Li River Tours: 10 Best Li River Cruise Tours, Guilin

The Li River, a stunning natural wonder, begins its journey in the Mao'er Mountains in Xing'an County, meandering elegantly for about 83 kilometers before it merges with the Xi River in Wuzhou. Nestled in the heart of Guangxi, the Li River is renowned for its awe-inspiring beauty. It's a world of towering limestone karst formations, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking landscapes that seem to be taken straight from a classic Chinese painting. The river's serene path unfolds a captivating panorama that will leave you utterly spellbound.

Li River Tours: Two Ways to Discover the Allure of the Li River

1. Cruising on its tranquil waters: The most classic route is a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. Spend about 4 hours floating leisurely on the pristine water, soaking in the ethereal beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
2. Exploring onshore of Li River: If you're looking for a more adventurous approach, explore the banks of the Li River in Xingping Town. This experience combines hiking, biking, bamboo rafting, and photography that captures the river's magnificence from various perspectives. To fully immerse yourself in the Li River's splendor, plan for a 1 to 2-day exploration.

Take Extended China Tours Featuring the Li River

Check our 10 best Li River cruise tours to plan your Guilin Li River tour. For a comprehensive experience, travelers are recommended to spend 3 to 5 days exploring Guilin, the Li River, Yangshuo, and the Longji Rice Terraces. If you wish to extend your trip further, consider 10 to 15-day vacation that includes other stunning destinations in China. Each tour can be tailored to your preferences, ensuring a travel experience based on your personal interests and desires.

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Classic Guilin Li River Tours with Cruise

Tour the Li River in the most classic and relaxing way! Indulge in the magic of a mesmerizing 4-hour Li River cruise, where every moment is a feast for the senses. As you glide along the tranquil waters, be prepared to have your breath taken away by the sheer magnificence of the surroundings. Towering limestone peaks, adorned with lush greenery, create a dramatic backdrop against the crystal-clear river, forming an artist's canvas come to life. The following are the 3 classic Li River tours that offer a great experience from Guilin to Yangshuo, combined with fantastic exploration of all the destinations.

3 Days Guilin Yangshuo Highlights Tour with Li River Cruise & Yulong River

Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

"East or West, Guilin’s Landscape is the best!" Guilin is featured in Karst landscape and how to explore it to the fullest? Take our 3 days Guilin Yangshuo CLASSIC tour to appreciate the typical Ka...

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4 Days Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terraces Classic Tour

Guilin - Longji - Yangshuo - Guilin

You may have appreciated the imperial palaces and zigzag magnificent Great Wall in Beijing, or marveled at the historical miracle Terracotta Warriors in Xian, how about coming to Guilin in the South...

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5 Days Guilin Yangshuo Longji Tour with Hiking in Longji Rice Terraces

Guilin - Longji Rice Terrace - Yangshuo - Guilin

Want to explore a typical Chinese painting-like landscape? Come to Guilin. Want to experience the beauty of the Chinese countryside? Yangshuo welcomes you. Interested in learning about China's agric...

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New Way to Tour Li River

Discover a new and exhilarating way to immerse yourself in the wonders of the Li River! You can capture the panoramic view of the Li River by hiking up to a Karst mountain on the banks, enjoying the painting-like scenery of Nine Horse Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal, and the scenery featured on the 20 Yuan banknote, as well as exploring the most charming place - Xingping Town.

Whether you seek the thrill of hiking, biking, or bamboo rafting, or the artistry of photography and painting, the Li River offers a plethora of activities to satiate your desires. Embark on a journey of stream tracing, kayak along the tranquil waters, or try your hand at SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) for a truly unique experience. Select your likes now!

Top China Tours with Guilin Li River Tours

Take a trip beyond the Li River itself and explore the wonders of China's most captivating destinations. We highly recommend taking comprehensive China tours that encompass other stunning destinations in a single trip. Explore the vibrant allure of Hong Kong, the panda’s hometown of Chengdu, the breathtaking landscapes of Zhangjiajie, the majestic Yangtze River, the historical wonders of Xian and Beijing, the mystical beauty of Tibet, or the dynamic energy of Shanghai. Our tour packages are all-inclusive and offered at the best prices, ensuring you have a seamless and unforgettable travel experience.

6 Days Guilin & Yangtze River Cruise Relaxing Scenic Tour

Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin - Chongqing - Yangtze - Yichang

China Cruise Tour

6 Days

6 Places

Want a scenic exploration? How about taking a relaxing cruise vacation in China? This 6-day China scenic cruise tour combines the enchanting destinations of Guilin, Yangshuo, and the Yangtze River, ...

