Guilin, renowned for its famous karst landforms and picturesque scenery, is adjacent to and southeast of Guizhou Province, with convenient connections. Guizhou is where you could experience several unique ethnic groups and explore their traditional villages.
Content Preview
- 1.Top Things to Do in Guilin
- 2. What to See in Guizhou
- 3. How to Get to Guilin and Guizhou
- 4. How Many Days to Spend
- 5. Trip to Guilin and Guizhou Itineraries
- 6. Best Times to Visit Guilin and Guizhou
- 7. Accommodation Conditions
- 8. Food in Guilin and Guizhou
- 9. Costs of a Guilin and Guizhou Tour
Top Things to Do in Guilin
Li River CruiseIn Guilin, the top things to do revolve around enjoying its stunning landscapes, where limestone peaks rise majestically from the ground and rice terraces wrap the mountainsides, creating picturesque and ethereal scenery.
Cruise along the Majestic Li River
Drift along a serene river where misty mountains rise dramatically from the water's edge. The landscape unfolds with lush green hills and quaint fishing villages, offering a tranquil escape into nature's grandeur.
Explore Enchanting Caves
Step into a mystical underground world illuminated by vibrant lights. Wander through caverns adorned with breathtaking rock formations that tell tales of nature's artistry over millennia.
Hike on Terraced Mountainsides
Venture into picturesque valleys where terraced fields cascade down like green waves. Each step reveals panoramic views and vibrant local culture, as you encounter traditional ethnic villages nestled among the terraces.
What to See in Guizhou
Langde Village in GuizhouIn Guizhou, explore mountain landscapes full of ethnic diversity and rich cultural heritage. The province's scenery includes rolling hills and verdant forests. Traditional villages and ancient towns offer a glimpse into the vibrant and timeless lifestyle of the local ethnic minorities.
Visit Minority Villages
Experience the charm of villages where time seems to stand still. Explore narrow, winding streets lined with wooden houses, and engage with locals to learn about their rich traditions and crafts.
Discover Ancient Towns
Wander through ancient towns that offer a glimpse into the past. Cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and tranquil riversides create an atmosphere of timeless beauty. You could also dress in ethnic costumes and capture stunning photos in these charming, traditional settings.
Experience Traditional Handicrafts
Delve into the world of Guizhou's traditional handicrafts, such as batik dyeing, embroidery, silver-jewelry-making, and paper-making, which offer a glimpse into the region's artistic traditions and skilled craftsmanship. Participate in workshops to learn these ancient crafts and take home a piece of Guizhou's cultural heritage.
How to Get to Guilin and Guizhou
Guilin and Guiyang (capital of Guizhou) both feature excellent transportation links, including international airports and high-speed rail services, making them conveniently accessible from overseas.
Going to Guilin First is Recommended
While both Guilin and Guiyang in Guizhou province have small international airports connecting to cities with huge international airports like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, distances between Guiyang and attractions in Guizhou are relatively far, and so you would have to wait to begin your adventure if you started in Guiyang.
If you explore Guilin first, culminating in a visit to the Longji Rice Terraces, it would be easy to reach Zhaoxing Miao Village in Guizhou by road (1½ hours) as your next stop, saving much time compared to transiting through Guiyang.
After visiting the ethnic minority villages, if your time permits, you could go to Kaili, continue to explore ancient towns, and visit Mount Fanjing. Last, head to Guiyang to transit to other destinations or for your return journey.
If you enter from Hong Kong, there is a direct high-speed train from Hong Kong to Guilin, taking just over 3 hours.
If you enter from Singapore, it is recommended to fly into Guangzhou or Haikou and then take a connecting flight or a bullet train to Guilin. The total travel time is approximately 9–10 hours.
From Guilin to Guizhou:
Take a private car from Longsheng to Zhaoxing, which only takes 1½ hours, or take a bullet train from Guilin to Congjiang Station near Zhaoxing in Guizhou, taking less than 1 hour.
How Many Days to Spend in Guilin and Guizhou
Longji Rice TerracesWe recommend planning a total of 6–10 days to explore Guilin and Guizhou at a relaxed pace. In Guilin, you would need at least 3 days to focus on the stunning karst landscapes and 1 or 2 more days to explored the terraced field areas. When you arrive in Guizhou, visit Miao and Dong ethnic villages for 3 or more days to admire the grand wooden buildings and experience rich traditions and artistic crafts.
Guilin (3–5 Days)
Guilin is famous for its breathtaking mountains and rivers, and it deserves at least 3 days to explore the city and surrounding villages.
- Day 1: Tour the city and visit the limestone caves, such as Reed Flute Cave.
- Day 2: Take a Li River cruise to Yangshuo and enjoy the picturesque scenery.
- Day 3: Visit the Longji Rice Terraces and experience the local Zhuang and Yao cultures.
Optional days: Explore small ancient towns, such as Daxu, and enjoy outdoor activities, such as riding a bike or hiking among the rice terraces
Guizhou (3–5 Days)
Buildings in A Dong VillageSpend at least 2 days in Guizhou to appreciate its ethnic villages and experience its traditional crafts.
- Day 1: Visit a Miao village to experience the vibrant culture and traditions.
- Day 2: Explore a Dong village and admire the grand wooden architecture.
