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

The best part of this two-day Guilin tour is the contrast. One day takes you high into the Longji rice terraces and Yao minority country. The next keeps you low beside the Li River, with a raft ride, a hilltop view, and quiet rural paths near Yangshuo.

I like the private vehicle for up to six people, which makes a long first-day drive easier to manage. I also like the service focus: Jerry organizes the operation, while guides such as Molly, Jacky, Mike, and Sunday have handled tours with patience and care. The main drawback is that several important costs are extra, and the two days involve plenty of driving.

Key points to know

• Longji takes most of Day 1: Allow about two hours each way from central Guilin, plus time in the scenic area.
• The Li River section uses an electric bamboo raft: The ride from Yangdi to Nine Horses Hill takes about one hour.
• You can request a cruise alternative: A four-hour luxury cruise can replace the electric raft.
• Xianggong Mountain delivers the big viewpoint: The stop lasts about 40 minutes and requires a separate admission fee.
• Yulong River adds rural scenery: Expect photo stops near Fuli Ancient Bridge, with time to walk or ride a bike toward Chaoyang Dam.
• The price works best for a small group: At $250 per group of up to six, the per-person cost drops sharply when shared.

Two days that show Guilin from two different angles

This tour works because it does not repeat the same kind of scenery. Longji gives you steep hillsides shaped by rice farming and a look at local Yao culture. Day 2 moves into the classic Guilin and Yangshuo setting: limestone peaks, open river views, farm fields, bridges, and village roads.

You get a private tour rather than a shared bus. That matters in Guilin, where the key sights are spread across a wide area. Your guide and driver can keep the day moving, help with the route, and adjust some details when practical.

The service has a small team rather than one guaranteed guide. Jerry may arrange the trip, while another guide handles one or both days. Sunday, Molly, Jacky, and Mike have all been associated with the operation. If having one particular guide matters to you, ask before booking.

The tour price is $250 per group, with up to six people. That is a strong value for a family or group of friends because the guide, driver, and air-conditioned vehicle are included. For one person, the value is less obvious once you add entrance fees, raft fare, and meals.

Day 1: Longji rice terraces and Yao culture

Your first day begins with hotel pickup in central Guilin. The schedule gives an approximate 8:30 a.m. departure, while the general start time is listed as 8:00 a.m., so confirm the exact pickup time when your booking is accepted.

The drive to the Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area takes about two hours. This is not a quick side trip. You are giving up a full day, but the reward is a major change from Guilin city. The road carries you into mountain country, where rice fields climb the slopes in broad, curving bands.

The first planned stop is Huang Luo Yao minority village. The Yao connection is an important part of the day. You are not simply stopping for a viewpoint and returning to the car. The visit adds a cultural layer to the terraces and gives your guide a chance to explain the local setting.

From there, the day centers on the Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces. The listed sightseeing time is about four hours, though the actual pace can depend on walking, photo stops, and traffic. Wear shoes that are comfortable on uneven paths, and keep some energy for the return drive.

The terraces are valuable because they show farming on a grand scale without feeling like a staged attraction. The hillsides were shaped for agriculture, and the views change as you move around the scenic area. From one angle, the fields appear as narrow horizontal lines. From another, they curve around the mountain like contour drawings.

The season will affect what you see. The provided tour details do not promise a specific crop stage or color, so do not book this only for one exact photo. The appeal is the structure of the terraces, the mountain setting, and the chance to see Longji as part of a wider cultural visit.

The rice terrace admission fee of CN¥80 per person is not included. Meals are also extra. Since Day 1 is long, ask your guide how meal timing will work rather than assuming food is part of the package.

This day suits you if you enjoy scenery that takes effort to reach. It is less suitable if you want a relaxed schedule with short transfers. The two-hour drive each way is the price of seeing Longji from Guilin without changing hotels.

Day 2: Yangdi and the Li River by electric raft

Day 2 starts later, with hotel pickup listed at 9:30 a.m. You drive for about an hour and a half to Yangdi Pier. The later start helps after the demanding first day, though the transfer still takes a good part of the morning.

