Li River Cruise Guilin to Yangshuo: Private Tour with Lunch

The river itself is the route: karst cliffs rise straight from the water at every bend.

A private Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with hotel pickup, professional guide, air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch on the boat. The cruise lasts approximately four hours, departing at 8:00 AM and ending around 4:00 PM with a 30-minute walk through West Street in Yangshuo. You can choose between a 4-star or 3-star boat. Both include the same route and inclusions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Li River4h · entry included
2. West Street30m
3. Yangshuo Parkpassing by

Li River cruise and Yangshuo visit

• Pickup from Guilin hotel at 8:00AM
• Travel to Zhujiang pier
• Board Li River cruise boat
• Enjoy 4-hour Li River cruise
• Stroll through downtown Yangshuo
• Visit Yangshuo West Street for 30 minutes
• Return to Guilin hotel by 4:00PM

The experience

Your day starts with pickup at your Guilin hotel at 8:00 AM. The drive takes you to Zhujiang pier, where you board the cruise boat at 9:30 AM. For the next four hours, the Li River is the whole experience: no stops, no getting off. The boat moves slowly enough that you watch the landscape change: Karst peaks rise straight from the water, water buffalo sprawl in the fields along the banks, fishermen work bamboo rafts, and school kids wave from the shore. The river is wide and calm, and the cliffs are close enough that you see the weathered rock face clearly. Mural Hill, also called Nine Horses Fresco Hill, appears on the west bank near Xingping Town: a steep stone cliff whose mottled surface of yellow, white, black, grey and green really does look like a painted screen with nine horses in different poses when you view it from the water.

Lunch is served on board during the cruise. The boat arrives back at the dock at 1:30 PM, and from there your guide takes you into downtown Yangshuo for a 30-minute walk down West Street, the oldest street in the town with a history of more than 1,400 years. It is 517 meters long, paved entirely in marble, and lined with a mix of traditional architecture and shops. Your guide drops you back at your hotel around 4:00 PM.

You choose between a 4-star boat and a 3-star boat at checkout. Both follow the same route and include the same guide, vehicle, and lunch. The private guide speaks English or Chinese depending on your preference. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in English or Chinese.
• air-conditioned private vehicle.
• boat ticket and lunch on the cruise.
• 30-minute walk through West Street in Yangshuo.

Options for this experience

2 options

3 Star BoatGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00The boat tour runs for 4 hours, and the whole day tour takes about 8 hours including travel time. A box lunch is served onboard. You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel, and pickup is included.

4 Star BoatGuide in English or Chinese · 07:30The boat tour runs for 4 hours, and the whole day tour takes about 8 hours including travel time. A buffet lunch is served onboard. You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel, and 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

Book up to11h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?The fixed schedule (pickup at 8:00 AM, cruise from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, return by 4:00 PM) fits a first afternoon or a free day in Guilin without eating into the next morning. The private guide and vehicle mean you move at one pace and stop only where your guide takes you, so you see the river without managing a group or a schedule change.

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 (5 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

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 exactly do you see on the Li River cruise between Guilin and Yangshuo?

The cruise passes karst peaks that rise straight from the water, water buffalo in the fields, bamboo rafts with fishermen, and Mural Hill near Xingping Town: a steep cliff face with weathered rocks in yellow, white, black, grey and green that resembles nine horses in various poses when viewed from the boat.

How long is the boat on the water, and what time does the day end?

The cruise lasts approximately four hours, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. After a 30-minute walk through West Street in Yangshuo, you are dropped back at your hotel around 4:00 PM.

Is lunch included, and when is it served?

Yes, lunch is included on the boat during the cruise.

What is the difference between the 4-star boat and the 3-star boat?

Both boats follow the same route, include the same guide and lunch, and depart at the same time. The difference is the boat's amenities and comfort level. You choose which one suits your preference at checkout.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes, pickup is at 8:00 AM from your Guilin hotel, and drop-off is around 4:00 PM after West Street.