Li River Cruise Guilin to Yangshuo with Liu Sanjie Show

Karst peaks at every bend, then a 70-minute show on the river itself

A full-day tour from Guilin combines a 4-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo with the Impression Liu Sanjie night show, an outdoor performance staged on the water with 12 hills as backdrop. The boat departs at 9:20am and returns to Guilin around 10:30pm. You have four free hours in Yangshuo between the cruise and the 7:30pm show. Includes private car pickup from your hotel, lunch, a private guide in English or Chinese, and B2-tier show tickets. You can add a countryside tour option (cycling, scooter, hiking or cooking lesson) or upgrade to a premium show seat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. West Street4h
2. Impression Sanjie Liu1h 10m · entry included

Li River cruise and Liusanjie show

• Hotel pick-up in Guilin at 07:40am
• Travel to Zhujiang pier
• Board 4 star luxury boat for Li River cruise
• Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (approx. 4 hours)
• Pass by Yangdi Village, Mural Hill, Xianggong Mountain, Xingping Town
• Free time in Yangshuo for 4 hours
• Meet guide at Yangshuo West Street at 18:30
• Watch Impression Liu Sanjie show (70 minutes)
• Return to Guilin hotel around 22:30

The experience

Yangshuo sits at the end of a 4-hour cruise through some of southern China's most photographed landscape. The Li River winds through karst peaks that rise straight from the water: Mural Hill with its nine horses, Xianggong Mountain favored by photographers, the twin-peaked Yangdi Village behind you. The boat is a 4-star vessel with VIP seating available on the upper deck at the front (12 tickets per departure), where you look directly out over the river as it bends. A private guide travels with you and points out the named landmarks as they appear. Lunch is served on board.

After the cruise ends at 1:30pm, you have four hours free in Yangshuo. Most travelers spend it on West Street, the 1,400-year-old center of town now lined with cafes, shops and galleries: a mix of Chinese provincial architecture and international culture. You can rest, explore, or book one of the optional tours available at checkout: countryside cycling, scooter, hiking or a cooking lesson, each with its own ticket included if selected.

At 6:30pm your guide meets you at West Street and walks you to the Impression Liu Sanjie show. This is an outdoor theater built on the Li River itself, with 12 hills as the natural backdrop and the sky as the ceiling. The 70-minute performance uses songs, colored lighting, costumes and the water as a stage: a production that changes with the season and weather since it plays against live scenery. The show runs from 7:30pm to 8:40pm, then you return to your Guilin hotel by around 10:30pm.

What’s included

• Private car pickup from your Guilin hotel at 7:40am.
• 4-star boat ticket for the Li River cruise.
• lunch on board.
• private guide in English or Chinese.
• B2-tier Impression Liu Sanjie show tickets.
• return transfer to your hotel after the show.

Options for this experience

7 options

Liusanjie Show onlyGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Cruise and show only: after the cruise and before the show, you'll have a four-hour rest on Yangshuo West Street, or go back to your hotel in Yangshuo. You'll be picked up from your hotel in Guilin and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

Countryside tour by bicycleGuide in English or Chinese · 07:40Cycling in Yangshuo: a two-hour bike ride, the best and most economical way to see the karst mountains and villages. Buffet lunch is served onboard. Cruise, cycling and show: after the cruise, you'll ride bikes through the Yangshuo countryside along the Yulong River, then catch the show later. You'll be picked up from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

Countryside tour on footGuide in English or Chinese · 07:40Hiking in Yangshuo: a two-hour hike, whether along the river, in the mountains or through the villages, where Yangshuo's scenery is most enchanting. Buffet lunch is served onboard. Cruise, hiking and show: after the cruise, you'll head to the Yulong River area and hike for about two hours before catching the show. You'll be picked up from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

See 4 more options

Countryside tour by scooterGuide in English or Chinese · 07:40E-scooter ride: a two-hour ride on an e-scooter, the best and quickest way to see the karst mountains and villages in Yangshuo. Buffet lunch is served onboard. Cruise, scooter tour and show: after the cruise, you'll head to the countryside or Yulong River area for the scooter tour before catching the show. You'll be picked up from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

Cooking lesson includedGuide in English or Chinese · 07:40Cooking lesson: a three-hour class that includes a market tour, where you learn to cook authentic Chinese food in a traditional setting. Lunch is served onboard, and the dishes you cook can be your dinner. Cruise, cooking and show: after the cruise, you'll take a three-hour cooking lesson in Yangshuo, then catch the show later. You'll be picked up from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

Yulong bamboo boat includedGuide in English or Chinese · 07:40Yulong bamboo raft: drifting along the Yulong River lets you take in the natural scenery as well as ancient villages and stone bridges. The raft ride itself lasts 35 minutes, but the whole trip takes two hours including travel time. Buffet lunch is served onboard. Cruise, bamboo raft and show: after the cruise and before the show, you'll head to the Yulong bamboo raft. Each raft holds two people, and children under 5 and adults over 70 cannot ride. Pickup is included.

Xianggong Hill includedGuide in English or Chinese · 07:40Xianggong Hill: located in the Li River area, this hill offers a wonderful panoramic view of the Li River valley from its summit. You'll spend about 35 minutes on the mountain, but the round-trip transfer brings the total to two and a half hours. Buffet lunch is served onboard. Cruise, Xianggong Hill and show: after the cruise, we'll visit Xianggong Hill in Yangshuo before the show, and the climb involves 400 steps. You'll be picked up 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 07:40 and 08:00

Book up to8h 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.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the Li River's most famous peaks and end the day with a large-scale outdoor performance: the four-hour gap between the cruise and the show gives you time to rest or add a countryside activity like cycling or hiking. If you prefer to skip the evening show and spend more time exploring Yangshuo, the river cruise alone can be booked as a separate option.

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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 is the Impression Liu Sanjie show like?

Impression Liu Sanjie is a 70-minute outdoor performance staged on the Li River itself, using the water as a stage and 12 hills as the backdrop. It combines songs, colored lighting, costumes and music. Because it plays against live scenery, the show looks different depending on the season and weather conditions on the night you attend.

Can I add a countryside activity to this tour?

Yes, at checkout you can choose to add a countryside tour option: cycling, scooter, hiking, or a cooking lesson. If you select one, its ticket is included and you do the activity during your four free hours in Yangshuo between the river cruise and the evening show.

How long is the Li River cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four hours, departing Guilin at 9:20am and arriving in Yangshuo at 1:30pm. The boat passes named landmarks including Mural Hill, Xianggong Mountain and Yangdi Village along the way.

Is there a better seat option on the boat?

VIP seating is available on the upper deck at the front of the boat in a slightly enclosed area, with direct views out over the river ahead. Only 12 VIP tickets are available per departure. Ask about availability and pricing when you book.

What happens during the four free hours in Yangshuo?

You have time to rest and explore Yangshuo after the river cruise ends at 1:30pm and before your guide meets you at 6:30pm. Most visitors spend it on West Street, the town's historic center with shops, cafes and galleries, or you can book a countryside activity (cycling, scooter, hiking or cooking) if you select that option at checkout.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes, a current valid passport is required on the day of travel. You'll also need to provide the first and last name and passport number for each traveler when you book.