Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo: 4-hour boat with lunch

Four hours on the Li River, lunch on board, then an hour wandering West Street

A full-day private tour from Guilin that combines a 4-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo with an English-speaking driver, boat guide, buffet lunch on board, and a visit to West Street. Your driver picks you up from your hotel around 7:45am, escorts you to the pier, and after the cruise ends at 2:00pm, you spend an hour exploring the oldest street in Yangshuo before transfer back to your hotel or to the airport or train station. Choose between a 3-star or 4-star boat depending on your preference.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Li River4h · entry included
2. West Street1h

Li River cruise and Yangshuo visit

• Driver picks you up from hotel
• Transfer to Zhujiang pier
• Board Li River cruise at 9:20am
• Enjoy 4-hour cruise with lunch on board
• Visit Yangshuo West Street for one hour
• Driver escorts to hotel or station

The experience

The morning starts with pickup from your Guilin hotel around 7:45am. Your English-speaking driver takes you to Zhujiang pier, where boarding begins at 9:20am. The cruise itself runs 4 hours, moving downriver through karst peaks, rolling hills, forests and villages. A boat guide travels with you, narrating the landscape as it unfolds. Lunch (a buffet or box meal of Chinese food) is served on board before you reach Yangshuo at 2:00pm.

After disembarking, you have an hour at West Street, the heart of Yangshuo's old town. The street is 517 meters long, paved in marble, and winds in an S-curve through the center. It dates back over 1,400 years and has become a meeting point of cultures since the 1980s, drawing roughly 100,000 foreign visitors annually. The mix of traditional courtyard architecture and shops makes it the most active district in town, though an hour gives you time to walk it without rushing.

At the end of the afternoon, your driver returns you to your Yangshuo hotel, or to your Guilin hotel, airport, or train station: whichever you arrange at booking. The whole day runs about 8 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver.
• boat ticket (3-star or 4-star, your choice).
• buffet or box Chinese lunch on board.
• boat guide during the cruise.
• hotel pickup in Guilin.

Options for this experience

2 options

Option with the 3-star boatGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Benefit of the 3-star boat: The boat's interior facilities and overall cleanliness are at a reasonable standard. Duration: a 4-hour boat trip from Guilin to Yangshuo, with 100 passengers on board. Lunch: boxed Chinese lunch served on board. Pickup location: you will be collected from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

Option with the 4-star boatGuide in English or Chinese · 07:30Benefit of the 4-star boat: The facilities and overall cleanliness are at a good standard, with larger, more comfortable seats and clean bathrooms. Duration: a 4-hour boat trip from Guilin to Yangshuo, with 80 passengers on board. Lunch: buffet-style Chinese lunch served on board. Pickup location: you will be collected from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. 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 dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): 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 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?The fixed 9:20am boarding and 2:00pm arrival in Yangshuo fit a full day into a single itinerary without early starts or late finishes. If you're staying in Guilin and want to see the Li River landscape without renting a car or navigating group tours, the private driver and included lunch make this a self-contained option.

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 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's the Li River cruise actually like during those 4 hours?

The Li River cruise moves through karst landscape: limestone peaks, forests, caves and small villages line both banks. A boat guide provides commentary throughout the journey. The boat carries other passengers, and lunch is served on board before arrival in Yangshuo at 2:00pm.

Can I choose between different boats, or is the boat type set?

You choose between a 3-star or 4-star boat at checkout. Both follow the same route and schedule. The difference is in the boat's amenities and comfort level.

What time does the driver pick me up, and where do I need to be?

Your driver picks you up from your hotel around 7:45am. Boarding at the pier starts at 9:20am, so the pickup time allows for the drive to Zhujiang pier.

Is West Street worth an hour, or should I skip it?

West Street is Yangshuo's oldest district and the most visited area in town. An hour is enough to walk the full 517-meter length, browse shops and cafes, and see the mix of traditional architecture and foreign-run businesses that define it. Whether to spend the time there is your choice, your driver can also take you directly back to your hotel if you prefer.

Where does the driver drop me off at the end of the day?

You can arrange drop-off at your Yangshuo hotel, your Guilin hotel, Guilin airport, or Guilin train station. Confirm your preferred destination when you book.