[Guilin 3 Days 2 Nights Essence Tour] "Walking in a Painting, Tasting the Scenery"

📍 Suitable for: Nature lovers｜Slow travel enthusiasts｜Authentic food seekers 👫 Group size: 4 people 💰 Total budget: ≤¥8000 (including transportation + accommodation + meals + tickets) 📅 Best seasons: March–May / September–November (pleasant climate, misty rain makes the Li River most beautiful) 🗺️ Itinerary Overview Day Theme Core Attractions Food Highlights ------ ------ ----------- ------------ Day 1 Dreaming of the Li River · City Encounter Elephant Trunk Hill Park, Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night View Guilin Rice Noodles, Youcha Tea, Beer Fish Day 2 Ink Wash Drifting · Yangshuo Wonderland Li River Bamboo Raft (Yangdi—Xingping), Xingping Ancient Town, West Street Handmade Glutinous Rice Cake, Stuffed Snails, Guilin Spicy Sauce Mixed Noodles Day 3 Countryside Secret · Peaceful Ending Yulong River Cycling, Ten-Mile Gallery, Return to Guilin City Sour Bamboo Shoot Stir-fried Pork, Water Chestnut Cake, Osmanthus Sweet Soup 💵 Cost Breakdown (Total for 4 people) Item Details Estimated Cost ------ ------ ---------- 🚄 Round-trip major transport (High-speed train) Assuming departure from Guangzhou, round-trip train tickets ¥150×4×2 = ¥1200 ¥1200 🚌 Local transport (Taxi + Bus + Electric scooter rental) Guilin↔Yangshuo bus ¥30×4; city taxis + scooter rental about ¥300 ¥420 🏨 Accommodation (2 nights) 1 night in Guilin + 1 night in Yangshuo, selected comfortable guesthouses/inns (2 twin rooms) ¥260×2 nights×2 rooms = ¥1040 ¥1040 🎫 Tickets and activities Li River bamboo raft (essence section) ¥90×4; Elephant Trunk Hill ticket ¥55×4; Yulong River cycling free ¥580 🍜 Meals (6 main meals + snacks) Average ¥60 per meal, 6 meals × 4 people × ¥60 = ¥1440 ¥1440 🛍️ Others (souvenirs + snacks + emergencies) Osmanthus cake, chili sauce, Youcha tea packs and other small gifts ¥320 ✅ Total —— About ¥5000! Remaining nearly ¥3000, can be used to upgrade accommodation, add a beer fish feast, or experience the Impression Liu Sanjie show! 📅 Daily Detailed Itinerary 🌞 Day 1: First Sight of Guilin · The Landscape Painting Unfolds Slowly Theme: City Landmark Check-in + Night Tour of Two Rivers and Four Lakes 🕘 Morning: Arrive by high-speed train at [Guilin Station] or [Guilin North Station] Take a taxi to the hotel (about ¥20), check-in 🕛 Noon: Walk to [Elephant Trunk Hill Park] (Guilin city emblem) Ticket: ¥55/person (discount for online advance purchase) Visit time: 1.5 hours Must-shoot spots: Elephant Trunk Drinking Water, Water Moon Cave Reflection, Panorama of Love Island 🍜 Lunch recommendation: [Old Dongjiang Rice Noodles] (local favorite old brand) Specialties: Braised meat rice noodles + pot-roasted + sour long beans Average ¥12 per person, remember to add a bowl of bone soup after! 🌆 Afternoon free exploration: Stroll around [Seven Star Park] outskirts or visit [Zhengyang Pedestrian Street] Try [Tonglaiguan Youcha] on the way — slightly bitter then sweet, pairs excellently with fried peanuts! 🌃 Evening highlight: Night tour of Two Rivers and Four Lakes Recommended way: walk + partial boat ride (night cruise ticket ¥80/person optional) Must-see: Sun and Moon Twin Towers light show, glass bridge reflection, Banyan Lake music Tip: Many photo stalls along the lake, wearing Hanfu makes photos even better! 🍽 Dinner recommendation: [Chun Ji Roast Goose (Zhongshan Road branch)] Not just roast goose, beer fish is also excellent For four: half beer fish + papaya salad + garlic ribs Average ¥60 per person, clean environment suitable for family dinner 🌞 Day 2: Li River Drifting · Poetic Life in Yangshuo Theme: Boat tour in a painting + Slow time in ancient town 🕘 7:30 AM wake up, check out and depart Taxi to [Guilin South Bus Station] → take direct bus to Yangshuo (¥30/person, 1-hour ride) 🛶 Morning: Li River essence section bamboo raft drifting (Yangdi—Xingping) Book in advance for around 9:00 AM departure Route: Yangdi Pier → Huangbu Reflection → Nine Horses Fresco Hill → disembark at Xingping Cost: ¥90/person (manually pushed raft without engine, eco-friendly and quiet) 📸 Must-shoot spots: Huangbu Reflection: background of 20 RMB note! Nine Horses Fresco Hill: test your eyesight, how many horses can you see? 