Guilin to Yangshuo Cruise (2026): Everything You Need to Know Before You Board

The first time I took a boat from Guilin to Yangshuo on the Li River was in 2014, when I was traveling around China (Guangxi and Yunnan) with a friend. I recall it was one of those rickety bamboo boats that makes you question whether you really will make it to your destination, but it was a great success and one of my best memories from traveling and living in China.

Well over a decade later, and Fabio and I wanted to give the Guilin to Yangshuo cruise another go; perhaps an upgraded version from the bamboo boats to an actual cruise. However, times are different from 2014, and when we were planning, it surprisingly wasn't easy to find conclusive information online. Many sources said to book the cruise directly with your hotel once in Guilin, but being the Type A planners that we are, we knew we wanted to lock it in before arriving in Guilin, after all we had heard it was a very popular experience.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re in the same situation, somewhere between excited and mildly overwhelmed, probably holding a 20 RMB note wondering if the scenery actually looks like that in real life. (Quick spoiler: it does, and then some.)

So consider this the guide we wish someone handed us: practical, simple, not drowning in details, sprinkled with our real experience, and leading you directly to the easiest way to book the Guilin to Yangshuo cruise, Trip.com, along with the hotels we genuinely recommend on either side.

Booking the Guilin to Yangshuo Cruise (The Easiest Way, Seriously)

Let’s get this out of the way: The easiest, least stressful way for foreigners to book the Guilin to Yangshuo cruise is Trip.com.

Chinese apps (Ctrip being the Trip.com equivalent) can be minutely cheaper, but require Chinese phone numbers, the ability to read Chinese... basically an entire Chinese identity. Trip.com does not. It just works. English interface, global payment, instant confirmation.

Between our trip and a few friends we’ve sent on this cruise, we’ve all booked through Trip.com, and none of us have ever run into a single issue.

Which Cruise Should You Choose?

There are a few options, but don’t worry, this isn’t the Titanic situation. All the boats get you to Yangshuo.

3-Star Cruise (Budget Friendly and Our Recommendation)

This is the one we chose, and we were genuinely impressed. Maybe it’s because I didn’t over-research and my expectations were shaped by a previous bamboo boat experience that felt one wobble away from disaster, but I loved it.

It’s not the world’s fanciest setup, but the interior is surprisingly cozy, and everyone gets their own comfortable seat to retreat to during lunch or whenever you’re not on the upper deck taking in the scenery.

Lunch isn’t included by default, but depending on the boat, you can order packages while you are booking or in our case, you can order simple à la carte dishes on board. The food was satisfying.

4-Star Cruise

While we didn't take the 4-star option, you can expect more comfortable seats, better views, a decent buffet-style lunch included, and generally a nicer onboard experience.

This is the one most foreign travelers choose, as it really isn't that much more expensive.

For both types of boats, here is what you can expect for departure times and duration:

• Typical departure: 9 am (we were given a range between 9 and 11:30 am and eventually the provider sent us an exact time the afternoon before)
• Duration: 4–4.5 hours

How the Guilin to Yangshuo Boat Actually Works (Step-by-Step)

We wish someone had explained it to us this clearly.

4. Boarding the Boat

Everyone shuffles on, takes pictures of literally anything, and sits.

Seats are assigned, and the hostesses will help you find them, so no need to body-check anyone for the “good spot.”

6. Arrival in Yangshuo

Chaos level: medium.

Taxi drivers, electric carts, minivans, lots of shouting.

Just walk past all that (it takes a good 10-15 minutes) and book a Didi like a normal adult with a smartphone.

Where to Stay in Guilin

If your Li River cruise leaves in the morning (and most do), staying near the pier is convenient, but it’s absolutely not required. If you’d prefer to enjoy Guilin’s food, nightlife, and river views before heading to Yangshuo, staying in the city center is a better experience.

Our Picks for Hotels in Guilin (The City)

Guilin Travel Light Inn (Railway Station Xiangshan Park Branch): Budget-friendly, clean, and walking distance to the train station + Elephant Trunk Hill. Where we personally stayed.

Lijiang Waterfall Hotel: Mid-range. Famous for the nightly “waterfall show” cascading down the front of the building. Great location right by the lakes.

Guilin Shangri-La Hotel: Upscale. Resort-style stay with a pool, gym, and river views — perfect if you want one calm night before the cruise.

Our Picks for Hotels Near the Pier

Lingchuan Liyuan Homestay: Simple, convenient, reliable... and just a short walk to the pier. Great if you don’t want a stressful morning.

Guilin Jingjiang Homestay: A clean, modern option that’s close enough to the pier without sacrificing comfort.