At Yangdi, you board an electric bamboo raft for a ride of about one hour to Nine Horses Hill dock. This is the classic Li River experience in a shorter, more intimate form than a full river cruise. You can watch the river bend through the karst peaks while the raft carries you downstream.

The electric raft ticket costs CN¥140 per person and is not included. That extra charge is significant, especially for a family. Ask your guide to explain exactly what is included in the day’s transport and boat arrangements before you set out.

You also have an alternative. If you do not want the electric bamboo raft, the operator can help arrange a four-hour luxury cruise. This is useful because the two options are not identical. The raft is shorter and more open to the immediate river setting. The cruise takes longer and may suit you better if you prefer a more structured river outing.

A practical tip comes from the operator’s experience with solo visitors: the raft departure point can sometimes be changed to save time. Do not assume the route is fixed in every detail. Ask what works best for your group size and schedule.

Yangdi is a good starting point for the Li River because the route focuses on scenery rather than city sights. You get the famous Guilin peaks without spending the whole day on a boat. Still, one hour on the water is brief. If the river is your main reason for visiting Guilin, choose the four-hour cruise instead.

Xianggong Mountain gives you the wide view

After the raft ride, the vehicle takes about 20 minutes to Xianggong Mountain. The stop lasts around 40 minutes and costs CN¥60 per person for admission.

This is the viewpoint stop. From above, the Li River curves among the pointed karst peaks, giving you the broad image that appears in so many Guilin photographs. The view works best as a counterpoint to the raft ride. On the water, you see the river at eye level. From Xianggong Mountain, you understand how the river fits into the wider countryside.

Forty minutes is enough for the main viewpoint and photos, but it is not a long mountain outing. The tour is built around a scenic stop, not an extended hike. If you want a slow climb or a longer stay, discuss it with your guide before the day begins.

The separate admission fee means Day 2 has a rising cost. With the raft and Xianggong Mountain together, you pay CN¥200 per person before meals or any other extras. That does not weaken the experience, but it changes the true price from the headline group rate.

Yulong River, Fuli Bridge, and country paths

From Xianggong Mountain, the drive to the Yulong River area takes about 45 minutes. The planned visit lasts around one hour and has no additional admission charge listed.

This section changes the mood again. Instead of focusing only on a famous river view, you get rural scenery, rice fields, and places to stop for photographs. Fuli Ancient Bridge is one of the named photo spots. You may also walk or ride a bike toward Chaoyang Dam.

I like this part because it gives you room to slow down after the road transfers and viewpoints. A short walk beside fields can feel more connected to daily life than another formal lookout. It also gives the guide some flexibility. If your group wants photos, you can pause. If you prefer movement, you can walk or cycle.

The exact bike arrangement is not specified, so ask whether bicycles are provided or arranged separately. The tour description clearly allows time for biking or hiking, but it does not include a bike fee in the stated price.

The Yulong River stop is also the most dependent on timing. One hour is enough for a taste, but not enough for a long countryside ride. If this is your priority, tell the guide early. The private format makes that conversation possible, though the schedule still has to account for driving and the other stops.

Yangshuo West Street and the limits of the schedule

The overall plan includes Yangshuo’s lively West Street pedestrian area. The detailed stop list does not give a separate duration there, so you should confirm whether you will have free time to walk the street and how it fits with the Yulong River visit.

West Street is a useful contrast to the quiet fields and river views. It is the place to browse, eat, and see Yangshuo’s more social side. Do not expect the same calm mood you get at Fuli Bridge or along the rural paths.

The tour is strongest when you treat West Street as an added Yangshuo experience rather than the main event. If shopping, food, or evening wandering is central to your plans, ask for a clear timing plan. A private guide can often help with the order of stops, but the supplied schedule does not promise a long block of free time.

How good is the $250 group price?

The $250 price covers an English-speaking guide and driver plus an air-conditioned vehicle. It is for your private group of up to six, not a per-person rate.