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7 Days China Landscape Tour with Guilin Yangshuo & Zhangjiajie

Guilin - Yangshuo - Zhangjiajie

Iconic Essentials

7 Days

3 Places

This 7 days China Landscape Tour to Guilin, Yangshuo, and Zhangjiajie is very classic and popular among our clients during the past years. It is a China natural wonders tour that includes the most b...

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5 Days Hong Kong Guilin Chengdu Tour with Karst Landscape & Pandas

Hong Kong - Guilin - Chengdu

Short Trip

5 Days

3 Places

Traveling from Hong Kong to southern China, known as the natural paradise of Guilin, by high-speed train is the best way to experience this region. This 5-day itinerary is perfect for travelers seek...

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Longji Rice Terrace, Ping'an Village, Longsheng of Guilin

6 Days Iconic Guilin Tour with Longji Terrace & Yangshuo from Hong Kong

Hong Kong - Guilin - Longji Rice Terrace - Yangshuo - Guilin

Discovery

6 Days

5 Places

This 6 days China Tour from Hong Kong to Guilin, Longji Rice Terrace, and Yangshuo is very classic for our clients from home and abroad. As one of China's most popular tourist destinations, this in-...

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10 Days Classic China Tour to Beijing Xian Guilin Shanghai

Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Shanghai

China Iconic Essentials

10 Days

4 Places

What does a Classic China tour mean to you? It definitely should be all the destinations, attractions and experiences are the must-see and must-dos. This 10 days tour is the most popular China tour ...

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13 Days Incredible China Tour with Zhangjiajie Mountains & Guilin Landscape

Beijing - Xian - Zhangjiajie - Guilin - Shanghai

China Adventure

13 Days

5 Places

“Incredible” and “unbelievable” are usually used to describe China. To personally feel the charm of China and witness how incredible China is, it is highly recommended to take our 13 days China ...

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Li River Tours FAQs - Plan Your Li River Tours Worry-Free

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1. What are the top attractions to visit in Guilin?

The top attractions to visit in Guilin downtown are:

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan)
Elephant Trunk Hill
East West Alley
Sun and Moon Pagodas
Guilin Two Rivers and Four Lakes Resort

There are many other attractions to explore in Guilin downtown and around Guilin, you can check: Top 10 Attractions in Guilin >>

2. How many days do you need in Guilin?

The number of days you need in Guilin depends on your travel preferences and the depth of exploration you desire. Usually, it is suggested to spend at least 2 days in Guilin and Yangshuo to experience the main highlights. It allows you to visit popular attractions such as the Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and explore the picturesque Yangshuo countryside.

However, if you wish to delve deeper into the region and immerse yourself in its natural beauty, culture, and activities, it is recommended to allocate 3 to 6 days or more. You can have in-depth exploration of attractions like the Longji Rice Terraces, Yangshuo's karst landscape, Xingping Town on the bank of the Li River, ethnic minority villages, cycling or hiking adventures, and leisurely river cruises.

You can check more on: How to Plan a Guilin Tour | Ultimate Guilin Planning Guide >>

3. How long is the Li River cruise and where do I have lunch?

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is 83 kilometers long. You will spend approximately 4 hours on a ferry. During the rainy season, the water level is high and the cruise time may be less than 3.5 hours. During the low season, the cruise time may be longer. Your lunch will be served on the ferry at around 12 pm.

4. Where to board a Li River cruise from Guilin?

If you take a 3-star Li River cruise, it departs from Mopanshan Pier (磨盘山码头) and arrives at Shuidongmen dock in Yangshuo. However, if you opt for a 4-star Li River cruise, it starts from Zhujiang Pier (竹江码头) and arrives at Longtoushan dock in Yangshuo.

It takes approximately 1 hour to travel from the Guilin downtown area to the respective piers. Please ensure you allocate enough time for transportation.

Learn more about: Li River Cruise: From Guilin to Yangshuo by Boat >>

5. What are the highlights along the Li River?

The Li River is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and picturesque landscapes. Here are some of the highlights you can expect along the Li River of Guilin:

The most iconic feature of the Li River is its karst mountains. These limestone peaks rise majestically from the riverbanks, creating breathtaking and otherworldly scenery. Nine Horses Fresco Hill is a natural landscape that resembles nine galloping horses when viewed from a specific angle. Yellow Cloth Shoal is the typical scenery depicted on the 20 Yuan banknote.

Xingping Ancient Town on the banks: The town itself is an attraction, with well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture lining its narrow streets. During the cruise, you can enjoy an overlook of this beautiful small town.

