The Essence of Guilin China

Ni Hao! Welcome to Guilin! East or west, Guilin scenery is the best. As one of China's well-known tourist scenic cities, Guilin is also a historic and cultural city with a history of over 2,000 years. Situated in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin covers an area of 27,800 square kilometers (10,734 square miles) with a population of 5 millions. The stunning unique landscape in Guilin is just like a poem "The rivers are blue satin ribbons, the hills ornaments of green jade, secluded are the caves deep and dewy, everywhere a glorious gorgeous sight.", which is shorten as "verdant hills, crystal and clear water, pretty rocks and grotesque caves". Of the hills and caves of Guilin, the most famous are Elephant Trunk Hill, Wave-Subduing Hill, Folded Brocade Hill, Reed Flute Cave and Seven-Star Cave. Amazing Li River Cruise is the highlight in Guilin that attracts thousands of tourists from home and abroad. Each of these places and many more besides, such as Seven-Star Park, Crown Cave and Four Lakes will make your Guilin journey unique and unforgettable. Your Guilin tour begins with a welcome meeting at 16:00pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travelers. Hotel Name: Guilin LAVANDE Hotel Hotel Address: No. 2 pedestrian street, Zhengyang road, Xiufeng district, Guilin Hotel Tel: +86 773 2888988 酒店名称：桂林麗枫酒店 酒店地址：桂林市秀峰区正阳路步行街2号 Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We will collect/check your passport, insurance and next of kin information at the group meeting, please have these on hand. After the meeting maybe head out to explore the pedestrian streets - with your hotel located centrally, a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. Perhaps kick off your Guilin adventure with a taste of an iconic dish - Guilin rice noodle. After dinner, take a boat trip to [two rivers and four lakes]. Guilin “two rivers and four lakes” refers to Minjiang River, Taohua River, Mulong Lake (including tiefotang), Guihu Lake, Wuhu Lake and Shanhu Lake. Its water system is 7.33 kilometers long and the area is 385,900 square meters. The project was first completed during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), when the Wuhu, Shanhu and Guihu lakes were very busy. Due to the long period, some lakes had been filled. In order to reproduce the prosperity of Guilin's “Water City” and restore the urban tour mode of the upper reaches of the Song Dynasty in Guilin, the Guilin “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” project was first proposed by the Guilin Municipal Government on September 18, 1998. After more than 1,000 days and nights of hard work by the builders, Guilin’s “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” was opened on June 2, 2002. Accommodation ★Standard Hotel (1 night) Included Activities ★Guilin - 2 Rivers and 4 Lakes Meals Included There are no meals included on this day. Special Information If you wish to arrive a few days early in Guilin, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you  (subject to availability).

After breakfast, an excursion to Longji Rice Terraces, the guide and driver will pick you up at 08:00 from your hotel. Dragon Backbone’s Rice Terraces is the most amazing terrace in China! Construction of the terraces began in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and continued until the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when construction was completed. The Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces are the culmination of both the profound wisdom and strenuous labor of the Zhuang people. The Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces is a beautiful natural picture. The linked together rice terraces vary from season to season. In spring, the water is irrigated into the fields and the terraces look like great chains or ribbons hung on the hillsides. When the onset of summer, green waves rush continuously down the mountainside from the heaven. The theme of autumn is the harvest, with the mountainside decorated with the gold of ripened millet. Coming into winter, the whole mountain will be covered with white snow, just like dragons playing with water. As well as its amazing scenery, Longji is also the area to visit to experience China’s ethnic minorities' culture. The Zhuang and the Yao nationalities live here, though mainly it is the Zhuang people. The women dress in unique and colorful costumes, singing and dancing. Guests also can join in with them to enjoy the original Zhuang life and culture, and even stay with local families enjoying both the Longji tea and the Longji wine. After the excursion, you’ll return back to Guilin hotel in the late afternoon. Accommodation ★ Standard Hotel (1 night) Included Activities ★ Longsheng - Longji Rice Terraces Optional Activities ☆ Longji Rice Terraces - Ethnic-style performance of ethnic minorities' culture Meals Included ★ Breakfast

After breakfast, the guide and driver will pick you up at hotel and drive to Li River pier (about 60 minutes driver), board a three-star cruise to visit the beautiful Li River (Guilin Mopanshan dock - Yangdi - Jiu Ma Painting Mountain - Xingping Ancient Town - Yangshuo, about 4 hours).  Li River looks like a jade-green belt, winding its way among countless marvelous mountains. Along the river, the virid inverted reflections in water, the clear pools, the fantastic waterfalls as well as other beautiful scenes make two sides of this river a picture scroll. No wonder people like to make metaphor of Li River as a colorful gallery. And when cruising Li River, people will not be afraid that the bad weather would destroy their mood because Li River will appear its different beauties in different weathers. In sunny day, people could take a raft in the river and enjoy the clear water with countless fishes wandering leisurely in it. In cloudy day, the peeped clouds and mist around the mountains by the river could also add incredible charm to Guilin. However, rainy day is the most attractive date. With the hazy cloud and mist rising on the river, mountains appear through the rain curtain now and then. All these make Li River a traditional Chinese ink painting with perfect combination of static mountains and dynamic water and floating cloud. After the boat arrives at Yangshuo pier, transfer to Yangshuo hotel and check in. The dramatic countryside surrounding Yangshuo is best seen on an optional drive through the rugged mountains in this afternoon. Pick tea leaves, make tea, drink tea and listen to the rhyme leisurely at the Seven Fairies Peak tea plantation; Stand by the first bay of Li-River and view Li-River meandering, enjoy sunlight & shadow、clouds sea、the sunrise and the rosy clouds. Discovery the mystery of the Ancient Stone Village.  This evening is free time for you. The spectacular outdoor light show/ culture show -《Impression Sanjie Liu》 staged by Zhang Yimou, director of Beijing's Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, is a definite highlight and highly recommended. Accommodation ★ Standard Hotel (1 night) Included Activities ★ Guilin/Yangshuo - Li River Cruise Optional Activities ☆Yangshuo - Seven Fairies Peak Tea Plantation + Xianggong hill + Ancient Stone Village ☆Yangshuo - Impression Sanjie Liu/ Culture Show  Meals Included ★ Breakfast

Today in Yangshuo is free time for you to explore. This is an absolutely stunning region, and every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot.  There are plenty of things to do: hire a bike and pedal through the countryside, enjoy a relaxing bamboo rafting along the Yulong river, climb up to the top of  Moon hill, discover the Karst formation in the Gold Water Cave, take an early morning Taichi or Kungfu class or just eat and drink your way around town tasting beer fish, the local speciality. Alternatively, why not get a feel for the local produce with a visit to the market, then learn to cook some Chinese dishes at the Yangshuo Cooking School. The recipes are easy to make and the ingredients are readily available outside of China, so you'll be able to recreate them like a pro once you're back home. Accommodation ★ Standard Hotel (1 night) Optional Activities ☆Yangshuo - Cycling Countryside Tour + Yulong River Bamboo Rafting + Moon Hill + Gold Water Cave Meals Included ★ Breakfast

Your Guilin tour comes to an end this morning. There are no activities on the final day and you are free to leave your accommodation at any time. Kindly Reminder: the check out time normally is 12:00. If you have booked departure transfer through Truly China Travel, please confirm the pick up time with your tour leader in advance.
Optional Activities
☆Yangshuo - Taichi or Kungfu Lesson 
☆Yangshuo - Chinese calligraphy or traditional Chinese water colour painting lesson 
Meals Included
★Breakfast