Trip Overview
Guilin is a paradise for outdoor sports, including biking. Biking around the city of Guilin, along the Li River downstream to Yangshuo, and then cycle into the small villages scattering at the foot of the Karst mountains is like dream.
Besides, the stunning rice terraces and the minority culture in Longsheng is impressive as well.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival Guilin
Fly to Guilin. Upon arrival, be greeted by the guide and transfer to the city of Guilin.
After hotel check-in, start our warm up cycling. Firstly, cycle along the Li River outside of our hotel, then head upstream to Mulong Lake (Mulonghu), then, bike to Osmanthus Lake (Guihu), Banyan Lake (Ronghu) and Firm Lake (Shahu). After Firm Lake, bike further south to Lijiang Bridge, then cross Li River to Seven Star Park, where we can climb up to a hill to enjoy the view of Guilin city.
From Seven Star Park, bike back to the hotel.
Enjoy welcome dinner tonight.
Biking distance: 15-20KM
Biking hour: 2 hours
Biking difficulty: Easy
Overnight Hotel Universal
Meal: D
Day 2 Guilin to Ping’an Village
Today is the most difficult day for our biking since we will bike from the city of Guilin by the Li River uphill to Longsheng County in the mountains.
Today, the most difficult part is going uphill when we get into the mountains. The uphill part would be around 20-30km. Fortunately, the road is pretty well paved. The total distance for biking today is about 77kms. We will bike to the entrance of Longsheng Terraces in late afternoon, where we are going to take the scenic site vehicle and drive about 40 minutes up to Ping’an Village Park, where we still need to hike about 20-30 minutes up to our hotel.
Today, we are going to have picnic lunch on road.
Also, our bus and back up van which carries bikes will follow us.
Biking distance: 70-80 KM
Biking hour: 5-6 hours
Biking difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Overnight Ping’an Guest House
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Long sheng Hiking
Longsheng County has an area of 66 square kilometers. The wooden houses with deep color tiles dotted among the terraces. The minorities of Zhuang people and Yao people with heavy earrings and long hair working around in the paddies.
Today, we are going to do a one-day hiking.
After breakfast, walk down the parking lot; take about one-hour bus ride to Dazhai, where we start our hiking. You will hike through the peaceful countryside scenery with the fragrance of the trees and grass, the non-stop terraced paddies and the local ladies wash clothes in the streams.
The hike is about 4-5 hours; first go uphill and finally downhill back to Ping’an village directly.
Hiking distance: 12-15 KM
Hiking hour: 4-5 hours
Hiking difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Overnight Ping’an Guest House
Meals: B, L
Day 4 Longsheng to Guilin
After breakfast in the hotel, head downhill to meet our bikes.
Then we start our biking along the same way back Guilin. Compared to going uphill, it is much easier for us to bike downhill. However, we need to be very careful to bike downhill since there are quite many switch backs.
Enjoy free time to explore around Guilin city after hotel check-in.
Biking distance: 70-80 KM
Biking hour: 5-6 hours
Biking difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Overnight Hotel Universal
Meals: B, L
Day 5 Guilin to Caoping Village
This morning, bike about 10KM from Reed Flute Cave to Yao Mountain. Yao Mountain or Mt. Yaoshan is about 750 meters tall and it is the highest Mountain near Guilin. We take cable car up to the top of Yao Mountain with accompany of the azaleas on the way and take a breathtaking view of the mountains around. Take cable car down the mountain.
We are going to have lunch on the way.
In the afternoon, bike 21KM to Daxu ancient town. Daxu was a prosperous town on the Li River even in 1930’s when the Li River played an important role on the transportation from Guilin to southern Guangxi. The valuable town has drug stores, shoes makers, barber shops, dentist and even still with an old performance stage even with time passing by.
The final distance we will bike is about 18KM, from Daxu ancient town to Caoping village where we are going to stay tonight.
Biking distance: 50 KM
Biking hour: 4-5 hours
Biking difficulty: Easy to moderate
Overnight Shenlong Waterworld
Meals: B, L
Day 6 Caoping Village to Yangshuo
Caoping village is a Muslim village along the Li River. It is beautiful and peaceful, isolated from the towns and city. It is a great opportunity to meet nature.
This morning, after breakfast, our biking will start with uphill on the unpaved country road. And that is probably one of the most difficult section because the road is not paved and we cannot cycle quickly.
Today, we are going to bike through some villages with very little traffic, to see the people live in inner land villages, doing their farming in the rice paddies.
After 34KM/about 3-4 hours’ bike, get to Xingping town. Xingping town is old town with history of over 800 years. And it is one of the most popular sites for photographers because of its beautiful scenery.
We are going to have lunch in Xingping town before we continue another 29km to Yangshuo town. The traffic is getting busier but still good for cycling.
After hotel check-in, you can have cold beer over dinner.
Biking distance: 60 KM
Biking hour: 4-5 hours
Biking difficulty: moderate with uphill
Overnight Snow Lion Riverside Resort
Meals: B, L
Day 7 Yangshuo-Yulong River cycling
Yangshuo, where the limestone hills and the Li Rivers running through draw up the most dramatic scenery in all of China, is such a lovely small town.
Today, we will start biking from Yangshuo town to Baisha Village. Then bike downstream along Yulong River to Chaoyang Village, where we are going to have lunch in a local restaurant.
Ai first, take a ride on bicycle to explore the villages around Yangshuo and mostly along the Yulong River which has been well known as Lesser Li River. Start your cycling on the paved road in the town to the village nearby, then on a narrower and sandy path but with much lesser traffic, then some rugged path along the River. Or, if you do not want a cycling, drive to the village near Yulong River and hike along the river to the destination where our vehicle will pick us up. In late afternoon, return to hotel in Yangshuo and enjoy our leisure time on the West Street after get refreshed in hotel.
Biking distance: 30-40 KM
Biking hour: 4-5 hours
Biking difficulty: moderate on flat
Overnight Snow Lion Riverside Resort
Meals: B, L
Day 8 Cycling in countryside of Yangshuo
This morning, star your biking right from the hotel along the country road to Liugong Village at further downstream of the Li River, staying away from the tourists’ boat. Then continue your biking to Puyi Village by the Li River.
After lunch in an authentic local restaurant, bike in Puyi. From Puyi to the Moon Hill where we are going to take a stop to enjoy the panoramic view of the Karst Landscape.
In late afternoon, continue cycling back to our hotel.
After dinner, enjoy the famous show - Impression of Liu Sanjie, which is directed by Zhang Yimou, who is also the director of the Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons and the opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Biking Distance: 45-50 KM
Biking hours: 4-5 hours
Biking difficulty: Moderate
Overnight Snow Lion Mountain Resort
Meals: B, L
Day 9 Silver Cave & Departure
This morning, drive about 25kms to Silver Cave. Silver Cave is the largest cave in Yangshuo Region. The cave is very huge. The stalactites, in shapes of pillars, towers, curtains, and waterfalls enhanced by colorful lighting, will show you dozens of gorgeous sights. In the cave, most of the formations have been given a name like \'the vegetable garden\' and \'the umbrella\' to help you imagine what they look like.
Then, transfer from Silver Cave to Guilin airport for your departure flight.
Guilin cycling tour ends up.
Meals: B, L
