Hot Air Ballooning Yangshuo: Sunrise or Sunset Private Tour

Rise above the karst landscape at dawn or dusk, floating where the mandarin orchards and vertical hills spread below you.

A private hot air balloon flight over Yangshuo near Guilin, lasting approximately one hour, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking driver. You'll climb to 1,500 meters above karst peaks, rivers and traditional villages. The flight departs from Yangshuo Dutou Pier at sunrise or sunset depending on your chosen option. Bad weather brings a full refund. Children from age 4 are welcome. Pregnant travelers in their third to seventh month and those with spinal injuries should not fly.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Yulong River1h
2. Li Riverpassing by

Yangshuo Hot Air Ballooning Tour

• Pick up from Guilin/Yangshuo/Xingping hotel
• Transfer to Yangshuo Dutou village
• Enjoy hot air ballooning sunrise tour
• Return to Guilin/Yangshuo/Xingping hotel

The experience

About one hour in the air is what you get, though thermals can shift the exact time. The balloon lifts from Yangshuo Dutou Pier, which sits close to the Li River, so the water and the landscape unfold beneath you as you climb. You'll reach heights of 1,500 meters, high enough to see the patchwork of small farms, the hundreds of vertical-sided hills and the traditional villages that make this region distinct from the ground but unmistakable from above. The pilots are experts with years of experience flying this terrain.

Your day starts with pickup from your hotel in Guilin, Yangshuo or Xingping in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver. For a sunrise flight, that means leaving at 4 a.m. and reaching the pier by 6 a.m. The balloon goes up for an hour, and you're back at your hotel by 8:45 a.m. Sunset departures follow the same structure on the opposite clock. The driver stays with you throughout, and you may share the balloon basket with other passengers, though the car and guide remain yours alone.

Bad weather cancels the flight with no penalty. You get a full refund. Children under 4 cannot fly, and pregnant travelers in months three through seven are not permitted. The company is Guilin Tianxing, and they handle all the logistics. You just show up at your hotel at the pickup time.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver.
• hotel pickup and return transfer.
• hot air balloon flight for approximately one hour.
• expert pilot with years of regional experience.

Options for this experience

6 options

Sunset from YangshuoGuide in English or Chinese · Available from 1 Jan 2027Regarding the sunset: pickup is at 4:30 pm, and the flight takes around 30 minutes. Duration: 2 hours. The balloon flight lasts half an hour and covers 4-6 km. The drive from your Yangshuo hotel to the balloon flying base takes 30 minutes. Pickup from Yangshuo hotel: you will be collected from and returned to your Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Pickup from your hotel in YangshuoGuide in English or Chinese · Available from 1 Jan 2027Pickup is included. We will collect you from your Yangshuo hotel and bring you back there after the tour.

Pickup from your hotel in GuilinGuide in English or Chinese · Available from 1 Jan 2027Pickup is included. We will collect you from your hotel in central Guilin at 04:00 am and return you to your Guilin hotel at around 09:00 am.

See 3 more options

Sunset from XingpingGuide in English or Chinese · Available from 1 Jan 2027Regarding the sunset: pickup is at 4:00 pm, and the flight takes around 30 minutes. Duration: 3 hours. The balloon flight lasts half an hour and covers 4-6 km. The drive from your Xingping hotel to the balloon flying base takes 60 minutes. Pickup from Xingping hotel: you will be collected from your Xingping hotel and dropped off at your Xingping or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Pickup from your hotel in XingpingGuide in English or Chinese · Available from 1 Jan 2027Pickup is included. We can collect you from your Xingping hotel, then drop you off at either your Xingping or Yangshuo hotel.

Sunset from GuilinGuide in English or Chinese · Available from 1 Jan 2027Regarding the sunset: pickup is at 3:30 pm, and the flight takes around 30 minutes. Duration: 5 hours. The balloon flight lasts half an hour and covers 4-6 km. The drive from your Xingping hotel to the balloon flying base takes 90 minutes. Pickup from Guilin hotel: you will be collected from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jan 2027

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (9 to 75 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Choose the sunrise departure if you want to catch the light before the day warms up and the thermals shift. The sunset option suits travelers who prefer to sleep in and fly in the evening calm. Either way, the private car means you're not waiting for a group or coordinating with other hotels.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the hot air balloon depart from Yangshuo Dutou Pier?

Sunrise flights depart at 6 a.m., with hotel pickup starting at 4 a.m. Sunset flights follow a similar schedule timed to the evening light. Your chosen option determines which one you book.

How high does the balloon climb?

The balloon reaches heights of 1,500 meters, giving you a view of the karst peaks, rivers and farmland across the entire Yangshuo landscape.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my flight?

The flight is cancelled and you receive a full refund. You keep your hotel pickup and driver for the morning or evening, but the balloon does not go up.

Will I be alone in the balloon basket?

You may share the balloon with other passengers during the flight, but your private car and English-speaking driver stay with you for the entire experience, including the transfer to and from your hotel.