2-DAY Guilin Rice Terraces, Li River Cuise, YangShuo Leisure Tour

Longji’s Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces and the Li River’s limestone peaks give you two very different sides of Guilin in only two days. One day is about mountain farming and Yao minority culture; the next follows the river toward Yangshuo, with high views from Xianggong Mountain and quiet country roads beside Yulong River.

I like the private format, since your group of up to six can move at its own pace in an air-conditioned vehicle. I also like the helpful guide team, with Jerry arranging service and guides such as Sundy, Jacky, Mike, and Molly handling tours when needed. The main drawback is that entrance tickets, meals, and the raft cost extra, so the advertised price is not the full cost.

Key points at a glance

• Longji in one full day: Allow about two hours each way from central Guilin, plus time among the terraces and at Huang Luo Yao minority village.
• A flexible Li River option: The standard electric bamboo raft takes about an hour from Yangdi Pier to Nine Horses Hill dock, or you can request a four-hour luxury cruise instead.
• A private group of up to six: You avoid a large coach and can discuss adjustments with your guide and driver.
• Three very different Yangshuo views: Xianggong Mountain gives you a high panorama, while Yulong River offers bridges, fields, walking, and cycling.
• Extra costs matter: Budget CN¥280 per person for the listed Longji, Xianggong Mountain, and bamboo raft fees, before meals and any luxury-cruise upgrade.
• Good for a compact Guilin visit: This combines mountain scenery, river scenery, rural views, and Yangshuo’s West Street in two busy but useful days.

Two days that show Guilin from several angles

This private Guilin tour works because it avoids choosing between the famous rice terraces and the Li River. Many short visits force you to pick one. Here you get Longji on the first day, then the river and Yangshuo on the second.

The pace is active. Day one is a full-day outing with a long drive to the terraces. Day two begins later, at about 9:30 a.m., but still includes a boat ride, a mountain viewpoint, and the Yulong River area. You’ll see a lot, though this is not a slow retreat.

Your English-speaking guide and driver provide the transport and day-to-day help. The tour is private, so your party alone takes part. That makes the arrangement useful for families, couples, or friends who want to ask for a change without waiting for a coach group.

Jerry’s service also has a team approach. Jerry may organize the trip while another guide handles one of the days. Sundy, Jacky, Mike, and Molly are among the guides connected with the service, and the available feedback repeatedly highlights patient, careful assistance and smooth driving. If a particular guide matters to you, ask about availability before booking.

Day one: Longji’s terraces and Yao culture

The first morning begins with pickup at your hotel in central Guilin. The stated pickup time is around 8:30 a.m., while the general meeting information lists 8:00 a.m., so confirm the exact time after booking.

The drive to the entrance of the Longji Rice Terraces takes about two hours. That is a real part of the day, not a minor transfer. You should be ready for a long outing, but the payoff is a dramatic change from Guilin’s city streets to steep mountain fields shaped by generations of farming.

The first listed stop is Huang Luo Yao minority village. This gives the day a cultural point as well as a scenic one. The Yao connection helps explain that Longji is not simply a place for photographs. The terraces are working agricultural spaces tied to village life, and the setting lets you pair the views with a look at local culture.

The tour description allows about four hours for the Longji visit. The exact balance of village time, viewpoints, and walking can vary, which is one reason a private guide is useful. Tell your guide if you want more time for photographs, a steadier pace, or more attention to the cultural side.

The terraces change with the season, but the tour data does not promise a particular color or crop stage. Go for the shape of the hills and the scale of the farming rather than expecting one fixed postcard view. Your guide can help you make the most of the available stops, but you should still wear shoes suitable for uneven paths and be prepared for time outdoors.

Longji’s distance is both its strength and its weakness. The drive keeps this from being a quick add-on, yet it also takes you well beyond the central Guilin sights. If you have only one day in the area, this is a demanding choice. If you have two days and want more than city viewpoints, it earns its place.

Admission is not included. The listed rice terraces entrance fee is CN¥80 per person. Meals are also your responsibility, and no other food arrangements are specified, so ask your guide about the day’s meal timing.

Day two: Yangdi Pier and the Li River

The second day starts at about 9:30 a.m. at your hotel. From Guilin, you drive roughly an hour and a half to Yangdi Pier. This later start is welcome after the long first day, though the transfer still takes time.

At Yangdi, the standard plan uses an electric bamboo raft for about one hour. The route runs from Yangdi Pier to Nine Horses Hill dock, a section known for the pointed limestone formations that define the Li River around Guilin and Yangshuo.

The raft offers a more open, close-to-the-water view than a road transfer. You can watch the riverbanks pass at a gentle pace and see how the peaks rise directly from the water. The ride is short, so think of it as one well-chosen river section rather than a full-day cruise.

The electric raft ticket costs CN¥140 per person and is not included. This is an important price detail, especially for solo visitors or couples, since the per-person extras add up quickly.

If you do not want the electric bamboo raft, the operator can help change the plan to a four-hour luxury cruise ship. That gives you a longer river experience, but the supplied details do not state the upgrade price, departure details, or whether the rest of the schedule changes. Ask before paying if the cruise is your preferred option.

The private format is particularly useful here. One past arrangement changed the raft location to save time for a solo participant, showing that Jerry’s service can adjust the river plan when practical. Do not assume every request is possible, but it is worth asking before the tour.

