Li River cruise and Yangshuo tour with private guide

Spend a full day on the Li River, then pick how you explore Yangshuo

A full-day private tour from Guilin that starts with a cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo, where you then choose from eight different activities: cycling through paddy fields, a bamboo boat ride on the Yulong River, sunset at Xianggong Hill, or a cooking lesson. The guide speaks English or Chinese, the boat includes lunch, and hotel pickup is part of the package.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Li River4h · entry included
2. West Street30m
3. Yangshuo Parkpassing by
4. Yulong River40m
5. Yulong Bridge10m

Li River cruise and Yangshuo sightseeing

• Pick up from hotel in Guilin
• Board Li River cruise to Yangshuo
• Enjoy scenic views along Li River
• Arrive in Yangshuo and rest briefly
• Visit West Street in Yangshuo
• Bike through Yangshuo countryside

The experience

Hotel pickup in the morning takes you to Zhujiang Pier, where you board a 3-star boat for the cruise down the Li River. The eight-hour day begins on the water: you drift past karst peaks, bamboo groves, rice fields and small villages, watching water buffalo wade in the shallows and fishermen cast nets. The boat passes Mural Hill (also called Nine Horses Fresco Hill), a steep stone cliff on the west bank whose weathered rocks in yellow, white, black and grey look like painted horses from a distance. Xingping Town, an ancient settlement 63 kilometers from Guilin, sits on the east bank surrounded by the same dramatic scenery. Lunch is served on board.

Once you reach Yangshuo town, you choose one of eight activities for the afternoon. The cycling option takes you through paddy fields and orchards in the countryside around the mountains, giving a look at rural life. The Yulong River bamboo boat ride, also called the Little Li River, follows a 43-kilometer stretch known for its scenic views along each bank. Xianggong Hill and Cuiping Hill both offer sunset views. Xianggong became famous after a local photographer won an international prize for pictures taken from its peak. The Fisherman Sunset option lets you watch traditional fishing methods at dusk. West Street, the oldest street in Yangshuo with over 1,400 years of history, is a 517-meter marble-paved lane lined with shops and cafes where you can walk for 30 minutes. Yangshuo Park, covering 230,000 square meters with bamboo groves and Double Moon Stream running through it, offers a quieter alternative. A cooking lesson rounds out the options if you want to learn to make local dishes.

Your private guide speaks English or Chinese throughout the day. The boat ticket, lunch, and the costs of whichever Yangshuo activity you pick are all included. The only extra charge is if your group weighs more than 160 kilograms total on the bamboo boat, in which case you buy one additional bamboo boat ticket yourself. Hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. Bring your passport.

What’s included

• The private car and private guide in English or Chinese.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• the 3-star boat ticket and lunch on board.
• the costs of your chosen Yangshuo activity with all related tickets.
• a 30-minute visit to West Street if you select that option.

Options for this experience

8 options

Cycling through the countryside, plus a cruiseGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Yangshuo cycling: Biking is the best and most affordable way to take in the karst mountains and villages in Yangshuo. Duration: 2 hours. Cruise + cycling: After the cruise tour, hop on a bike and enjoy a lovely ride through the scenic Yangshuo countryside. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Sunset on Cuiping Hill, combined with a cruiseGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Cuiping Hill sunset: From the hilltop you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the striking karst landscape, making it the best spot to watch the sunset. Duration: 1 hour. The climb to the top of the hill takes 15 minutes and involves around 500 steps. Cruise + Cuiping Hill sunset: After the cruise tour, you will spend 2 hours in the West Street area, then at 4 pm head to Cuiping Hill to catch the sunset. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

A cruise and a sunset with the fishermenGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Fisherman sunset: Hire a fisherman for a show, where he works with you in natural light on his bamboo raft, casting his net and fishing. Duration: 1 hour. The sunset show lasts about one hour and the drive from Yangshuo takes 40 minutes. Cruise + fisherman sunset: After the cruise tour, you will have 2.5 hours of free time in Yangshuo West Street before traveling to Xingping to watch the sunset. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

