Guilin-Yangshuo Landscape Adventure Tour (3 Days & 2 Nights)

Description

Core Scenic Features

Daily Itinerary Details (Friend-Exclusive Experiences)

• Day 1: Guilin Old Town Food Hunt & First Li River Encounter (Landscape Kickoff Day)
  • Morning: Jingjiang Prince City · Duxiu Peak → East-West Alley (Culture & Local Vibe)
    • Itinerary: Upon arriving in Guilin, head straight to Jingjiang Prince City · Duxiu Peak. Follow the guide along the “Zhuangyuan Road” (Top Scholar Road), take a group photo in front of the cliff carving inscribed with “Guilin’s landscape is the best under heaven,” and compete to see who can recite the full poem first. Climb Duxiu Peak to overlook the panoramic view of Guilin, shout your friend’s name toward the valley below, and listen to the echo bouncing back. Later, wander East-West Alley—a street lined with Ming-Qing style buildings. Hunt for internet-famous photo spots, sample local snacks like osmanthus cake and stuffed river snails, and share every bite to taste more flavors.
    • Friend Highlights: In front of the “fortune” character carving in the prince city, playfully push each other to touch the character, and snap photos of your “fortune-grabbing” antics. Rent two sets of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) at a nearby shop—one person dresses as a scholar and the other as a swordsman—to act out a funny “Jianghu (martial arts world) encounter” skit.
  • Afternoon: Li River Bamboo Raft (Yangdi-Jiumahuashan Section) (Playful Water Fun)
    • Itinerary: Take a bamboo raft on the Li River and choose side-by-side seats. Watch the karst mountains on both banks unfold like a scroll painting as the raft glides. When the guide tells the legend of “Jiumahuashan” (Nine-Horse Painting Mountain)—a mountain face said to resemble nine horses—compete to count how many “horses” you can spot first. When the raft passes shallow shoals, grab the provided ladles and have a water fight. Laugh loudly even if you end up soaked. At the “Huangbu Reflection” spot (famous for matching the scenery on the 20 RMB banknote), take a photo together—one person holds up a 20 RMB note while the other makes a “V” sign, blending the real landscape with the printed one.
    • Friend Highlights: Sneak up on your friend with a ladle of water during the fight, and record their “drenched and shocked” reaction on your phone. Buy a grilled fish from the fishermen passing by on small boats, share it while listening to them tell old stories about the Li River.
  • Evening: Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night Cruise → East-West Alley Night Market (Night View & Snacks)
    • Itinerary: Take a night cruise on Guilin’s Two Rivers and Four Lakes (Li River, Peach Blossom River, and four scenic lakes). Watch the bridges and buildings light up, their reflections shimmering in the water like a fairyland. Lean against the boat rail with your friend and chat about old times—like skipping classes together in middle school. After the cruise, head to East-West Alley Night Market. Buy street food like stir-fried rice noodles and Guilin rice noodles, and sit at a small street table to enjoy the meal with iced soybean milk.
    • Friend Highlights: Make silly faces when the cruise photographer takes group photos, and tease each other about how funny you look when you get the photos. At the sugar painting stall in the market, ask the artist to make two sugar figures holding hands—symbolizing “friendship forever.”
• Day 2: Yulong River Rafting & Yangshuo Leisure (In-Depth Adventure Day)
  • Morning: Yulong River Bamboo Rafting (Man-Paddled Section) (Rural Charm)
    • Itinerary: Get up early and travel to Yangshuo. Take a man-powered bamboo raft on the Yulong River—a quieter, more scenic alternative to the Li River. Glide past rice fields, bamboo groves, and small villages. When the rafter sings local folk songs, hum along with them. When the raft slides over small weirs (low dams), hold your friend’s arm tightly and scream playfully to embrace the mild thrill. Stop the raft at a shallow shoal, take off your shoes, and step into the cool water. Compete to see who can catch the most small fish with your hands.
    • Friend Highlights: Ask the rafter to take a photo of you two “pretending to push each other into the river”—the dynamic shot will be a funny memory. The river water is crystal clear, so take close-up photos of the colorful stones underwater and compare whose photo is clearer.
  • Afternoon: Ten-Mile Gallery Cycling → Xingping Ancient Town (Leisurely Exploration)
