Yao Mountain Tea Plantation Tour Guilin: Chairlift & Ceremony

Chairlift to a mountain ridge, then a tea ceremony in the hills

A private tour from Guilin that takes you by chairlift to the top of Yao Mountain for views of limestone hills and villages, then to a working tea plantation where you participate in a traditional green tea ceremony. Your guide speaks English, meets you at your hotel, and travels with you in an air-conditioned vehicle for the full five hours. Morning and afternoon departures are available, and children from age three are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Yao Mountain and Tea Plantation Tour

• Meet guide at Guilin hotel
• Visit Yao Mountain
• Tour tea plantation
• Sample green tea in ceremony

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your Guilin hotel. Your English-speaking guide meets you there and drives you to Yao Mountain in an air-conditioned vehicle. The chairlift carries you to the summit, where the misted limestone peaks and scattered villages below come into view. The mountain is open year-round, so the landscape shifts with the season: spring brings greener slopes, autumn clearer air.

After descending, you head to the tea plantation in the surrounding hills. Here the guide walks you through how Chinese green tea is grown and processed, then leads you through a traditional tea ceremony where you learn to brew and taste the tea yourself. This is not a rushed tasting. The ceremony is built into the tour's structure, so you have time to move through each step.

The whole outing runs five hours from start to finish. You can choose a morning departure or an afternoon one, depending on what fits the rest of your Guilin itinerary. Transport, the chairlift ticket, the guide, and the tea ceremony are all included. Gratuities are separate.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned transport.
• chairlift ticket to Yao Mountain's summit.
• English-speaking guide.
• traditional tea ceremony with green tea tasting at the plantation.

Options for this experience

2 options

Afternoon DepartureGuide in English · 13:00Tour departs at 1pm

Morning DepartureGuide in English · 09:00Tour departs at 9am

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 09:00 and 13:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 48 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by China Travel Depot

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want to start early and have the afternoon free afterward, or pick the afternoon slot if you're arriving in Guilin midday or prefer a later start. Either way, the private guide and vehicle mean you move at your own pace without waiting for other groups.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

Can I book this tour if I'm visiting Guilin for just one afternoon?

Yes. The afternoon departure option lets you fit the tour into a partial day. You'll be back at your hotel within five hours of pickup, so it works if you arrive midday or have an evening flight.

What is the chairlift ride like on Yao Mountain?

The chairlift carries you from the base to the ridge at the top. The ride itself is the main way to reach the summit, and the views open up as you ascend over the forested slopes and out across the valley below.

Do I need any experience to participate in the tea ceremony?

No. The guide teaches you how to brew and taste the tea as part of the ceremony, so you learn as you go. It's designed for first-timers and experienced tea drinkers alike.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Guilin, transport by air-conditioned vehicle, the chairlift ticket, your English-speaking guide for the full five hours, and the tea ceremony with green tea tasting are all included. Gratuities are not.