Li River Cruise Guilin to Yangshuo with Xianggong Hill

Four hours on the Li River watching karst peaks rise at every bend.

A full-day private tour from Guilin combining a four-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo with an afternoon visit to Xianggong Hill, a karst peak offering panoramic views of the river and surrounding mountains. The tour includes hotel pickup, a private guide in English or Chinese, boat ticket, lunch, and entry to Xianggong Hill. You choose between a three-star or four-star boat, which determines your lunch style. The 450-step climb to the hilltop takes roughly 40 minutes and rewards you with the vantage point that made the location famous among photographers.

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 sightseeing

• Pickup from Guilin hotel at 8:00 AM
• Travel to Zhujiang pier
• Board Li River cruise boat
• Enjoy 4-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo
• Pass by Yangdi Village
• Pass by Mural Hill (Nine Horses Fresco Hill)
• Pass by Xingping Town
• Visit Yangshuo West Street for 30 minutes
• Drive 40 minutes to Xianggong Hill
• Climb 450 steps to top of Xianggong Hill

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Guilin hotel at 8:00 am, followed by a drive to Zhujiang pier where you board the cruise boat at 9:30 am. The four-hour journey downriver to Yangshuo is the core of the tour: the Li River cuts through a landscape of dramatic karst peaks that shift and recombine as the boat moves, each bend revealing a new formation. Water buffaloes stand in shallow fields, farmers work rice paddies, and bamboo rafts drift past carrying fishermen or schoolchildren. The boat passes Yangdi Village, Mural Hill (also called Nine Horses Fresco Hill for the weathered rock formations that resemble nine horses in various poses), and Xingping Town, a Ming Dynasty settlement that was once the largest town along the river. Your guide narrates the route and points out the landmarks. Lunch is served on board, either a box lunch on the three-star boat or a buffet on the four-star option.

After arriving in Yangshuo around 1:30 pm, you spend 30 minutes on West Street, the oldest street in the town and now a cultural crossroads where traditional architecture meets shops, cafes and galleries. The street is 517 meters long, paved in marble, and lined with Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. From there, the drive to Xianggong Hill takes about 40 minutes. The climb itself is 450 steps to the summit, where you stand above the Li River valley with karst mountains rising on all sides: the view that won a local photographer a bronze prize in an international contest and turned this obscure hill into a destination for photographers and travelers seeking the best panorama of the region.

Your private guide travels with you throughout the day and speaks either English or Chinese. The air-conditioned vehicle is yours alone, and all boat tickets, lunch, Xianggong Hill entry and the guide's services are included. The tour ends in late afternoon once you descend from the hill.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at 8:00 am and return transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• private guide in English or Chinese for the full day.
• four-hour Li River cruise with boat ticket (three-star or four-star, your choice).
• lunch on board (box lunch or buffet depending on boat selection).
• 30-minute stop on West Street in Yangshuo.
• entry ticket to Xianggong Hill and the 450-step climb to the summit viewpoint.

Options for this experience

2 options

Includes the 3-star boatGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00The 3-star boat accommodates up to 100 people, and its interior facilities and overall cleanliness are at a reasonable standard. Duration: 8 hours. Lunch: a boxed lunch served on the 3-star boat. Xianggong Hill: after the cruise, you will travel to Xianggong Hill (a 40-minute drive, then 400 steps to climb). Pickup location: you will be collected from your Guilin hotel and dropped off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup is included.

Includes the 4-star boatGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00The 4-star boat holds up to 80 people, offers good facilities and overall cleanliness, and has larger, comfortable seats. Duration: 8 hours. Lunch: buffet-style Chinese lunch served on the 4-star boat. Xianggong Hill: after the cruise, you will travel to Xianggong Hill (a 40-minute drive, then 400 steps to climb). 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 dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to8h 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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Book the three-star boat if you prefer a simpler lunch and lower cost. Choose the four-star boat if you want a more substantial buffet meal during the cruise. Either way, the private guide and vehicle mean you move at your own pace without waiting for a group, and the afternoon climb to Xianggong Hill is timed to finish before evening, leaving your night free in Yangshuo or back in Guilin.

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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.

How long is the actual time spent on the Li River cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four hours, departing Zhujiang pier at 9:30 am and arriving in Yangshuo around 1:30 pm. During this time the boat moves downriver, passing Yangdi Village, Mural Hill and Xingping Town while you watch the karst landscape unfold.

What's the difference between the three-star and four-star boat options?

Both boats follow the same four-hour route on the Li River. The three-star boat includes a box lunch, while the four-star boat offers a buffet lunch on board. The choice affects only your meal service. The scenery and stops are identical.

Is there time to explore Yangshuo beyond West Street?

West Street is the only Yangshuo stop on this itinerary, and you spend 30 minutes there after the cruise ends. The afternoon is reserved for the drive to and climb up Xianggong Hill.

How difficult is the climb to the top of Xianggong Hill?

The ascent involves 450 steps and takes roughly 40 minutes. The climb is steady but manageable for most fitness levels. The reward is a panoramic view of the Li River valley and surrounding karst mountains from the summit.

What should I bring for this tour?

Bring your passport (the operator needs first and last name and passport numbers for each traveler). Wear comfortable walking shoes for the 450-step climb and West Street exploration. The vehicle is air-conditioned, but bring sun protection and water for the hilltop visit.