    • Itinerary: Rent two bicycles (tandem bikes are a fun option for bonding) and cycle along the Ten-Mile Gallery—a road surrounded by stunning karst peaks. When you pass Moon Hill (a hill with a circular hole that looks like a moon), stop to take photos: one person stands in the “moon” hole while the other takes the shot. If you pass a strawberry farm along the way, go in to pick fresh strawberries. Eat them as you pick, and compete to find the biggest and sweetest one. Later, wander Xingping Ancient Town—a quiet, well-preserved old town. Browse the handcraft shops for ethnic-style accessories, and pick a pair of matching bracelets (one for each of you). Dine at the “Old Place” restaurant, famous for its beer fish—share the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside fish, and even playfully fight over sopping up the delicious sauce with rice.
    • Friend Highlights: If you rent a tandem bike, deliberately wobble the handlebars to make your friend scream—laugh together as you get the hang of coordinating. At the old post office in Xingping, send a postcard to each other. Write down sincere thoughts about the trip, like “This is one of the best trips we’ve had!”
  • Evening: West Street (Carnival Night Life)
    • Itinerary: Explore West Street—Yangshuo’s most lively street, filled with shops, bars, and street performers. Try on ethnic-style clothes in a boutique and take photos. Pick a bar with live music, order two cocktails, and tap your feet to the rhythm as the singer plays folk songs. When you see street performers (like magicians or musicians), clap loudly to cheer them on—even join them on stage for a quick interaction if you’re feeling bold. Late at night, order a pile of grilled skewers at a street stall, pair them with Liquan beer (a local favorite), and chat until the stalls start to close.
    • Friend Highlights: Play “Truth or Dare” in the bar—whoever loses has to go up and sing a duet with the live singer (even if you’re out of tune!). At a handmade soap shop, make DIY soaps together. Engrave your names and the trip date on them—they’ll be a unique souvenir.
• Day 3: Cave Exploration & Departure (Memory Wrap-Up Day)
  • Morning: Reed Flute Cave (Underground Wonder)
    • Itinerary: Head to Reed Flute Cave—known as the “State Guest Cave” because it has hosted many foreign leaders. Inside, you’ll see stunning stalactites and stalagmites shaped like various things (like animals or palaces). Listen to the guide tell legends about the cave’s attractions, such as “Crystal Palace” (a large chamber with glittering formations) and “Lion Seeing Off Guests” (a stalagmite that looks like a lion). Huddle with your friend and give silly nicknames to the weirdly shaped formations (like “pizza stalactite” or “teddy bear rock”). In front of the “Reflection Pool,” take a photo with the “symmetrical effect”—one person stands by the pool while the other squats on the opposite bank. The calm water will make it look like you’re “twins” standing face to face. Experience the cave’s light show—colorful lights illuminate the formations to the sound of music. Clap along and feel the magic of the underground “fairyland.”
    • Friend Highlights: Some parts of the cave are dimly lit—hold your friend’s hand and pretend to be scared to tease them. Strike funny poses in front of the stalactites, like imitating a “tall stalagmite” by standing on tiptoes. Take a set of meme-worthy photos to laugh at later.
  • Noon: Guilin Rice Noodle Culture Center (Gastronomic Farewell)
    • Itinerary: Visit the Guilin Rice Noodle Culture Center to learn about the history of Guilin’s most famous food. Experience “DIY Guilin Rice Noodles”: choose your noodles, add brine (the key flavoring), and top it with ingredients like pickled vegetables and peanuts. Make a bowl for your friend and feed it to them—then comment on each other’s “cooking skills” (even if it’s too salty or not spicy enough!). Listen to the guide talk about how the “brine secret recipe” has been passed down for generations. Buy several packs of instant Guilin rice noodles to take home—boiling them later will bring back memories of this trip.
    • Friend Highlights: Play a prank by adding a lot of chili or sour bamboo shoots to your friend’s noodles. Capture their funny reactions—like jumping around from spiciness or frowning from sourness—on camera.
  • Afternoon: Souvenir Shopping & Departure
    • Itinerary: Before leaving Guilin, go souvenir shopping. Buy local specialties like osmanthus cakes (sweet and fragrant), luohanguo (monk fruit) tea (a healthy herbal tea), and ethnic-style pendants. Pick a pair of “landscape-patterned” fridge magnets—one for each of you. Stick them on your home fridges to remind you of the beautiful mountains and rivers. On the way to the airport/train station, look through the photos and videos you took during the trip. Laugh as you tease each other about awkward moments (like falling in the river or burning your tongue on spicy food). Make a pact to go on another exciting trip soon—maybe hiking in the mountains or camping by a lake.
    • Friend Highlights: Play a “blind souvenir game”—close your eyes and pick a small gift for your friend from a shop. Guess what the other person picked before opening it. The unexpected surprises (like a weird-shaped keychain or a funny postcard) will become extra special memories.