Summer Carnival | 5-Day Guilin + Yangshuo Summer Outdoor Adventure (Stream Trekking + SUP + Li River Cruise + Bamboo Raft + Rock Climbing + Caves)

Welcome to Guilin! Our guide will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to a downtown hotel for check-in. You can arrange the rest of the time freely. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to recharge. If it is still early, you can also look around the neighborhood. You may refer to the free-time suggestions below, or consult the guide for travel advice. Free-time Suggestions 1. Elephant Trunk Hill: Elephant Trunk Hill is one of Guilin's landmark attractions, located at the confluence of the Peach Blossom River and the Li River in Guilin. It is named because the hill shape resembles a giant elephant standing by the river, stretching its trunk to drink the sweet spring water of the Li River. It is a typical representative of Guilin's scenery. 2. East-West Lane: East-West Lane is the only remaining historical street area from the Ming and Qing dynasties, witnessing the rise and fall of Guilin over nearly 1,400 years since the city was established during the Wude period of the Tang Dynasty. Strolling leisurely through it, you can admire ancient historical buildings and cultural relics, taste the most authentic local snacks, browse distinctive handmade art shops, and experience Guilin's intangible cultural heritage, such as round fans and sand paintings. 3. Two Rivers and Four Lakes Cruise: The Two Rivers and Four Lakes are an important part of Guilin's landscape beauty, and a cruise on the Two Rivers and Four Lakes is the best way to enjoy Guilin's landscape city night views. You can tour the core scenic belt of Guilin and experience a city-ring water system comparable to Venice, lasting about 1~1.5 hours. Suggested Ways to Arrive 1. By plane: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) has many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, etc., making transportation extremely convenient. 2. By train: Guilin has 3 train stations in total. You can take high-speed rail to Guilin from cities such as Changsha (2.5-3h), Hong Kong (4h), Chengdu (5.5~6h), Chongqing (4.5~5h), Guangzhou (3h), and Zhangjiajie (7h).

This morning, you will depart from Guilin and drive 1.5 hours to 【Longhu Gorge in Xing'an County】 to begin your cool summer adventure, accompanied by a professional guide throughout for guaranteed safety. Longhu Gorge is a stunning canyon hidden among the mountains and one of Guilin's four most beautiful canyons. It is famous for its pristine natural scenery and abundant outdoor activities. Inside the gorge, there are jagged rocks, lush trees, clear streams, colorful pebbles, and cascading waterfalls like flying pearls and jade, making it an excellent destination for outdoor adventure and water fun. After arriving, you can fully enjoy stream trekking and playing in the water, feel the coolness under your feet, and admire the magnificent natural scenery along the way. Start from the shallow water area, slowly cross streams and deep pools, and climb over smooth or uniquely shaped boulders. The deeper you go, the clearer the water becomes, appearing a light blue-green under the sunlight. You can jump into the water from natural diving platforms for a swim, or climb up to high natural rocks to overlook the beauty of Longhu Gorge. After reaching a broad area, you can pick up your paddleboard and begin an exciting SUP journey. Before starting, a professional coach will explain paddleboard use and safety tips. You can glide on the water, immersively feel the tranquility and beauty of the water surface, and admire the oddly shaped rocks and beautiful, spectacular waterfalls along the way up close. After the tour, you will return to Guilin. Tips for Visiting Longhu Gorge 1. Stream trekking and SUP are both water activities. It is recommended to wear water shoes or sports sandals with strong grip, wear quick-drying clothes or a swimsuit, and prepare a set of clean clothes to change into. 2. Wear safety equipment such as a helmet and life jacket. 3. When traveling in summer, the ultraviolet rays are strong, so it is recommended to apply waterproof sunscreen. 4. Whether stream trekking or SUP, pay attention to safety, avoid going alone, and do not venture into areas the coach has not told you about. 5. The riverbed may be very slippery, so be sure to move slowly and make sure every step is stable. 6. There are many mosquitoes and insects near the water, so it is recommended to bring mosquito and insect repellent. 7. Avoid rapids, especially after rain, when streams may have stronger currents. For safety, be sure to avoid such areas.

