’s Backbone, a fitting name for the layered slopes. The rice fields follow the contours of the mountains in long, curving bands. From the viewing areas, you can see why the terraces are so famous: the cultivated hills turn ordinary farmland into carefully engineered scenery.

The listed stop lasts about four hours, while the overall outing is described as a full-day tour. That difference is useful to understand. The four hours refers to the main sightseeing portion, not the complete time away from Guilin. Add the two-hour drive each way, transfers within the scenic area, and any time for meals or walking.

The tour does not promise a specific seasonal appearance. The terraces can look different depending on the time of year, and the supplied details do not identify a best month. I would choose this day for the shape of the terraces and the rural setting rather than for one fixed photographic effect.

There is also an important practical point: the rice terrace admission is not included. Budget CN¥80 per person. Meals are not included either, so plan for that separately rather than expecting food to be covered by the tour price.

Day two: Yangdi Pier to Nine Horses Hill

The second day starts later, with hotel pickup at 9:30 a.m. You drive for about an hour and a half to Yangdi Pier, where the Li River portion begins.

The standard river activity is an electric bamboo raft lasting about one hour. It runs from Yangdi Pier to Nine Horses Hill dock. This is shorter than a full-day river cruise, but that is part of the appeal. You get time on the water without giving the entire day to a boat.

The raft offers a different view of the karst peaks than a roadside lookout. The river lets you see the limestone formations from below, with the water and bends of the Li River shaping the view. The route is scenic, but you should know exactly what you are booking: the standard experience is a one-hour electric bamboo raft, not a four-hour cruise ship.

If you prefer a larger boat, the service can help switch the river portion to a four-hour luxury cruise ship. The supplied details do not give the replacement price or exact departure arrangements, so ask for those before confirming the change.

The electric bamboo ticket costs CN¥140 per person and is not included. Since the raft is an optional point of adjustment, make your preference clear early. One useful example from the tour service is a route change made for a solo guest to save time, showing why a private booking can be handy when the standard plan does not fit your schedule.

Xianggong Mountain for the big Li River view

After the raft ride, the vehicle takes about 20 minutes to Xianggong Mountain in the Yangshuo area. The visit lasts about 40 minutes.

This is the place for the broad, high view. From Xianggong Mountain, the Li River curves through clusters of pointed limestone peaks. After seeing the river from water level, you get a different sense of how the peaks fit together.

Forty minutes is enough for the main viewpoint and photos, but it is not an open-ended mountain visit. Keep your expectations practical. This stop is designed as a focused scenic visit between the raft and Yulong River, not a long hike.

The admission fee is CN¥60 per person. That cost is easy to overlook because the mountain stop is relatively short, so include it when comparing the total price with other private tours.

I like the order of these stops. The raft gives you a close view of the river, then Xianggong Mountain gives you the wide view. The two experiences work better together than either one would on its own.

Yulong River, Fuli Ancient Bridge, and country lanes

After Xianggong Mountain, the drive to Yulong River takes about 45 minutes. The visit lasts about one hour and focuses on places to take photos and see the countryside.

The planned points include Fuli Ancient Bridge and the area around Chaoyang Dam. You may walk or bike to Chaoyang Dam, with rice fields and rural scenery along the way. The tour information does not say that a bike rental is included, so ask the guide how that option is arranged and what it costs.

This part of the day is less about one major ticketed attraction. It gives you room to move at ground level after the raft and mountain viewpoint. The rice fields and old bridge offer a quieter contrast to Yangshuo’s more popular streets.

The tour also includes Yangshuo’s West Street pedestrian area in its overall plan. The detailed stop list places the focus on Yulong River, so confirm how much time is reserved for West Street on your chosen day. That matters if you want time for shops, food, or an evening walk rather than a quick drive past the area.

Transport, guides, and the value of going private

The package includes an English-speaking guide and driver service and an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is offered, and the activity is private, meaning only your own group participates.

