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Summer Travel Guide
Escape the heat with mountain adventures, coastal escapes, and vibrant city life across China
Summer Cool-Karst Escape: 7-Night Slow-Travel Itinerary
Guilin → Yangshuo (South China)
Avoid These Dates
- • 15 Jul – 15 Aug 2025 – peak domestic summer; Li-River rafts and hotel rates sky-rocket
- • Dragon-Boat Festival weekend (31 May–2 Jun 2025) – river closed for racing
Base Strategy
Base yourself only twice: Guilin city (3 nts) → Yangshuo countryside (4 nts). One 1-hour 20-minute Li-River tourist boat downstream (or 40-minute high-speed rail G2901 if you prefer land). No airport shuffle, no scenery repetition.
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1 – Arrive Guilin
- • Fly into Guilin Liangjiang (KWL) before 15 Jul
- • Airport → Downtown: Airport Express Bus 30 min, CNY 20
- • Stay: Luxury – Shangri-La Guilin (Li-River view, rooftop pool) | Mid – Guilin Bravo Hotel (central, indoor pool) | Budget – This Old Place International Youth Hostel (Ronghu Lake)
- • Evening: Sunset at Elephant Trunk Hill after 18:00 (cooler, fewer crowds); dinner at Nengren Vegetarian Restaurant – taro & osmanthus rice cake
Day 2 – Reed Flute Cave & Two Rivers & Four Lakes
- • 08:30 Taxi 15 min to Reed Flute Cave – 18 °C underground all year; pre-book 08:45 slot, CNY 90
- • 11:30 Return; lunch at Chunji Roast Goose
- • 15:30 Two Rivers & Four Lakes Night Cruise – board at Ronghu Pier, CNY 210; lit pagodas, 26 °C lakeside breeze
- • 20:00 Nightcap: craft beer at Leisure Bar (Zhengyang Pedestrian Street)
Day 3 – Longji Rice Terraces Day-Cool
- • 07:30 Hotel shuttle 2 h to Longji (Dragon's Backbone) Terraces – pre-book ticket CNY 80
- • Cable car up to Ping'an Zhuang Village (CNY 70 return) to avoid midday climb
- • Picnic: bamboo-steam rice with taro & bacon
- • 15:30 Return to Guilin; foot-massage at Zhengyang Foot Spa (CNY 88)
Day 4 – Li-River Downstream to Yangshuo
- • 08:30 Taxi 10 min to Zhujiang Pier; board 4-Star Li-River tourist boat (CNY 450 incl. lunch) – 4 h cruise, air-conditioned cabin, misty karst peaks at 28 °C
- • 13:00 Dock at Yangshuo Pier; 5-min walk to hotel
- • Stay: Luxury – Banyan Tree Yangshuo (Li-River pool villas) | Mid – Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (river-view balconies) | Budget – Wada Hostel (rooftop bar)
Day 5 – Bamboo Raft & Countryside E-Bike
- • 08:30 Bamboo raft Xingping → Nine-Horse Fresco Hill (30 min, CNY 98)
- • 10:30 Pick up hotel e-bike CNY 40/day; ride Yangshuo → Yulong River → Jiuxian Village (18 km flat, rice-field breeze)
- • Lunch riverside: Dragonfly Café – beer-battered river fish & mango smoothie
- • 16:00 Swim in hotel pool or take stand-up paddleboard on Yulong River (hotel rents boards CNY 80/h)
- • 19:30 Impression Liu Sanjie light show on river (CNY 280, 20 °C evening)
Day 6 – Moon Hill & Cave Cool-Down
- • 09:00 E-bike 20 min to Moon Hill – climb shaded stairway (800 m, 25 °C)
- • 11:30 Silver Cave – underground river at 18 °C, CNY 65
- • Lunch: Cloud 9 Restaurant – beef & wild-mushroom clay pot
- • 15:00 Chinese cooking class at Yangshuo Cooking School (market tour + 3 dishes, CNY 200)
- • 19:00 Xijie Night Market – stinky tofu, grilled squid, live folk bands
Day 7 – Slow Departure
- • 08:30 Final Yulong River SUP or coffee on hotel terrace
- • 10:30 Taxi 50 min to Yangshuo High-Speed Station; G2902 Yangshuo → Guilin (40 min, CNY 35)
- • Taxi 30 min to Guilin Airport; fly home
Dining Quick-List
Guilin Specialties
- • Taro & osmanthus rice cake
- • River-snail rice noodles
Yangshuo Specialties
- • Beer-battered river fish
- • Wild-mushroom clay pot
- • Mango smoothie
Accommodation Map
Guilin
- • Luxury: Shangri-La
- • Mid-range: Bravo
- • Budget: This Old Place
Yangshuo
- • Luxury: Banyan Tree
- • Mid-range: Mountain Retreat
- • Budget: Wada
Transport Quick-Glance
- • Airport → Guilin: Airport Express Bus 30 min
- • Guilin → Yangshuo: Li-River tourist boat 4 h (or G2901 rail 40 min)
- • Local: e-bike rental (Yangshuo), hotel shuttles, Didi
Summer Highlights
- Mountain escapes and hiking adventures
- Coastal beaches and island getaways
- Vibrant nightlife and outdoor dining
- Summer festivals and cultural events
Summer Weather
Temperature Range
25°C - 40°C (77°F - 104°F)
Precipitation
Heavy rainfall, especially in July
Best Regions
Northern China, Mountains, Coast
Travel Tips
- • Stay hydrated and avoid peak sun hours
- • Book mountain hotels for cooler temperatures
- • Pack light, breathable clothing
- • Bring rain gear for monsoon season
- • Consider coastal destinations for sea breezes
Useful External Links