The 15 Best Guilin Tours and Li River Cruises, Compared

1.Highlights from Guilin to Yangshuo Full Day Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 261 reviews · 8 hours · from $108Our pick

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking driver-guide exploring Guilin and Yangshuo by private vehicle. Choose Reed Flute Cave or the countryside route with mirror-like rice fields and Zhuangyuan Bridge, then see Xianggong Hill, Fuli Ancient Town, and take a one-hour bamboo raft on a quieter stretch of the Li River.

“Leon, our guides, has been really kind with us. He guided us all day long, his tour has been full and detailed.”

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2.1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · from $209Top rated

This 8 to 9-hour private tour pairs a 4-hour Li River cruise with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, lunch on board, Yangshuo countryside, and West Street. Your guide joins you on the boat, explains the scenery, and helps manage the return drive to Guilin. The cruise uses large motorized boats, not small private vessels.

“The river cruise was a fantastic way to see the famous Guilin karsts, and the visit to Yangshuo and the charming surrounding countryside was wonderful. Tony was a great guide, patiently answering our questions and giving us plenty of time to enjoy our walk after the cruise. Highly recommended!”

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3.Longji Rice Terraces with Minority Village Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 122 reviews · from $69

Travel from Guilin to Longji with a private English-speaking driver-guide. Visit Huangluo’s long-hair village, walk Ping’an’s finest viewpoints, learn about Yao and Zhuang traditions, and return by private car. Guides such as Leo, Lee, Sandy, and Jack are praised for flexibility and local insight.

“We went with our 10 year old son, and a couple friends of us. This was an AMAZING tour. GREAT views of the rice fields, and we are fresh delicious local fruits. We also ate at a wonderful place that the tour guide took us to, where we ate food that was cooked inside bamboo. It was like nothing that we've eaten before. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and was very kind with us. He even went the extra mile, and found a place with a regular toilet, even though we were in a rural area, and it was not the local custom.”

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4.Classic Private Full–Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 113 reviews · 12 hours · from $246

Spend 12 hours with a private guide and car visiting Guilin’s Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, and Xingping. You’ll take a roughly 50-minute shared small-boat ride on the Li River, eat lunch at your own cost, then watch the Impression Liusanjie show. Guides including Jeff, Colin, and Andy are praised for flexible pacing and clear English.

“Jeff was a very accommodating and informative guide who made the experience all the more enjoyable, I had an amazing time:-)”

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5.Li River Cruise with Transfer to Yangshuo

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 89 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $82

You’ll be picked up in Guilin at about 8:00am, driven to Zhujiang Pier, and set off on a four-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo. Choose a 3-star boat with a box lunch or a 4-star boat with a buffet. Andy coordinates the trip, while drivers such as Mei handle transfers. English support varies by boat.

“Magnifique ballade nous emmenant à notre prochain lieu de séjour..les paysages sont magiques et reposants, le bateau est vaste et la box suffit amplement et est delicieuse délicieuse Merci à notre guide qui nous a emmèné et à tout géré!”

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6.Longji Rice Terraces: Full-Day Private Tour from Guilin

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 85 reviews · 7 - 12 hours · from $115

Travel by private air-conditioned car or van from Guilin or Yangshuo to Longji, about 80 kilometers away. Walk through Ping’an and Dazhai, see traditional wooden homes, and learn about Zhuang and Yao culture. Choose a private guide or self-guided option with a driver. Guides such as Jeff, Jackie, Jason, and Leo have led this tour.

“Amazing experience. The pick up was seamless, punctual, and stress-free. The trip itself was extremely well planned – included unexpected detours, such as tea farm, or Huangluo village. Longji terraces themselves are stunning. Our big thanks go to Jackie, our tour guide, who spoke really good English, shared fascinating stories about the places and himself, and introduced us to great food spots.”

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7.4 Star Luxury Li River Cruise with Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 80 reviews · 4 hours · from $92

You’ll leave downtown Guilin around 8:00 AM for Zhujiang Pier, then spend about four hours aboard a comfortable four-star boat to Yangshuo. Expect dramatic karst peaks, villages, bamboo groves, waterfalls, an onboard Chinese or Western buffet, and audio commentary by QR code rather than a live English guide.

