The China Route
Southern Gateway: Guangzhou, Guilin and Yangshuo in 8 Days: Guangzhou, Guilin, Yangshuo
The southern gateway route

Southern Gateway: Guangzhou, Guilin and Yangshuo in 8 Days

Updated · By Carl

8 days Easy 3 cities Autumn Relaxed

Trip facts

Duration
8 days
Difficulty
Easy
Pace
Relaxed
Best season
Autumn
Budget
Mid-range
Cities on this route
3 cities

Cantonese cuisine, karst peaks and lazy river cycling combine in this relaxed trio of southern cities.

Overview

Who it is for

This route suits travellers who want outdoor scenery without strenuous trekking, paired with accessible city culture and excellent food. Guangzhou offers deep Cantonese dim sum tradition and colonial architecture on Shamian Island, while Guilin and Yangshuo deliver the karst landscapes and river valleys that define southern China's visual identity. Eight days gives you time to linger over long lunches, take an afternoon bike ride without rushing, and absorb the rhythm of small-town Yangshuo after the bustle of Guangzhou.

How the route flows

You start in Guangzhou, the commercial heart of Guangdong province and the easiest southern city to reach by international flight. After two days exploring its teahouses, markets and the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, you take a morning high-speed train northeast to Guilin. Guilin serves as the gateway to the Li River and the Longji Rice Terraces, both reachable as day trips. On day five you transfer south by bus to Yangshuo, a small town on the Li River surrounded by karst peaks and rice paddies. You spend three nights cycling village lanes, taking cooking classes and drifting down the Yulong River on bamboo rafts before returning to Guangzhou for your departure flight.

Getting around

The Guangzhou to Guilin leg uses the high-speed rail network, departing Guangzhou South station and arriving at Guilin West in 2h 40m for ¥168 second class. Guilin to Yangshuo is a 1h 20m coach ride for ¥25, departing every 20 minutes from Guilin bus station. Within Guangzhou, metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 connect all major sights for ¥2 to ¥6 per journey. In Yangshuo, rented bicycles cost ¥20 per day and electric scooters ¥40 per day, allowing you to reach every rural sight without a guide.

Route highlights

  • ◆Stroll the Cantonese teahouses and night markets of Shamian Island and Beijing Road in Guangzhou.
  • ◆Cruise the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo past conical limestone karst peaks and bamboo groves.
  • ◆Cycle the Yulong River valley and Moon Hill loop on Yangshuo's flat village lanes.
  • ◆Walk the terraced slopes of Longji Rice Terraces in Ping'an village north of Guilin.
  • ◆Sample steamed dim sum at Guangzhou Restaurant and roast goose at Yung Kee Restaurant in central Guangzhou.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Day 1 · Guangzhou

    Arrive in Guangzhou

    Land at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and take metro Line 3 south to Zhujiang New Town station, a 45-minute ride costing ¥7. Check in, then walk west along the Pearl River embankment to Haixinsha Park for open views of the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House. Dinner at Bingsheng Mansion on Jiangnan Avenue West serves Cantonese roast meats and clay-pot rice for ¥60 per person.

    Stay: 3 nights, Tianhe district near Zhujiang New Town station (Line 3 and APM line).
  2. 2
    Day 2 · Guangzhou

    Shamian Island and dim sum

    Take metro Line 1 to Huangsha station, then walk 10 minutes south to Shamian Island, a tree-lined colonial enclave with neoclassical banks and consulates from the 1920s. The island loop takes 90 minutes. Cross the bridge north to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street for street snacks and fabric shops. Lunch at Guangzhou Restaurant on Wenchang South Road serves steamed shrimp dumplings and char siu buns for ¥80 per person, entry via the ground-floor takeaway counter or second-floor dining hall.

    Stay: Tianhe district near Zhujiang New Town station.
  3. 3
    Day 3 · Guangzhou to Guilin

    Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and north to Guilin

    Take metro Line 1 to Chen Clan Academy station and visit the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a Qing-dynasty complex with carved roof ridges and ceramic figurines, entry ¥10, open 08:30 to 17:30. The courtyards and exhibition halls require 90 minutes. Return to Zhujiang New Town, collect your bags and take metro Line 3 and Line 2 south to Guangzhou South station, allowing 50 minutes. Board the 13:30 G-series train to Guilin West, arriving 16:10, second class ¥168.

    Travel: High-speed train Guangzhou South to Guilin West, 2h 40m, second class ¥168.
    Stay: 3 nights, Xiangshan district near Guilin railway station (south of Shan Lake).
  4. 4
    Day 4 · Guilin

    Li River cruise to Yangshuo

    Take a taxi to Zhujiang Pier, 30 minutes south of the city, departing 08:00 for the ¥215 Li River cruise to Yangshuo. The four-hour journey passes Nine Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal, limestone towers reflected in shallow green water. Disembark at Yangshuo pier around noon. Walk 15 minutes north along Pantao Road to West Street, the pedestrian spine lined with cafes and guesthouses. Lunch at Lucy's on West Street serves beer fish and stir-fried greens for ¥50 per person.

