Dates: Oct. 25 – Nov. 1, 2026
South China Biking & Hiking the Li River
8 Days | Support Van Throughout.
Karst Mtns of Beautiful South China
Pre Trip Great Wall, Xi’an
Terra Cotta Warriors
Post Trip
Hong Kong Hiking, Markets
- Transfer to Pingan Village in the Longji Rice Terraces
- You’ll be met at Guilin airport after your flight from Shanghai, Beijing or Xi’an.
- Our transfer to Pingan Village in the Longji Rice Terraces will take approximately 1.5 hours through spectacular mountain scenery.
- On arrival in Pingan, we’ll have a 20 minute walk wending our way through the village to our guesthouse surrounded by rice terraces and stunning mountain views.
- Following check-in and a chance to refresh, there will be a group meeting, where you’ll meet your local tour leader, and have an opportunity to go over the details of the next week and answer any questions that you may have.
- After the group meeting, we’ll settle in for our first deliciously tasty Guangxi style evening meal.
- Stay: Liqing 2 Guesthouse | Pingan Village, Longji Rice Terraces
- After breakfast on the guesthouse outdoor balcony, we’ll head out to explore the various viewpoints above Pingan village.
- Local people still work the terraces and we’ll see people go about their daily lives.
- Colourfully dressed in pink and black traditional attire, local Yao women may show off their knee-length hair and sell handmade crafts.
- Views high above Pingan village take in the rice fields below and beyond in intricate swirling terraces that produce rice and vegetables. We’ll make our way through the terraces to Longji Village for a local lunch before returning to our guesthouse in the late afternoon. Our hosts, Keyin and Yibeng, will cook us a feast this evening and will be happy to share their home made mie jiu, or rice wine.
- Meals: BLD
- Stay: Liqing 2 Guesthouse | Pingan Village, Longji Rice Terraces
ITINERARY:
- It’s a return walk back down from Pingan after breakfast to our awaiting transport.
- We’ll drive back down the mountainside to the start point of our ride at Maonuiping village.
- After a bike briefing and set up, we’ll begin our ride on a quiet countryside road on undulating terrain with views of thick dense forest, bamboo stands and rural farmland.
- Our first leg of 25km has a few short hills but is generally tending downwards and brings us onto flat farmland at Wantian Village where we stop for a local lunch.
- After lunch, it’s a further 25km of superb riding winding our way on flat cycling paths and farmers roads through rice fields, orchards, veggie patches, and several quaint villages along the Yi River.
- Our destination is Liu San Jie Tea Plantation where we’ll settle in for an informal tea tasting of locally produced tea.
- We’ll pack up the bikes and drive a 50 min transfer to our hotel and dinner in Daxu Ancient Town.
- Meals: BLD
- Stay: Jiangjing Hotel | Daxu Ancient Town
ITINERARY:
Get ready for a breathtaking underwater experience. Caño Island offers world-class snorkeling and unforgettable aquatic encounters.
- Highlights:
- Daxu lies on the edge of the UNESCO listed Southern China Limestone Karst Area and we’ll be exploring the amazing scenery of this region.
- We’ll cycle the famous bamboo-lined Li River passing through groves of bamboo and watching the river-life along our route before heading for the hills where the views get progressively grander.
- Citrus plantations predominate in the hills as towering karst mountains surround us in all directions. There are two steady climbs and two thrilling downhills for the morning ride that brings us to a ferry crossing on the Li River.
- After crossing, we’ll continue along the other side to Yandi village for lunch.
- From Yandi we board small boats for a ride along the most spectacular section of the river to Xingping.
- Xingping is an interesting place to wander around. It sees more tourists these days, which means there are lots of little cafes and handicrafts to check out, adding to the overall charm of the place.
- We’ll head out for dinner in the old town.
- Meals: BLD
- Stay: Water and Cloud Hotel | Xingping Ancient Town
ITINERARY:
Today is a real highlight. Cycling back upstream to catch our ferry across the Li River, we’ll catch views of fishermen drifting by in a “Dr Seuss” landscape, before we hit the road again to continue a little further up the river.
- Highlights:
- Next is a steep climb out of the Li River Valley to our break stop. A further climb in a surreal landscape takes us up and over into the Yulong (Jade Dragon) River Valley, one of the prettiest in the region, where we take a winding route on flat cycle paths and back roads to 400 year old Fuli Bridge and then onto Dragon Bridge for lunch by the Yulong River.
- After lunch it’s a leisurely bamboo boat ride along the river as a local villager poles the raft through yet more exquisite scenery.
- A 20 minute walk to stretch the legs will bring us to JiuxianVillage and our traditional style hotel nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by karst mountains.
- Dinner will be served in the hotel courtyard.
- Meals: BLD
- Stay: Secret Garden Boutique Hotel | Jiuxian Ancient Town
ITINERARY:
Our last day on the bikes will take in the karst mountain scenery along the Yulong River Valley to Moon Hill.
- Highlights:
- Yangshuo’s most famous mountain is a great spot for a photo break before we continue touring the rural backroads to Liugong village back on the Li River for lunch.
- A last section brings us riverside and into bustling Yangshuo.
- After freshening up and dinner in the hotel, and perhaps a quick swim in the hotel pool, we’ll head out for a light and sound spectacular, Liu San Jie. The show was designed by Zhang Yimou, one of China’s mostcelebrated filmmakers and director of the Beijing Olympics. Employing a cast of hundreds and lighting up the surrounding karst mountain landscape, the show is a concoction of local fairy tales, traditional fishing culture, and the famous 60s film Liu San Jie which was filmed in Yangshuo.
- Meals: BLD
- Stay: Yangshuo Li River Retreat | Yangshuo
ITINERARY:
Cooking School. Free Afternoon for shopping, exploring or relaxing in Yangshuo.
- Highlights:
- A late morning start and we’re off to market to discover all the local fruits, vegetables and animal products available. Our local Yangshuo cook will guide you through the market before we head over to the cooking school for a hands on class in local Chinese cooking. Your creations are your lunch and you’re guaranteed to be well fed.
- After the cooking school you’ll have time to explore Yangshuo town, do some shopping, grab a massage or relax by the pool.
- In the evening, we’ll head out for a dinner in downtown Yangshuo.
- Meals: BLD
- Stay: Yangshuo Li River Retreat | Yangshuo
ITINERARY:
It’s time to say goodbye—but not without a final day of connection and calm. Depart with memories that will last a lifetime.
- Your transfer to Guilin North Station will take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from where you’llboard your train to Hong Kong for those continuing to the post trip
- We always do our best to stick to this itinerary, but please be aware that we can’t guarantee to follow this schedule exactly. Very infrequently, events that are out of our control mean we have to make some changes.
- 30% due at booking
- Final payment due 60 days before departure
- 20% of trip price if canceled 60+ days before departure
- 50% of trip price if canceled 30-59 days before departure
- 100% of trip price if canceled within 29 days of departure