Xianggong Mountain for the broadest view

After the river section, the drive to Xianggong Mountain takes about 20 minutes. The stop itself is planned for about 40 minutes, making it a compact viewpoint visit rather than a long mountain outing.

Xianggong Mountain is valued for its wide view over the Li River and the surrounding limestone peaks. After seeing the river from water level, you’ll see the same area from above. That contrast is one of the smartest parts of the two-day plan.

The entrance fee is CN¥60 per person and is not included. Forty minutes may be enough for the main view and photographs, but it leaves little room for a relaxed pace if the approach takes longer than expected. If views are your top priority, tell your guide early that you want to protect this stop.

This is also where weather matters most. The tour guarantees the visit, not a clear panorama. Mist or cloud can soften the view, so keep expectations sensible. The stop still adds variety to the day, but its value depends on visibility.

Yulong River and the country roads near Yangshuo

From Xianggong Mountain, the drive to Yulong River takes about 45 minutes. The visit lasts about an hour and focuses on scenic points near the river, including Fuli Ancient Bridge.

The Yulong River section has a different mood from the main Li River route. You’ll see rural scenery, rice fields, and traditional-looking bridges, with the option to walk or cycle toward Chaoyang Dam. The description specifically mentions taking a bike or hiking, but it does not state that bicycle rental is included, so confirm the arrangement if cycling is important to you.

I like this part because it keeps the day from becoming a chain of vehicle stops and formal viewpoints. Even a short walk or ride can give you a better feel for the countryside around Yangshuo. The one-hour allocation is brief, though, and you may need to choose between photographs, a walk, and a bicycle outing.

The plan also includes Yangshuo’s West Street pedestrian area. It is the livelier contrast to the fields and riverbanks, with time for a stroll through the town center. The supplied itinerary gives no exact duration for West Street, so clarify whether it is included as a final stop and how much time you’ll have there.

What the private vehicle changes

The price is $250 per group, for as many as six people. That is a different value calculation from a per-person group tour. With six people, the base cost works out to about $41.67 each before admissions and meals. With two people, it is $125 each before those extras, and a solo visitor pays the full group price unless the operator offers another arrangement.

The package includes an English-speaking guide and driver service plus an air-conditioned vehicle. That matters in Guilin, where the two-hour transfer to Longji and the 90-minute drive to Yangdi can make transport a major part of the day.

You also get control over the group. You can ask for more time at a viewpoint, discuss the pace at Yulong River, or request a different Li River boat option. The tour is not fully open-ended, since the distances and ticketed stops set limits, but it is more adaptable than a fixed coach schedule.

The tradeoff is that the base price does not cover the key tickets. The listed additions are:

• Longji entrance: CN¥80 per person
• Electric bamboo raft: CN¥140 per person
• Xianggong Mountain: CN¥60 per person

That totals CN¥280 per person before meals and any luxury-cruise change. Ask for the current total if the raft option changes, since the four-hour cruise price is not supplied.

Who will get the most from this trip

I would choose this tour if you want a broad first look at the Guilin area and prefer private transport. It suits a small group that values a driver, an English-speaking guide, and the ability to discuss changes as the days unfold.

It is also a good match for photographers and scenery seekers. You get terraces, river-level views, a high viewpoint, fields, bridges, and town streets rather than repeating the same type of stop.

Couples can use the two days well, and one booking describes the arrangement as part of a honeymoon visit. Families may also appreciate the private vehicle, especially when traveling with different energy levels, though the long drives and outdoor walking still require stamina.

I would think twice if you dislike long transfers or want a slow schedule. Day one includes about four hours on site but also about four hours of driving. Day two has less driving than day one, yet it packs several stops into a limited window.

This is not the best choice if every ticket must be included upfront. The extra fees are easy to understand, but they raise the actual cost. It is also worth confirming guide assignments, pickup time, and the exact West Street plan before you commit.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours subject to availability.

Should you book the Guilin rice terraces and Yangshuo tour?

Book it if you have two days, are staying in central Guilin, and want one private plan covering Longji, the Li River, Xianggong Mountain, Yulong River, and Yangshuo. The strongest reasons are the variety, the small-group transport, and the chance to adjust details with Jerry’s team.

Before booking, calculate the ticket costs for everyone in your group and decide between the electric raft and the four-hour luxury cruise. If you want a particular guide, more time at Xianggong Mountain, or a confirmed stop on West Street, ask in advance.

For a first visit, this is a useful two-day snapshot of the area. It is busy and includes substantial driving, but it gives you far more range than a single Guilin sightseeing day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. Day one is a full-day visit to Longji, while day two covers the Li River area, Xianggong Mountain, Yulong River, and Yangshuo.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to six people. Only your group participates.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from your hotel lobby in central Guilin. The stated day one pickup is 8:30 a.m., while the general meeting information lists 8:00 a.m. Day two pickup is listed at 9:30 a.m., so confirm the exact time after booking.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an English-speaking tour guide and driver service, plus an air-conditioned vehicle.

What costs extra?

The listed extra fees are CN¥140 per person for the electric bamboo raft, CN¥60 per person for Xianggong Mountain, and CN¥80 per person for the Longji Rice Terraces entrance. Meals and other items not mentioned are also excluded.

Can I take a luxury cruise instead of the bamboo raft?

Yes. The operator can help replace the electric bamboo raft with a four-hour luxury cruise ship. The price and exact arrangements for that change are not provided, so ask before booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.