Yangshuo: As you approach Yangshuo, the landscape transforms into a picturesque countryside dotted with rice paddies, bamboo groves, and traditional villages. This scenic beauty provides a peaceful and idyllic backdrop for your Guilin Li River journey.

6. When is the best time to visit Guilin?

It is recommended to travel to Guilin from April to October during which there are many sunny days, greener hills and clearer river water.

The summer temperature in Guilin can be as high as 37ºC. It is best to bring something convenient for summer, such as sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, mosquito repellent, etc.r.

Latest Li River Tours Reviews from Our Customers

Discover what our customers are saying about the latest Li River Tours. Browse through their recent reviews and feedback on tour arrangements, guides, transportation, attractions, dining, hotels, and detailed itineraries to plan your own unforgettable China tour. View All Customers Reviews >>

Felipe

Chile

177

Worry-free travel in China: professionalism, care, and quality

We went on a trip to China organized by Asia Odyssey, and we want to highlight the excellent work of Rex, our travel consultant. From the beginning, he was always available, attentive to every detail, and quick to resolve any issues that came up. Thanks to his support, everything ran smoothly in each city — from transfers and hotels to activities and local guides, all perfectly coordinated.

We also want to give special thanks to our local guides: Nina in Beijing, Linda in Chengdu, and Helen in Guilin. All three were outstanding — professional, kind, enthusiastic, and always ready to help. They truly made each visit even more special. If you’re planning a trip to any of these cities, we highly recommend requesting these guides — they made a big difference in our experience.

Highly recommend the service provided by Asia Odyssey. Thank you, Rex and team, for such a great experience!

Destination(s): Beijing, Chengdu/Sichuan, Guilin/Yangshuo

Date of Experience: Jun 04, 2025

Tour Customized by: Rex

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Kent

Australia

Fabulous China Tour to Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise, Changsha, Zhangjiajie and Guilin.

We (3 of us from Melbourne, Australia) had just completed a fabulous customised 21 day private tour in China with Asia Odyssey Travel in May 2025.The tour included Chongqing/Wulong, Yangtze River Cruise, Changsha, Fenghuang/Zhangjiajie and Guilin. We were provided with a 7 seater MPV, a driver and an English speaking tour guide in different destinations. Most hotel accommodations were great (we requested 4 star hotels) and tour guides and drivers were pleasant and very helpful. Transfer between destinations were seamless and trouble free. High lights included the beautiful night river cruise in Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise, off shore tour to see the world famous Three Kingdom performance and the ship lift where the whole ship was lifted 100 m from one level of Yangtze river to the next at the Three Georges dam (an engineering marvel). Night view along the river in Fenghuang was spectacular. Sceneries in Zhangjiajie where Avatar movie was filmed, were breath taking. Li River cruise and Longji Rice Terrace in Guilin were awesome.
Most of the credit for the success of this tour must go to the travel consultant Zeva who organised and coordinated the whole itinerary, including tickets for high speed trains for domestic travels. Zeva was super efficient, very responsive and helpful with our inquiries. Most importantly she understood the clients' requirements. She provided a detail itinerary, including hotels, before we left. She even kept in touch with us during our tour to ensure that we were been looked after. Well done Zeva. Asia Odyssey Travel should be proud of you!
We are already looking forward to our next tour to Tibet, Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou.

Destination(s): Guilin/Yangshuo, Zhangjiajie, YangtzeRiver, Chongqing

Date of Experience: May 30, 2025

Tour Customized by: Zeva

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Consumer

China Private tour in Maoming, Guilin and Guangzhou

Recently we have 5 of us in my family engaged a China private tour with Asia Odyssey Travel. We have an experienced tour planner, Miss Cecilia Zhang to plan our itinerary for Maoming, Guilin and Guangzhou for 13 nights. We were provided with experienced well spoken English speaking guides, Tommy and Peter. Not only that they’re also knowledgeable in their history which we enjoyed it very much. They are courteous and polite in many ways and making us feel very comfortable and enjoyable throughout our trip. We have experienced drivers who drove us everywhere and very attentive to our needs. Cecilia was very helpful in organising a porter to meet us at the train station picking all our large luggages to transfer from one train to another train in Guilin travelling from Maoming. We were so relieved especially it was very crowded with passengers and a long walk from one train to another train in a short time. We were given 4 stars rated hotels which are comfortable and clean also we were provided all very delicious meals daily. The whole trip is very enjoyable and also entertaining.
Cecilia’s service is well recommended and excellent and we are looking forward to having her again in our next trip.
Thank you Cecilia for making our trip a memorable and experience one as we will always treasure them.