“Loved it but would have preferred a Chinese/ English speaking guide to have information as we cruise. With the qr code it was a bit difficult to follow. Eventually is quite expensive for just a car ride to the pier and the cruise. With an English speaking crew that explain ms the scenery and the traditions of the areas we see it could have been more value for money.”

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8.1-Day Guilin Tour to Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, Bamboo Boat and Night Show

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $89

This 12-hour private Guilin outing links Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, a 50-minute Xingping River boat ride, Yangshuo West Street, and the Liu San Jie night show. An English-speaking guide such as Andy, Jerry, Jeff, or Jacky handles transport and translation, though guide assignments vary. Plan for stairs, long drives, extra entrance fees, and a late finish.

“This is a great tour. Be prepared to walk a lot and the tour will conclude by 10 pm once you start in the morning at 9. Lee ( Jackie ) was our guide and the driver and he took great care of us. He is very professional, speaks good English and a vRead more”

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9.1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews

Travel privately from Guilin to Huangluo Yao Village and Ping’an Rice Terraces with guides such as Jerry, Sundy, Jackie, or Robert. Expect a comfortable car, local stories, photo stops, and about three hours of walking among the terraces. Lunch and the CNY 80 entrance fee per person are extra.

“All very nice, the guide was kind and helpful. He answered all our questions and explained a lot about the local areaAuto-translated”

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10.Longji rice terraces & minority villages private day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews

Travel privately from Guilin to Longji for a full day among mountain rice terraces and minority villages. An English-speaking driver or guide handles the long mountain drive, admission, parking, tolls, and Ping’an sightseeing car. Charles, Jackie, Sundy, Sandy, Jenny, Qin, and Peter have led recent departures, though your assigned guide may differ.

“Very knowledgeable. Qin was great. Easy to communicate. Will definitely recommend. Had a great time.”

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11.Impression Sanjie Liu Show Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $45Best value

Watch Zhang Yimou’s Impression Sanjie Liu, a 70-minute outdoor performance on the Li River with 600 performers and Yangshuo’s karst peaks as its backdrop. You can choose standard or VIP seating, then meet English-speaking ticket representative Miss Lilly near the box office. Hotel transfers from Yangshuo County are available as an upgrade.

“Very nice welcome, everything went well and we could enjoy the show in very good conditions. Thank you!”

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12.Guilin Highlights Tour Li River to Yangshuo and Xianggong Hill

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $79

Cruise four hours from Guilin to Yangshuo past famous karst peaks, explore West Street, then climb Xianggong Hill for a sweeping river view. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles hotel transfers and boat tickets. Guides such as Leo, Liu, Sandy, and Nick have earned praise for clear explanations, careful planning, and flexible service.

“Leo was a great guide, he picked us up and took us to the boat and organised the 4 star river cruise as organised. He left very detailed instructions on where he would meet me after the cruise docked at the destination The river cruise waRead more”

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13.Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 47 reviews · 1 - 3 hours · from $49

You’ll watch the 70-minute Impression Sanjie Liu performance in an open-air theater beside the Li River. More than 600 performers, folk songs, illuminated costumes, and Yangshuo’s Karst mountains create the setting. Choose a ticket only or add an English-speaking private transfer from your hotel.

“Prachtige show met de bergen en de rivier op de achtergrond. Toeristisch, maar leuk!”

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14.Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 7 hours · from $87

You’ll visit Reed Flute Cave, Fubo Hill, Elephant Trunk Hill, and Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park with a private English or Chinese-speaking guide. Expect hotel pickup in central Guilin, private air-conditioned transport, entrance tickets, and time for pearl shopping. Guides such as Ray and Andy have received praise, though the exact route may vary.

“very good day out loved the caves and tea plantation”

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15.6-Day Private Tour: Guilin Terraces, Fenghuang & Zhangjiajie

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 9 hours - 6 days

Travel privately from Guilin through Longji’s Yao villages, Fenghuang’s riverside streets, and Zhangjiajie’s quartzite peaks. Your English-speaking guide, including guides such as Molly or Bruce Lee, handles the driving and route. Expect long days, optional attraction fees, and a fast but rewarding tour of central China’s major sights.

“The trip was well organized, we saw many attractions in one week. The landscapes are spectacular. It is perfect for those who are visiting this country for the first time and do not have much time. Our guide Molly was very attentive and patient and took care of everything we needed extra.”

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