8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo and Zhaoxing Tour | River Karst & Dong Villages

Your Guilin, Yangshuo and Zhaoxing tour starts with the following arrangements. Meet the local guide and driver at the Guilin arrival point confirmed in your booking, then transfer to the selected hotel. Keep the rest of the day unhurried. Nearby walks and restaurant suggestions are available for early arrivals, while independent time has no continuing sightseeing guide or vehicle.

Drive about 40–60 minutes to Daxu for a 1.5–2-hour walk along its old trading street and permitted riverside areas. Return to Guilin for Elephant Trunk Hill’s river setting, then a guided 1–1.5-hour walk through Reed Flute Cave’s illuminated chambers. Expect steps and occasionally damp surfaces. The three sites contrast river trade, an open-air rock landmark and underground karst rather than repeating one type of viewpoint.

Daxu Ancient Town · Elephant Trunk Hill · Reed Flute Cave

Travel to the pier assigned to your Li River sailing and continue by scheduled cruise to Yangshuo, normally around four hours depending on navigation. A simple onboard lunch is included. After local reception and check-in, keep 2–3 hours for the planned countryside outing by bicycle, e-bike or vehicle, with the chosen mode and any extra charge confirmed beforehand. River conditions may change landing points; cycling is not compulsory.

Li River Cruise

Take the booked pole-propelled Yulong River raft when passenger eligibility and water conditions permit, allowing 2–2.5 hours including local transfers and queues. Continue to Yangshuo station for the dated second-class train to Congjiang, then meet the Guizhou team for the short Zhaoxing transfer. A gentle evening walk introduces drum towers and covered bridges. A Grand Song presentation is optional and depends on the community’s programme.

Yulong River Bamboo Rafting · Zhaoxing Dong Village

Use the confirmed local transfer to Tang’an, explore its houses and shared spaces, then follow the permitted terrace trail toward Zhaoxing. The planned 6–7 kilometres may take 2.5–3 hours over stone and rural paths, with a vehicle alternative agreed if rain makes walking unsuitable. Back in Zhaoxing, allow about two hours to understand the drum-tower groups and covered bridges. Field colours follow the farming calendar, not a fixed photo season.

Tangan Dong Village · Zhaoxing Dong Village

Leave early for Shiqiao, allowing about 3–3.5 hours of driving before the 1.5–2-hour village and papermaking introduction. A hands-on paper activity is a separately booked option when the workshop is operating. Continue about 1–1.5 hours to Qingman for a selected village walk, then another 30–45 minutes to Kaili. With around 4.5–5.5 driving hours plus visits, rest stops and the actual village access need careful planning.

Shiqiao Village · Qingman Miao Village

Visit Xinqiao’s village lanes and water-side granaries, allowing about 1–1.5 hours from Kaili before the walk. Continue to the Gejia community at Matang to discuss wax patterns, embroidery and clothing through local explanations, without using a reductive costume label for residents. Hands-on batik is optional and needs a booked artisan. Drive roughly 2.5–3 hours onward to Guiyang after the visits, allowing a full transfer-and-village day.

Xinqiao Miao Village · Matang Gejia Village

Keep independent time near the hotel until the agreed pickup. Your scheduled private transfer reaches the confirmed Guiyang airport, station or other booked terminal, with time for traffic, luggage and departure procedures. Extra visits and a different drop-off point need advance agreement rather than an assumed extension of service.