Xianggong Hill sunrise tour from Guilin: Bamboo boat included

Climb Xianggong Hill before dawn and watch the sunrise paint the river valley

A half-day private tour departing from Guilin or Yangshuo hotels at 4am, climbing Xianggong Hill to catch the sunrise over the Lijiang River, then floating a bamboo boat down the Yulong River for an hour. Your guide speaks English or Chinese, and the tour includes hotel pickup, entrance tickets, the bamboo boat, and an air-conditioned vehicle. The climb is 400 steps and takes 10–15 minutes. The boat holds two people per craft.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunrise at Xianggong Hill and Bamboo Boat Ride

• Meet driver at hotel lobby early morning
• Drive to Xianggong Hill (50 minutes)
• Watch sunrise and photograph scenery
• Drive to Yulong River (30 minutes)
• Enjoy 60-minute bamboo boat ride

The experience

You'll be picked up at your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel between 4:00 and 4:30am, then driven to Xianggong Hill. 50 minutes from Yangshuo, 90 minutes from Guilin. The mountain sits on the west bank of the Lijiang River, wedged between Huangbu Shoal and Nine-Horse Mural Hill, and photographers have been drawn here for decades by the light, shadow, and sea of clouds that gather at sunrise. A bronze-medal photograph from an international exhibition was shot on this peak. You'll climb the 400 steps to the summit (10–15 minutes on foot) and watch the morning glow break across the river as it winds through the karst landscape below.

After sunrise, you'll drive 30 minutes to the Yulong River, known locally as the Little Li River. This tributary of the Li River flows through dramatic karst terrain, silky water, and ancient bridges. You'll board a bamboo boat, two people per craft, for a 60-minute float downriver. The boat is included in your tour package, though if any passenger weighs more than 160kg, an extra ticket must be purchased on the day. Children under 5 years old or under 90cm tall, and adults over 70, cannot ride the bamboo boat due to safety limits.

Your private guide speaks English or Chinese and travels with you throughout. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and all entrance tickets and the bamboo boat are covered. The total tour runs about five hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Private car and private guide in English or Chinese.
• hotel pickup from Guilin or Yangshuo.
• entrance tickets to Xianggong Hill.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• one bamboo boat ticket per two passengers on the Yulong River.

Options for this experience

2 options

Starts from a hotel in YangshuoGuide in English or Chinese · 04:30Pickup and drop-off at your Yangshuo hotel is included

Starts from a hotel in GuilinGuide in English or Chinese · 04:00Pickup from your Guilin hotel is included, with drop-off at a Guilin hotel, the airport or the train station, or at a Yangshuo hotel

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 04:00 and 04:30

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (5 to 69 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Book the Guilin departure if you're based in the city and want to start early. Book Yangshuo if you're staying there and prefer a shorter drive before dawn. Either way, the 4am start is what puts you on the summit as the light breaks, and the private guide means you move at your own pace through both the climb and the boat ride.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can I book this tour if I'm staying in Guilin city instead of Yangshuo?

Yes. Hotel pickup is included from either Guilin or Yangshuo. You choose your departure point when booking. Pickup from Guilin hotels begins at 4:00am and takes about 90 minutes to reach Xianggong Hill, while Yangshuo pickup is at 4:30am and takes 50 minutes.

What is Xianggong Hill and why do photographers go there?

Xianggong Hill overlooks the Lijiang River winding through karst peaks and is famous for the light, shadow, sea of clouds, and morning glow at sunrise. A photograph taken here won a bronze medal at an international photography exhibition, and the mountain attracts photographers every year for these conditions.

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

The ascent is 400 steps and takes 10–15 minutes on foot. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. The climb is suitable for all other fitness levels.

What happens on the Yulong River part of the tour?

The Yulong River, a tributary of the Li River, flows through dramatic karst landscape and ancient bridges. You'll float on a bamboo boat for 60 minutes with one other person per boat. Children under 5 years old or under 90cm tall, and adults over 70, cannot ride due to safety limits.

Do I need to pay anything extra on the day of the tour?

No, unless a passenger weighs more than 160kg. The tour package includes one bamboo boat ticket per two people. If anyone exceeds 160kg, an additional boat ticket must be purchased on the day.