Optional days: If you have more time, visit natural attractions, such as Huangguoshu Waterfall, Seven Small Arches (Xiaoqikong), and Mount Fanjing or more ethnic villages.
Trip to Guilin and Guizhou Itineraries
We recommend these two classic itineraries to illustrate shorter and long tours: an 8-day and a 12-day itinerary. Both cover the classic sights: karst landscapes in Guilin and ethnic villages in Guizhou, and the longer itinerary would allow you to visit more natural beauty spots in Guilin and Guizhou.
1) 8-Day Classic Guilin and Guizhou Itinerary
Miao EmbroideryThis recommended 8-day itinerary combines the exploration of unique karst landscapes with visits to ethnic minority villages and experiences with traditional crafts.
Days 1–2: Begin in Guilin
Explore Guilin's most iconic karst landscapes, including landmark hills, such as Elephant Trunk Hill and the picturesque hills along the Li River. Visit an awesome limestone cave, where even in the hot summer, the interior remains cool, so it's advisable to take a light jacket. The cave air is humid and the ground could be slippery, so wearing walking shoes with good grip is recommended.
Day 3: A Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Village Tour
Enjoy a relaxing cruise and a visual feast along the Li River. Upon arriving in Yangshuo town, venture out into the fresh countryside air and lush greenery. If traveling during the hot summer, we recommend a private car tour of the villages. If the weather is comfortable, you could opt for a bicycle or moped tour.
Days 4–7: Explore Guizhou's Ethnic Villages
Tour ethnic minority villages and admire their unique traditional wooden architecture, including drum towers and Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. Experience authentic arts, such as paper-making and batik-making.
We recommend visiting the largest Dong villages in Zhaoxing. In addition to the famous Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, other less commercialized and more authentic Miao villages around Kaili are worth exploring, such as Matang, known for its distinctive dress and batik, and Jidao, famous for its ancient Miao embroidery techniques.
Day 8: Guiyang Departure
To find out more about this idea, take a look at our 8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo and Guizhou Relaxation Tour
2) 12-Day Nature and Minority Villages Exploration
Mount FanjingThis itinerary includes visits to Guizhou's gorgeous natural sites and its most famous ethnic minority villages, along with the exploration of more rustic villages and unique natural landscapes.
Start by touring the classic sights of Guilin, Yangshuo, and Longsheng. Then, take a high-speed train to Congjiang, visiting the well-known Zhaoxing Dong Village and Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village.
Next, head to Kaili to explore the more pristine and traditional surrounding villages. Continue to the ancient town of Zhenyuan for a rest, followed by a visit to the unique rock formations of Mount Fanjing.
Finally, return to Guiyang by high-speed train or car from Tongren. Alternatively, from Tongren, drive to Fenghuang Ancient Town and connect to Zhangjiajie.
- Days 1–3: Guilin
- Days 4–5: Zhaoxing Dong Village
- Day 6: Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village
- Days 7–9: Miao villages around Kaili
- Day 10: Zhenyuan Ancient Town
- Day 11: Mount Fanjing
- Day 12: Guiyang departure
Best Times to Visit Guilin and Guizhou
Guilin and Guizhou are year-round destinations. If you are looking for less rain with hot-to-mild and often sunny weather, then the autumn months from September to November are the best choice. The weather is comfortable with clear views and it is less crowded.
It is suggested to avoid going there during the summer vacation (July and August), the Labor Day holiday (May 1st–3rd), and the National Day holiday (October 1st–7th) when attractions are particularly crowded. Or try to book as early as possible if you need to visit during these periods.
Accommodation Conditions
Accommodation in Guilin: Guilin's options are more modern and diverse than Guizhou's, ranging from luxury hotels to boutique inns. If you prefer high-end hotels and want to avoid frequent changes, staying in Guilin city center is a good option. From there, you could take day trips to Longji and Yangshuo, and return to the city for the night.
For those who want to be closer to nature and experience the charm of the landscape, there are also boutique hotels in the county towns.
Accommodation in Guizhou: Compared to Guilin, Guizhou's villages are less developed but they offer a unique local flavor, especially accommodation-wise, with strong ethnic features. You could choose to stay in ethnic minority villages to fully experience the local culture and natural environment.
If you visit the original villages around Kaili, we recommend choosing accommodation in Kaili, which offers better conditions.
Food in Guilin and Guizhou
Beef in Sour SoupGuilin's cuisine is known for its fresh local flavors, with popular rustic dishes including Guilin rice noodles, beer fish, and stuffed snails. Western food options are generally available in Guilin's 4- and 5-star hotels.
Guizhou cuisine is characterized by its fragrant and spicy flavors, with notable dishes like sour soup fish and beef noodles. In Guizhou's rural villages, it may be challenging to find Western food, but in Guiyang, there are more options for Western cuisine.
Costs of a Guilin and Guizhou Tour
The cost of a private tour in Guilin and Guizhou is about US$170 per person per day (based on at least two people), including a flight/train/road journey from Guilin to Guizhou, 4-star hotels, attractions, tour guides, and all private transfers.
Helping You Create an Itinerary in Guilin and Guizhou
We hope our suggestions help you to plan your journey. If you have any ideas in mind, consider our private tour service, which provides you with infinite options for balancing price and quality perfectly. We would help you obtain the highest quality services, experiences, and flexibility within your price range. Feel free to contact us if you need help planning and arranging a trip to Guilin and Guizhou.