    Stay: Guilin, Xiangshan district near railway station.
  5. 5
    Day 5 · Guilin

    Longji Rice Terraces day trip

    Take bus 301 from Guilin railway station square to Qintan bus station, 40 minutes, ¥2. Board the 09:00 coach to Ping'an village, 2h 30m, ¥50. The terraced rice paddies climb from 300m to 1,100m elevation, carved into the hillside over 700 years. Walk the stone-step trails linking Ping'an and Jinkeng viewpoints, a loop taking three hours with moderate elevation gain. Return bus departs 15:30, arriving Guilin 18:00. Dinner at Chongshan Rice Noodle near the station serves Guilin rice noodles for ¥15 per bowl.

    Stay: Guilin, Xiangshan district near railway station.
  6. 6
    Day 6 · Guilin to Yangshuo

    Transfer to Yangshuo

    Take a taxi to Guilin bus station, 20 minutes north of the railway station. Board the 10:00 coach to Yangshuo, 1h 20m, ¥25, arriving at Yangshuo South bus station. Taxi or shared minibus to West Street, 10 minutes, ¥10. Check in, then rent a bicycle from your guesthouse for ¥20 per day. Cycle south on Guanlian Road to Moon Hill, a 50-minute ride through rice paddies and banana groves. Climb the 800 stone steps to the arch for sunset views, entry ¥15.

    Travel: Coach Guilin to Yangshuo, 1h 20m, ¥25.
    Stay: 3 nights, Yangshuo town centre near West Street.
  7. 7
    Day 7 · Yangshuo

    Yulong River bamboo rafting

    Cycle 30 minutes west on Yulong Road to Yulong Bridge, a 600-year-old stone arch over the Yulong River. Hire a bamboo raft at the Yulong Bridge dock for ¥120 per raft (seats two), drifting 90 minutes downstream to Gongnong Bridge past water buffalo and farmhouses. Walk or cycle back along the riverside trail. Lunch at Famer's Trading Restaurant in Baisha village serves beer fish and pumpkin pancakes for ¥60 per person, 10 minutes south of Gongnong Bridge.

    Stay: Yangshuo town centre near West Street.
  8. 8
    Day 8 · Yangshuo to Guangzhou

    Countryside cycling and depart

    Cycle north from town on Shili Gallery Road, a flat 10km loop past karst peaks and vegetable plots, returning by late morning. Pack and take a shared minibus or taxi to Yangshuo South bus station, 10 minutes, ¥10. Board the 13:00 coach to Guilin, 1h 20m, ¥25. Transfer at Guilin bus station to metro Line 1 extension (scheduled completion mid-2026) or taxi to Guilin West railway station, 25 minutes. Take the 16:00 G-series train to Guangzhou South, arriving 18:40, second class ¥168. Metro Line 3 north to Baiyun Airport takes 50 minutes for ¥7.

    Travel: Coach Yangshuo to Guilin, 1h 20m, ¥25. High-speed train Guilin West to Guangzhou South, 2h 40m, second class ¥168.
    Stay: Depart Guangzhou or overnight near Baiyun Airport if early morning flight.

Cities on this route

Guangzhou
Best in autumn 3 to 5 days

Guangzhou

Explore
Guilin
Best in spring 3 to 4 days

Guilin

Explore
Yangshuo
Best in autumn 3 to 4 days

Yangshuo

Explore

Frequently asked questions

How much does the high-speed train from Guangzhou to Guilin cost?
Second class seats on the direct G-series train run ¥168 for the 2h 40m journey. First class costs ¥268. Book via 12306.cn or Trip.com at least three days ahead.
Is Yangshuo better reached by bus or train from Guilin?
The bus is faster and simpler. Direct coaches depart Guilin bus station every 20 minutes for ¥25, taking 1h 20m. The train to Yangshuo station requires a 30-minute onward shuttle into town.
Do I need to book Li River cruises in advance?
Yes. The standard Guilin to Yangshuo cruise costs ¥215 and sells out in high season. Book via the official Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel website or through your hotel three to five days ahead.
What is the best time of year to visit this route?
Late September through November brings clear skies, low humidity and stable weather for river cruises and cycling. Spring (April to May) works but expect occasional heavy rain that disrupts outdoor plans.
Can I do Longji Rice Terraces as a day trip from Guilin?
Yes. Direct buses from Guilin Qintan bus station leave at 08:00 and 09:00 for Ping'an village, taking 2h 30m and costing ¥50. Return buses depart at 15:30 and 17:00, allowing four hours on site.