That makes the value good for six people. Split evenly, the base cost is about $42 per person before entrance fees, the raft, and meals. For three people, it is about $83 each before extras. For one person, the price is harder to justify, although the private service and route planning may still appeal.

The extra costs are clear:

• Rice terraces entrance: CN¥80 per person
• Electric bamboo raft: CN¥140 per person
• Xianggong Mountain: CN¥60 per person
• Meals and other unlisted costs: extra

The tour provides the useful part of a private day trip: someone drives the long routes, handles the basic plan, and speaks English. You are not paying for a bare transfer. You are paying for a two-day arrangement that links places difficult to combine on your own.

The tradeoff is that the package does not cover the main admissions. Budget for these before you book, especially if six people are coming. Also remember that the vehicle and guide are shared across your group, so the more people you have, the better the deal.

Guide service and the private format

The strongest service feature is flexibility. Jerry has helped organize custom plans, including changing a raft location for a solo visitor to save time. That suggests the operation can respond to practical needs rather than forcing every group into one rigid pattern.

Different guides may lead the two days. Sunday has handled the Longji day, while Molly has guided couples and paid close attention to their needs. Jacky and Mike have also worked with the company. The exact guide is subject to availability, so treat the names as examples, not a guarantee.

You get an air-conditioned vehicle, which matters because the roads between Guilin, Longji, Yangdi, and Yangshuo take time. The private setup also means you can speak up if you need a rest, want more photos, or prefer to move on.

The operation has earned five-star feedback across the supplied comments, with repeated praise for smooth driving, careful service, friendly guides, good organization, and easy customization. I would place the most weight on those practical points. A smooth driver and a guide who listens can make a two-day route much more pleasant than a cheaper but rigid bus outing.

Who should book this Guilin tour?

I would choose this tour if you want the main Guilin and Yangshuo highlights in two days without arranging several separate transfers. It is especially suitable for couples, families, and groups of friends who can share the $250 vehicle price.

You will get the most from it if you like a full schedule, scenic drives, short walks, viewpoints, and a mix of nature and culture. The plan gives you Longji, the Li River, Xianggong Mountain, Yulong River, and a chance to see West Street.

I would hesitate if you want long hikes, slow meals, or extended time in one place. The first day is a long out-and-back journey, and Day 2 includes several drives between stops. The listed visit times are enough to see the highlights, not to explore every area at leisure.

You should also ask about the exact route if the four-hour luxury cruise is important to you. The electric raft is the standard plan, and the cruise is an alternative that needs arranging.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is efficient sightseeing with a private guide and driver. You get a strong two-day mix, and the group price is attractive when shared by four to six people.

Before paying, confirm the pickup time, the guide assigned to each day, the West Street timing, and whether you want the electric raft or four-hour cruise. Add CN¥280 per person for the rice terraces and raft, plus CN¥60 per person for Xianggong Mountain, then budget for meals.

The tour is not the slowest way to see Guilin, but it is a practical way to cover a lot of ground. If you accept the driving and extra admission costs, it gives you a well-rounded first look at the region.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. Day 1 is a full-day visit to the Longji Rice Terraces, while Day 2 covers Yangdi, the Li River, Xianggong Mountain, Yulong River, and the Yangshuo area.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is offered from hotels in central Guilin. Day 1 is listed with an approximate 8:30 a.m. pickup, and Day 2 with a 9:30 a.m. pickup. The general start time is listed as 8:00 a.m., so confirm your exact time after booking.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is a private activity for your group only, with a maximum of six people.

What fees are not included?

The rice terraces entrance costs CN¥80 per person, the electric bamboo raft costs CN¥140 per person, and Xianggong Mountain admission costs CN¥60 per person. Meals and other unlisted expenses are also extra.

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

Yes. The operator can help switch the Li River portion to a four-hour luxury cruise if you do not want to take the electric bamboo raft.

Can most people participate?

Yes. The tour information states that most people can participate. It does not provide more specific accessibility details, so ask the operator about your needs before booking.