🏘 Arrive at [Xingping Ancient Town] at noon Free entry, cobblestone streets + century-old houses, full of artistic atmosphere Recommended to climb [Laozhai Mountain] or [Xianggong Mountain Viewing Platform] for a bird’s eye view of Li River’s S-bend (for those with good stamina) 🍽 Lunch recommendation: [Sister Xu’s Beer Fish Farmhouse Restaurant] (center of Xingping Old Street) Freshly killed and cooked beer fish, mildly spicy with fruity aroma Add a portion of [Stuffed Snails] and [Stir-fried Wild Vegetables] About ¥280 for four people 🌇 Afternoon: Head to Yangshuo County for check-in Taxi or bus to Yangshuo, stay at a guesthouse near [West Street] Recommended: Secret Garden, Huamengjian and other popular courtyard-style inns 🚴 Evening: Stroll [West Street] + free activities Rent electric bikes (¥30/day), useful for next day Try snacks: [Glutinous Roasted Chicken Leg], [Mugwort Glutinous Rice Cake], [Osmanthus Ice Tofu Pudding] 🌞 Day 3: Countryside Cycling · Harvesting Memories of Scenery Theme: Cycling Yulong River + Return with fond memories 🕘 8:00 AM: After breakfast, start [Yulong River cycling tour] Rent electric scooter or bike (electric recommended for ease) Classic route: from guesthouse → Yulong River trail → Chaoyang Pier → Ten-Mile Gallery → return to Yangshuo About 15 km total, stop and snap photos anytime, every shot is wallpaper-worthy! 📸 Check-in spots along the way: [Chaoyang Pier]: morning mist like an ink wash painting [Xiatang Village]: small bridges and flowing water by rice fields [Ten-Mile Gallery]: karst peaks forming a tunnel-like path 🍜 Lunch recommendation: [Sister Xie’s Farmhouse] or [Master Chef Beer Fish · Yinziyan Branch] for another authentic beer fish, take some chili sauce as souvenir Average ¥65 per person, about ¥260 for four 🕛 1:30 PM: Depart back to Guilin Take bus back to Guilin city (about 1 hour) If time allows, visit [Dongxi Alley] for souvenirs: - Guilin’s three treasures: chili sauce, fermented tofu, Sanhua liquor - Recommended gifts: vacuum-packed water chestnut cake, osmanthus pastry, Youcha tea gift pack 🚄 Evening: Take high-speed train from Guilin Station back home, ending a wonderful trip! 🍜 Food Map Quick Reference (Must-eat List) Name Specialty Recommended Places ------ ------ ----------- Guilin Rice Noodles Rich broth, crispy pot-roasted Old Dongjiang, Chongshan, Minggui Beer Fish Tender and flavorful, fruity wine aroma Sister Xu, Master Chef, Sister Xie Youcha Tea "Beaten Youcha," slightly bitter and warming Tonglaiguan, street vendor stalls Stuffed Snails Meat filling in snails, sour and spicy appetizing Yangshuo farmhouses Mugwort Glutinous Rice Cake Fragrant, soft and healthy West Street night market Water Chestnut Cake Guilin specialty, sweet and refreshing Dongxi Alley souvenir shops 🎒 Travel Tips 1.📸 Photo tips: - 6–8 AM is the most beautiful "misty rain mode" on the Li River - Wear light-colored clothes for better photos, avoid all black 2. 👟 Dressing guide: Spring/Autumn: light jacket + comfortable sneakers Summer: sun protection clothing + hat + mosquito repellent Winter: thermal underwear + scarf (mountain areas are colder) 3. 🚫 Pitfall warnings: - Do not accept "free guides" or low-price day tours casually - Confirm prices before tasting or buying on West Street - Buy Li River bamboo raft tickets from official vendors only 4. 🎭 Optional upgrades (if budget allows): - "Impression Liu Sanjie" live show ¥260/person - Yinziyan / Reed Flute Cave exploration ¥80/person - Yulong River manual bamboo raft drifting ¥160/group (2 people) 🌟 Summary in one sentence: > "Guilin is not in textbooks, but on the cobblestone streets you walk, in the first bowl of Youcha tea you drink, and in the endless green mountains and clear waters you see." This 3-day 2-night trip not only lets you see the breathtaking karst landscapes but also deeply experience the local life of northern Guangxi. Wishing you a journey as picturesque as a painting and flavors that linger long～ 🎒🌄🍜