After breakfast, you will take a car from the hotel for about 1 hour to Mopanshan Pier and board the [Li River Cruise] (about 83 km, 4 hours) to tour the world-renowned Guilin landscape, discover the most essential Li River scenery from Guilin to Yangshuo, and admire the magnificent karst landforms, picturesque karst landscape, colorful rural fields, and quaint ethnic villages, experiencing the wonderful feeling of "the boat travels on emerald waves, people wander within a painting." Along the way, attractions such as Immortal Pushing the Mill, Nine Horses Mural Hill, Yellow Cloth Reflection, Xingping Ancient Town, and the background image of the 20-yuan banknote are worth observing in detail. Li River Cruise tips 1. Lunch upgrade: Our agency has carefully prepared a Western lunch for you, with freshly cooked dishes that morning. 2. If you prefer a 4-star Li River cruise, please inform your travel consultant. 3. During peak tourist season, Li River cruise seats are in high demand, so it is recommended to book 1–3 days in advance. After arriving in Yangshuo, our driver will pick you up at the pier and drive you to your Yangshuo hotel for check-in. After a short rest, you can freely explore [Yangshuo countryside] and enjoy Guilin's most outstanding pastoral landscape. Afterward, in scenic Yangshuo, experience the thrilling via ferrata (FERRATA) adventure. Yangshuo's unique karst landforms make it a climbing paradise, offering diverse climbing experiences. It is very suitable for visitors aged 6–60 and is the best choice for family trips. The climbing route is about 650–700 meters long, with a maximum drop of 60 meters, and the total experience lasts about 1.5–2 hours. Whether you are a beginner or an expert climber, you can enjoy picturesque Yangshuo from a unique aerial perspective. Do not miss the 40-meter-long suspended wooden bridge on the cliff and the 8-meter-diameter semicircular viewing platform, where the scenery is extremely magnificent. If you want a more thrilling via ferrata experience, you can try two 400-meter-long, 50-meter-high ziplines, letting you truly soar above Yangshuo and feel your heart race. In addition, professional coaches accompany and guide you throughout the climb, ensuring safety. Next, you will fully explore [Yangshuo countryside]. You can choose the following ways to tour: (1) driving plus walking, (2) cycling. Whichever way you choose, you can travel along country roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, including karst mountains, rice fields, villages, and rivers. You may also see scenes of people working in the fields, children playing by the river, and cattle grazing in the fields. Finally, go explore Yangshuo's busiest district - [West Street]. This is a street perfectly combining Eastern and Western elements and the best place to experience Yangshuo's nightlife. Whether you want to taste some local food or find a small shop, order a drink, relax, and enjoy a rare leisurely time, it can meet your needs. Recommended evening activity (optional): If you are interested in Guangxi's ethnic minority customs, you can watch the outdoor landscape performance directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou, with the Li River landscape as the stage background - Impression Liu Sanjie. The performance lasts 1 hour.

After breakfast, you will begin an exciting Yangshuo cave adventure. Led by a professional guide, explore Yangshuo's hidden and lesser-known caves and admire an amazing magical underground world. Each cave's scenery is extremely unique, and everywhere you look are masterpieces of nature. Some rocks are round and smooth, some are sharply angular, some resemble waterfalls, and some look like flowers... in all kinds of forms, extremely peculiar. The moment you step into the cave, the air becomes cool, and the regular dripping of water and the sound of flowing streams interweave with the echoes of our voices, very pleasant to the ear. In addition, our guide will accompany you throughout, not only ensuring your safety but also vividly explaining the formation of these caves and the interesting stories behind them, allowing you to enjoy Yangshuo's dreamlike cave scenery in a more immersive way. Cave Adventure Tips 1. Wear comfortable clothing: The caves are humid with standing water, and the paths are rugged and uneven. It is recommended to wear waterproof, dirt-resistant clothing and slip-resistant, sturdy shoes. 2. Safety equipment: The caves are relatively dark, with protruding rocks of various sizes. Do not remove protective equipment at will. 3. Personal items: The paths in the caves are uneven and movement is more active, so it is easy to drop things if you are not careful. Therefore, prepare a small backpack and securely store personal items such as your phone, power bank, drinking water, snacks, and insect repellent. 4. Always stay close to your guide or team leader throughout and follow instructions. Do not leave the group at will, and explore the caves to the maximum extent under safe conditions. Afterward, head to the Yulong River bamboo raft boarding point and begin the classic Yulong River bamboo raft drifting trip. Experience the fun of riding a manually poled bamboo raft over the dams, or sit on the raft to relax and enjoy the beautiful pastoral landscape on both banks. Along the riverbanks, villages are scattered, fields crisscross, green grass spreads, bamboo is lush, and trees provide deep shade. The river water is emerald and translucent, with fish and shrimp swimming within. When the breeze brushes the water surface, ripples spread out, very beautiful. Along the way, you will also pass ancient bridges, where you can make a brief stop to photograph the beautiful scene formed by the old bridge and Guilin's magnificent karst mountains.

After breakfast, you will be taken up to the 【Xianggong Mountain】 viewing platform (about 15 minutes) to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Li River, photograph the stunning first bend of the Li River, overlook the continuous and spectacular karst mountains and the picturesque pastoral scenery, and feel the beauty of "the river as a green silk belt, the mountains as jade hairpins." After the visit, this unforgettable summer adventure in Guilin and Yangshuo will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport/train station. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Harbin, Shanghai, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.