Top Things to do in Guilin

Longsheng Terraced Rice Fields
Visitors to Guilin should consider visiting Longji(Dragon’s Backbone) Terraced rice fields . It is famed for its terraced rice fields. The mountain range was turned into rice fields by minority peoples who were forced into the mountains thousands of years ago. The area is unique in that members of the Yao, Dong, and Miao Ethnic Minority Groups coexist together and their cultures in this part of Guilin are unique in that they have taken aspects of each other’s cultures and combined them into their own. In each season, Longsheng looks different and no time is a bad time to visit.

Li River Cruise/Boat Cruise
The Li River Cruise is the highlight of all Guilin tours. The cruise starts in Guilin and ends in Yangshuo and is over eighty kilometers long. The Li River passes by some of the most beautiful landscape on earth. It is like an ancient Chinese landscape painting come to life as you slowly cruise by bamboo groves, ancient villages, fishermen on bamboo rafts, and locals washing their laundry in the river. It is a very special experience. The karst mountains that line the river are very unique and many of them have been formed by millennia into different shapes. Many of them are named and are surrounded by interesting legends. Below are a few of the more famous formations.
A typical cruising boat has 72 to 108 seats and two decks. The second deck is a viewing deck.

Li River Hiking
Walking on the rough bank formed by cobble stones along the limpid Li River, passing some lively rice paddies and fishing villages, and getting immersed in the verdant hills,experience the locals' life style and the breathtaking natural beauty of Guilin is truly worth your effort to get on a trek.

Two River Four Lakes Night Boat Cruise
The Two Rivers and Four Lakes is one of the most beautiful scenic areas in downtown Guilin. It is a natural water loop formed by four lakes and two rivers that enclose the downtown Guilin passing the most beautiful spectacles of the city. At night the area is especially lovely when its many lanterns and lights are all lit on.
The Guilin night boat cruise takes about 2 hours.

Cycling in the Countryside
Experience the hustle & bustle of the Yangshuo traffic for 10 minutes before you escape onto the country roads, lanes and tracks of the distinctive and beautiful Yangshuo countryside. Biking alongside the paddy field and orchards that surround the famous mountains will give a fascinating insight into life in rural China. You will have a family visit on the half way. It is an opportunity to see a real country life and talk to the local famers.

Hill Climbing
There is always a lot of fun to climb up a limestone mountain or hill to get a beautiful view of the surrounding. Some of the most beautiful and popular hills for climbers are Elephant Trunk Hill, Solitary Beauty Peak, and Fubo Hill in Guilin city, and Moon Hill in Yangshuo. Climbing the limestone hills in Guilin region is relaxing as the most hills are less than 300 meters high. And the views on the peaks you can get a wonderful panorama of Guilin City.

Rock Climbing in Yangshuo
If you feel climbing a hill is too easy and are looking for some challenges and excitements, you can try rock climbing in Yangshuo, a paradise for rock-climbers. The rock climbing clubs in Yangshuo are professional and practicing strict safety rules. The difficulty levels of rock climbing routes in Yangshuo range from entry level to hardest level. No matter what your level is, give it try and you will be proud of the decision you made.

Taiji Learning in Yangshuo
Taiji (Tai Chi) is a kind of traditional Chinese martial arts. Like many other martial arts, people practice Tai Chi to keep their bodies healthy. However, instead of cultivating strength and speed like most martial arts, Tai Chi cultivates through a form where the movements are practiced in a continuous, slow, soft and round way and it emphases openness, quietness, relaxation, flexibility, coordination, roundness, softness and awareness, on finding a balance of everything you.

Cooking Class
It is always a good idea to go for a cooking class during your trip in Guilin. Guilin cuisine has relatively strong taste noted for its sweetness and use of spices and chili. Some of wild plants and animals are found in local dishes. You can learn how to cook the local cuisine and then enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Chinese Painting and Calligrapy Learning
Chinese painting has a long history more than 2,000 years. During the Warring States Period, there was painting on silk. Since ancient time, Chinese Painting divided into three subjects- figures, landscapes, flowers and birds. Chinese Calligraphy came out at the same time with the Chinese Painting. Chinese Calligraphy and Chinese Painting has a long history as unique Oriental art.
The basic equipments for practicing Chinese calligraphy and painting: brush pen and ink, paper and ink stone.