That setup is especially useful on a route with several moving parts. You can ask about the raft option, adjust the pace at photo stops, and coordinate the transfer between Guilin and Yangshuo without working out each connection yourself.

The tour service has used several guides and drivers. Jerry has organized the two-day service, and Sundy has covered a first day when Jerry was unavailable. Jacky, Mike, and Molly have also guided portions of the Guilin outings. The consistent theme is flexibility and care with transport, timing, and personal requests.

Do not assume one named person will lead every stop. Guide assignments can change, so treat the names as part of the service team rather than a guarantee for your date.

The private format is most attractive for families, couples, or a small group of friends who value door-to-door transport. It also helps solo visitors who want to adjust the route, though the $250 group price is harder to justify when divided among only one or two people.

The parts that may test your patience

The biggest issue is road time. Longji takes about two hours from Guilin each way, and day two includes roughly 90 minutes to Yangdi Pier, followed by several vehicle transfers. You will see a lot, but this is not a slow, stay-in-one-place holiday.

The route also has several separate fees. If you want the raft and all the listed paid sights, the extra CN¥280 per person is significant. Add meals and any bike arrangements, and the final cost rises beyond the advertised group rate.

The itinerary is also busy. On day two, you move from the raft to Xianggong Mountain, then to Yulong River and possibly West Street. That variety is a strength, but it means you should not expect long, unplanned stretches at each stop.

The schedule gives slightly different start times in different places, 8:00 a.m. in the general information and 8:30 a.m. for the Longji pickup. The second day is clearly listed as 9:30 a.m. Confirm the first morning’s exact time after booking.

Who should book this Guilin tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a private overview of the Guilin and Yangshuo area without arranging separate drivers, river tickets, and scenic stops yourself.

It suits you especially well if you want:

• Longji’s terraces and Huang Luo Yao village
• A short Li River raft ride rather than only a road transfer
• The Xianggong Mountain viewpoint
• Rural Yulong River scenery
• An English-speaking guide and private vehicle
• The option to adjust the route or switch from a raft to a longer cruise

I would look elsewhere if you want a relaxed pace, a long stay at each site, or a package with every ticket and meal already covered. I would also compare costs carefully if you are traveling alone.

Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. Most people can participate, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this two-day tour if your priority is variety and simple private transport. You will see Longji’s terraces, travel the Li River by raft, reach a major viewpoint, walk or bike near Yulong River, and have access to Yangshuo’s West Street in a compact plan.

Before paying, confirm the exact day-one pickup time, the guide assignment, the West Street timing, and the cost of replacing the raft with the four-hour luxury cruise. If those details suit you, the $250 group rate can be good value for up to six people who want a flexible Guilin base.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The tour starts with pickup in Guilin and visits the Longji Rice Terraces, Yangdi Pier, Nine Horses Hill, Xianggong Mountain, Yulong River, and Yangshuo’s West Street area.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two days. Day one is a full-day outing to Longji, and day two covers the Li River and Yangshuo area.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, with the listed pickups taking place at your hotel. The Longji day is listed at 8:30 a.m., while the second day is listed at 9:30 a.m. The general information also gives an 8:00 a.m. start, so confirm the exact first-day time.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates, and the private vehicle can accommodate a group of up to six people.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an English-speaking guide and driver service and an air-conditioned vehicle.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. The listed extra charges are CN¥80 per person for the rice terraces, CN¥140 per person for the electric bamboo raft, and CN¥60 per person for Xianggong Mountain. Meals and other unlisted expenses are also excluded.

Can I take a cruise instead of the electric bamboo raft?

Yes. The tour service can help switch the one-hour electric bamboo raft to a four-hour luxury cruise ship. The price and exact arrangements for that change are not provided, so ask before booking the option.

Can most people participate?

Yes. The tour information states that most people can participate. The supplied details do not provide more specific mobility information, so ask the provider about your individual needs.