Guilin Private Day Trip: Daxu Ancient Town & Yaoshan Mountain

A 1,000-year-old town and a mountain tea plantation in one day, with a chairlift to the views.

This private day trip from Guilin combines two contrasting stops: Daxu Old Town, a 1,000-year-old settlement on the Li River with Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, and Yaoshan Mountain, where you ride a chairlift to the summit and pick tea leaves at the plantation. An English-speaking guide and private driver handle the 23-kilometer route, all admission tickets, and hotel pickup. The full day runs eight hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Daxu Ancient Town and Yaoshan Mountain

• Explore Daxu Ancient Town
• Ride chairlift to Yaoshan Mountain top
• Enjoy views of misted hills
• Pick tea leaves at Yaoshan Tea Plantation

The experience

Daxu Old Town sits 23 kilometers southeast of Guilin on the northern bank of the Li River. The preserved alleyways and residences date mostly to the Ming and Qing dynasties, built from aged black bricks and grey tiles on old stone-paved streets. The Wanshou Bridge, a single-arched stone bridge from the Ming Dynasty, is the largest landmark in town. You'll walk past traditional manual workshops (straw sandal makers, bamboo weavers, herbal medicine clinics, and an old-style barbershop) that still operate today, giving a direct look at how locals lived and worked across centuries.

Yaoshan Mountain rises 903 meters, the highest peak in Guilin, and the day includes a chairlift to the top so you skip the climb. From there, the views sweep across misted hills and the surrounding landscape. The real draw is the tea-leaf picking experience at Yaoshan Tea Plantation on the mountainside. You harvest leaves yourself, a hands-on moment most day trips skip. The mountain also holds the Jingjiang King Tomb, Yao Temple, and other historical sites if your guide suggests them, but the plantation and the views are the centerpiece.

Your private driver picks you up from your hotel and handles the full route in an air-conditioned vehicle, with refreshments provided during the drive. The English-speaking guide stays with you throughout, explaining the history of Daxu's architecture and the tea-growing methods on Yaoshan. All admission tickets are included in the price. The day is paced for all fitness levels, though the chairlift and walking through town are the main physical elements: no strenuous hiking required.

What’s included

• All government taxes and admission tickets to Daxu Old Town and Yaoshan Mountain.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full day.
• air-conditioned vehicle with private experienced driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• refreshments during transport.
• chairlift ride to Yaoshan Mountain's summit.
• tea-leaf picking experience at Yaoshan Tea Plantation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by IslamiChina Travel

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and history without translation delays. This works for anyone comfortable in English but unfamiliar with Mandarin. The eight-hour pace and private vehicle mean you move at your own rhythm between stops without waiting for a group, and the chairlift eliminates the climb, making the mountain accessible even if you prefer not to hike.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Daxu Old Town actually like to walk through?

Daxu Old Town preserves Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture across stone-paved streets lined with aged black brick and grey tile buildings. You'll see the Wanshou Bridge, a single-arched stone structure from the Ming Dynasty, and working traditional workshops (bamboo weavers, straw sandal makers, herbal clinics, and a barbershop) that show how locals still practice old crafts. The town sits on the Li River's northern bank and has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years.

Do I actually pick tea leaves, or just watch?

You pick the tea leaves yourself at Yaoshan Tea Plantation on the mountainside. It's a hands-on experience, not a demonstration. You harvest the leaves as part of the day, which is what sets this stop apart from a simple scenic viewpoint.

How do I get to the top of Yaoshan Mountain?

A chairlift carries you to the summit of Yaoshan Mountain at 903 meters, the highest peak in Guilin. The ride itself is scenic, and from the top you see misted hills and the surrounding landscape. No hiking or strenuous climbing is required to reach the views.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The price includes all government taxes, admission tickets to both Daxu Old Town and Yaoshan Mountain, the chairlift ride, hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver, refreshments during transport, and an English-speaking guide for the full eight hours. Meals and gratuities to the guide and driver (suggested at US$5 per person per day) are separate.

How long is the full day, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight hours total. Your hotel pickup time depends on your location in Guilin and is arranged when you book. Your guide will confirm the exact departure time in advance.