We're going on a multi-city China tour in June, and Guilin/Yangshuo will be one of our stops. I'm trying to draft an itinerary for Guilin/Yangshuo, and I have come up with 2 different itineraries so far. I haven't decided on the hotels yet.

First Itinerary:

Wednesday, June 4 - Guilin
-Arrive Guilin around noon. Take taxi to hotel.
-Seven Star Park
-Night Market/Shopping Street

Thursday, June 5 – Guilin/Yangshuo
-Li River Cruise in morning
-Arrive in Yangshuo
-Check in to Yangshuo hotel
-Night: Liu Sanjie Light Show

Friday, June 6 – Yangshuo/Guilin
-Rent bicycles, ride through Yangshuo countryside
-Check out of Yangshuo hotel
-Take taxi back to Guilin
-Check in to hotel in Guilin
-Reed Flute Cave
-Solitary Beauty Peak or Fubo Hill

Saturday, June 7 – Guilin/Beijing
-Taxi to Guilin airport. Board flight to Beijing (haven't decided flight time)


Second Itinerary:

Wednesday, June 4 - Guilin
-Arrive Guilin around noon. Take taxi to hotel.
-Seven Star Park
-Night Market/Shopping Street

Thursday, June 5 - Guilin
-Reed Flute Cave
-Solitary Beauty Peak or Fubo Hill

Friday, June 6 - Guilin/Yangshuo
-Li River Cruise in morning
-Arrive in Yangshuo
-Check in to Yangshuo hotel
-Night: Liu Sanjie Light Show

Saturday, June 7 - Yangshuo
-Rent bicycles, ride through Yangshuo countryside (could do this June 6 afternoon I guess)
-Check out of Yangshuo hotel
-Take taxi from Yangshuo to Guilin airport, board flight to Beijing (haven't decided flight time)

Which itinerary is better and more convenient? Would you shift some activities around? Is there time to do some other things? Is it easy and reliable to get transportation from Yangshuo directly to the Guilin airport?

Thanks for your help

I like the 2nd itinerary, you can go directly to the airport from Yangshuo instead of doubling back to Guilin.

I'm going on a multi-city China trip in early May and Guilin/Yangshuo will be one of my stops as well. I read your reply about the second itinerary being a better choice. Since you are staying in Guilin and then taking the Li River Cruise, do you take your luggage on the cruise to stay in Yangshao for a night?

I've also read that it's nicer to stay in Yangshao versus Guilin because Guilin is so crowded. Any thoughts on bypassing Guilin and staying three nights in Yangshuo?

I appreciate your feedback!

aquawink -- someone else will have to get back to you about luggage, I only had a backpack since I left my luggage in Shanghai. I'd stay in Guilin for a night because I like the caves and parks.

cloudseleven,

We bypassed Guilin on the way to Yangshuo (straight from airport to hotel in Yangshuo), then hit Guilin on our way back from the Longji Rice Terraces. I agree with Shanghainese on the park - it's lovely, but there is also a snazzy cave near Yangshuo (called the Silver Cave) with the same type of lights. I would spend my time around Yangshuo, which is a truly gorgeous area of China. If possible, don't miss the bamboo raft trip down the Yulong - a highlight of our trip.

We had excellent, reliable car service from Mr. Tang, who works with Lillie ([email protected]) both to and from the airport. His car is air conditioned and he drives safely and skillfully (but understand that all the drivers drive "Chinese-style.&quot

We stayed at the Li River Retreat, which is provided a lovely respite from noisy, crowded Yangshuo. It's not fancy, but eating meals on the terrace overlooking the river, and meeting both the young folks who work there (and are delightful) and the other people staying at the hotel, was a pleasure.

Linda -- From Yangshou to Guilin, did you take Mr Tang's car ride too?

Shanghainese,

Mr. Tang drove us to the Longji Rice Terraces, where we spent the night, and then back to Guilin, where he dropped us off at the Guilin Bravo Hotel. Although he didn't speak more than a few words of English (I kept teasing him that he knew more than he let on!) he was very nice, had a good sense of humor, and was extremely reliable (always where we were told he would be at the appointed time).

We had too much luggage to take the bus to Guilin or Longji. With the car, we were able to leave the suitcases in the trunk and just take a small bag up the steps to the Longji hotel.

Linda

Thanks, Linda, I was wondering about the suitcases.

We also have reservations for the Li River Retreat. I am glad to hear you liked it. Were the mosquitos a big problem in Yangshuo. I am trying to decide how much anti-mosquito stuff I need to bring.

We were in Yangshuo three weeks ago and my son got quite a few mosquito bites. After the first day he made sure to put his repellent on. However, he somehow always attracts mosquitoes and the rest of us never had a problem with them.

Coincidentally, I just read that mosquitoes are attracted to people that eat bananas and our son loves them. Might not be true but I thought I would pass it on.