GL15: 1-Day Li River Essence Hiking Tour

► This is a guided tour by eco-friendly public transport. If you need a private car, feel free to contact our travel consultants to arrange it for you.

► Hiking Route: Xianggong Hill - Laocuntou Village - Lengshui Ferry - Mural Hill - Yellow Cloth Shoal - Xingping Town .

Xianggong Hill is the starting point of your hiking tour. It is praised to be the best viewing point of the Li River and the surrounding rolling hills. You may climb to the top to capture the most beautiful scenery of the river and hills. Hiking up is a bit steep but it only takes around 20 minutes up there. 

How to Get There

In the morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Guilin at the scheduled time and take you to Guilin South Bus Station by taxi. You will take a bus to Yangshuo and get off midway at Putao Town. The bus arrives at Putao Town in around one hour. Putao is a very small town, where no public transportation is available. Our guide will book a taxi via car-hailing apps and accompany you to the Xianggong Hill. The car ride takes around half an hour. 

Bus from Guilin to Putao
► Hours: 7:00 - 18:20
► Frequency: every 15 minutes
► Distance: 45 km (28 mi)
► Duration: 1 hour

► Distance: about 5.6km (3.5mi)
► Time Needed: 80 minutes

After descending from Xianggong Hill, our guide will lead you walk along the country road northwards around 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) to Laocuntou Village. Have a short break in the village and then continue heading for Lengshui Ferry in half an hour. Upon arrival, you will take a ferry across the Li River. 

► Distance: about 5km (3.1mi)
► Time Needed: 1.5 hours

After getting off the ferry, you will continue trekking downriver along the riverside trail. You will see various limestone karsts, lush green rice paddies, and picturesque villages, including some highlights of Li River, such as Mural Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal. 

The Mural Hill is also called Nine Horses Mural Hill. The 100-meter-high cliff rising abruptly above the water seems like being cut by a sharp knife. It serves as a natural 'canvas' with plants drawing out the profiles of nine horses. Your guide will tell you the legendary stories about the nine horses. 

Yellow Cloth Shoal is named because there is a large yellow slabstone beneath the river, which looks just like a yellow cloth laid flat on the riverbed. This scene is one of the essential spots along the Li River and was selected to be the background image of the CNY 20 bank note. 

After hiking around one and half an hours, you will arrive at the Xingping Ancient Town. It is a historical township by the clear Li River and in the arm of green hills. White walls, grey tiles, and flagstone-paved lanes there well present the original looking of the town. Along the main street, you can find many shops selling various kinds of souvenirs. There are also restaurants providing authentic local cuisines, including rice noodles, fish dishes, and traditional snacks. You may have a taste of them before leaving the town. Your guide will also give you suggestions on food options. 

After visiting the ancient town, your guide will escort you to get on a bus at Xingping Bus Station to reach Yangshuo Railway Station in around 10 minutes; then take a high speed train back to Guilin. Your guide will hail a taxi for you back to your hotel in Guilin downtown. 

High-speed Trains from Yangshuo to Guilin
► Hours: 8:58 - 21:34
► Frequency: 1 - 4 trains every an hour
► Duration: 21 - 44 minutes due to different terminal stations in Guilin

1. A pair of comfortable hiking shoes is necessary, and it should be waterproof and anti-slip.
2. It is suggested that you prepare some food, snacks, and bottled water in advance so that you can replenish energy during the hiking. Besides, you may encounter some farmhouses along the way, where you can have a short rest or try a simple meal.
3. If you want to extend to Yangshuo after this hiking tour, you can take bus to Yangshuo for around 1 hour and stay overnight there. Please contact your travel consultant for the extended service.