What You’ll See on the Cruise: Our Real Experience

As we mentioned, the cruise surprised us in so many positive ways. The last time I had taken the bamboo raft in 2014, it was the middle of winter, and it was incredibly cloudy (see picture below). While it was a mystical experience nonetheless, the endless sunshine of our most recent experience made all the colors more pronounced and added to the experience.

After getting onto the boat and finding our seats, we took off. If you are a small group, you'll likely be sharing the tables with other guests, but we don't mind the conversation. The woman and her son across from us were devout Buddhists, making for an insightful chat. Either way, we spent maybe 30 minutes maximum at our seats, as the rest of the time, we were up on the top deck taking in the scenes. Before heading up to the other decks to start taking in the scenery, a hostess came around to take our lunch order, which came out a few hours later.

There was a lot of action all around the boat. At one point, we came across a woman giving a tea oil workshop on one of the decks.

You will likely be one of the few foreigners on board, making you ideal fodder for many photos with locals, so just be ready.

A few hours in, you can head down for an early lunch and also add some optional fried seafood snack options (pairs well with a beer).

Somewhere about halfway along the Li River, after we’d given up trying to count how many peaks looked like dragons, elephants, or dragons pretending to be elephants, the scenery suddenly went full desktop wallpaper.

The river widened, the mountains sharpened, and the mist curled over the water like a movie set. We kept grabbing each other and saying, “No way this is real,” the same way we did wandering those hills in Hokkaido's Furano after one too many automated wine tastings.

We drifted past tiny riverside villages, bamboo groves, lone fishermen floating by like they’d been placed there specifically for aesthetic reasons, and then, the star, Yellow Cloth Shoal.

Yes, the one on the 20 RMB bill.
Yes, everyone pulls out the banknote to compare.
Yes, you should too... even in the age of WeChat Pay and Alipay where it is actually quite difficult to get your hands on a 20 RMB note (we used a picture on our phone, as we carry no cash with us).

After this moment, most visitors will leave the top deck and the scenery will level out a little, so it is a good time to relax on the top of the deck without all the noise. As we approached Yangshuo, the karst mountains started to come back again in full force.

Arriving in Yangshuo: What Happens Now?

Once the boat docks, you walk off into mild (but functional) chaos. Small hawkers are selling little bits of everything (we caved on the passion fruit juice). Taxi drivers swarm you like they’re auditioning for Fast and Furious: Guangxi Drift. Politely decline, walk straight ahead for 10 to 15 minutes, and open Didi.

Within minutes, you’ll be on your way to your hotel.

If you’re staying in the countryside, prepare to gasp every 30 seconds. If you’re staying near West Street, prepare for nightlife, neon, and possibly someone trying to sell you fried beer. (Yes, that’s a thing.) We stayed just outside of West Street on a more quiet street and were happy about it.

We made an entire 3-day itinerary for Yangshuo, so your onward plans are set.

Best Hotels in Yangshuo (Views That Make You Forget Wi-Fi Exists)

This is where Yangshuo shines... the hotels are ridiculous (and with incredible prices, too). Karst mountain views, riverside rooms, bamboo forests... it’s unreal.

Guilin or Yangshuo: Where Should You Stay?

Let’s simplify:

Stay in Guilin if:

• You’re flying/taking a train in or out late
• You want city vibes
• You’re just here for the cruise + airport convenience

Stay in Yangshuo if:

• You love nature
• You want mountain views from your bed
• You want to kayak, bike, or wander without plans
• You don’t mind staying somewhere so beautiful you question your life choices

Both cities complement each other, so we recommend do 1 night in Guilin + 2–3 nights in Yangshuo.

What to Pack for the Cruise (Quick & Useful)

• Passport (you actually need it)
• Light jacket for the outside deck!
• Snacks
• Camera or phone
• Power bank
• Sunglasses
• A healthy respect for sun exposure
• A few screenshots of your Trip.com booking
• Optional: 20 RMB note for the “iconic photo moment”

Note: If you are staying in Yangshuo, you will likely be bringing your entire luggage down anyway, and there is space for it on the ship.

Is the Guilin to Yangshuo Cruise Worth It? (Our Honest Take)

Absolutely. Completely. Zero hesitation.

The Guilin to Yangshuo boat is one of those rare travel experiences that is both touristy and utterly magical (up there with hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan Province). It has this slow, dreamy quality, like the river is politely telling you to chill out, sit still, and enjoy the fact that you’re floating through a real-life painting.

It’s peaceful, surreal, and unlike anything else in China.

Ready to Cruise the Li River?

Here are the links we genuinely recommend:

• Book the Guilin to Yangshuo Cruise on Trip.com
• Check trains to Guilin (alternatively, flights)
• Check Guilin Hotels
• Check Yangshuo Hotels

You’re going to love this trip, and hopefully be a lot less confused than we were the first time.