See 5 more options

A scooter tour alongside a cruiseGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00E-scooter ride: Riding an e-scooter is the best and quickest way to explore the karst mountains and villages of Yangshuo. Duration: 2 hours. Cruise + scooter: After the cruise tour, you will ride a scooter or moped on a lovely tour through the scenic Yangshuo countryside. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

A cruise including a visit to Xianggong HillGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Xianggong Hill: Located in the Li River area, this hill offers a panoramic view over the Li River valley from its summit. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. About 35 minutes are spent in the mountains, but the full trip takes 2 hours including the round-trip transfer. Cruise + Xianggong Hill: After the cruise tour, you will head to Xianggong Hill, a 40-minute drive from Yangshuo. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Cruise and Liusanjie light showGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Impression Liu Sanjie: A nighttime show blending music, light, ethnic songs and dances, with the river and hills serving as the stage and backdrop. Duration: 1 hour. The show runs for one hour, starting at 19:30, with pickup at 18:30 and return to your Yangshuo hotel at 21:20 or your Guilin hotel at 22:30. Cruise + show (B2 ticket): After the cruise, you will rest on Yangshuo West Street for 4 hours, or check in at your hotel in Yangshuo if you stay there. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

A cooking lesson paired with a cruiseGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Cooking lesson: The Yangshuo cooking lesson lets you learn to prepare authentic Chinese dishes in a traditional setting. Duration: 3 hours, including a market tour. Dinner: After the lesson, the dishes you cooked can be your dinner. Cruise + cooking: After the cruise, you will take a cooking lesson in Yangshuo that lasts 3 hours. Pickup location: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

A cruise along with a bamboo boat ride on the YulongGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Yulong bamboo boat: Drifting down the Yulong River, you will enjoy beautiful natural scenery and discover ancient villages and stone bridges. Duration: 30 minutes. The Yulong bamboo boat ride lasts 35 minutes, but the full trip takes 2 hours including travel time. Cruise + bamboo boat: After the cruise, you will head to the Yulong bamboo boat. About the bamboo boat: Each boat holds 2 people, but children under 5 years and adults over 70 years cannot ride the bamboo boat. 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 timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (under 5): free

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.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Choose the bamboo boat ride on the Yulong River if you want to paddle through the same karst landscape you saw from the main boat but up close and under your own pace; pick the cycling tour if you want to get off the main tourist route and see how people actually live in the countryside around the mountains; select a sunset activity if your afternoon is free and you want to stay until the light changes the peaks' colors.

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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 (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is Mural Hill and why does it look like nine horses?

Mural Hill, located on the west bank of the Li River near Xingping Town about 60 kilometers from Guilin, is a large steep stone cliff made up of five peaks and weathered rocks in yellow, white, black, grey and green. From a distance, the mottled cliff face resembles a huge painted screen with images of nine horses in various poses.

Can I really choose which Yangshuo activity I want after the river cruise?

Yes. You pick one of eight options at checkout: countryside cycling, a Yulong bamboo boat ride, sunset views from Xianggong Hill or Cuiping Hill, a fisherman sunset experience, a walk through West Street, time in Yangshuo Park, or a cooking lesson. The cost of whichever you choose is included in the tour price.

What's included in the boat ticket and what do I need to bring?

The 3-star boat ticket and lunch on board are included. Bring a valid passport with you on the day of travel, as you'll need it. If your group weighs more than 160 kilograms total, you'll need to purchase one additional bamboo boat ticket for the Yulong River activity.

How long is the full day and when does it start?

The tour runs for eight hours total. Hotel pickup happens in the early morning, and you begin the Li River cruise from Zhujiang Pier. After reaching Yangshuo and having lunch on the boat, you spend the afternoon on your chosen activity before the day ends.

What is West Street in Yangshuo and why would I visit it?

West Street is the oldest street in Yangshuo, with over 1,400 years of history. The 517-meter marble-paved lane winds through the center of town and is lined with shops, cafes and galleries. Since the 1980s it has become a cultural crossroads where about 100,000 foreign visitors come each year, drawn by its mix of traditional architecture and international atmosphere.