Visit Guangxi

Subtropical Guangxi borders Vietnam and the Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangdong. The province is larger than Great Britain and is famous for its unique scenery and vibrant rural culture.  The landscape is dominated by towering Karst Mountains of all shapes leaving much of the land wild and forested, while the flat lowlands are fertile and support a dense and vibrant rural agrarian economy.

People come to witness stunning natural scenery and experience the rural culture and lifestyle – it is the perfect 4^th destination in a China tour to compliment Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Guilin International Airport (KWL) is easily reached by air from all Chinese and some Southeast Asian cities. Guangxi can be visited any time of year with March through November being best.

The three main areas of attraction are Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng.
 
 

• Guilinis a city with stunning karst scenery, world class caves, fascinating Temples and is the gateway to the world famous Li River Cruise. 

• Yangshuo is a small town nestled in between the Karst Mountains for which the area is famous.  The stunning topography and unique geological formations provide the perfect setting for a multitude of activities. Yangshuo is the centre of Chinas outdoor adventure community. Though a small town, Yangshuo offers accommodation, food and activities to suit all budgets. It is the perfect destination from which you can explore the rural beauty of southwest china.

• Longsheng is a little further away and features minority villages, a peaceful natural setting and a truly picturesque mountainous landscape with unique rice terraces. Longsheng has basic and upscale boutique accommodation and is great for nature lovers seeking rural China; it can be cold in winter and is best for active clients.

Travel services
 

Transportation and accommodation service: Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng airport transfers, Flight bookings, hotel bookings

Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng tours: We offer a wide range of all inclusive tours, tailor made to suit your requests and incorporate the activities you want to do: Some of the activities we offer include the Li River Cruise (to Yangshuo), Reed Flute Cave, Liu San Jie Evening Show, Yangshuo Cooking School, Longsheng day trips or multi-night village to village walking tours, custom Yangshuo countryside tours incorporating mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, caving and/or bamboo rafting.

Day Guiding:  Join us for a day (or half day)  of adventure. From rock climbing, caving, mountain biking, trekking, abseiling and zip line to fan painting and caligraphy classes. see Yangshuo tours and activities section for more details.

Ticket issuing: If you need tickets for local events, or assistance with booking transportation, terratribes can help. Contact us for  events such as the famous Liu San Jie Evening Show (directed by the man behind the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony).

One of a kind Map of Yangshuo only available at the Terratribes shop ( a unique combination of a tourist map and contour map, feature all the key sites, geological formations, trekking routes, biking routes, climbing crags, boulder sites and kayaking routes. We believe this to be the most comprehensive outdoor activity and sightseeing map of Yangshuo).
 

Guangxi Tours 

From day guiding activities such as hiking, climbing kayaking, to 5 day guided trips of the regions’ most famous sites.  You can build the tour you like and we are happy to assist with any questions. Some popular basic itineraries which can be tailored to suit your needs can be found on the link below

Yangshuo Tours and Activities
These popular tours feature self-propelled exploration of the countryside by bike or foot with cooking and/or climbing and/or bamboo rafting. Yangshuo is one of the most beautiful areas in China with forested karst rock formations, historic mud brick villages and a montage of rural imagery.
For each combination pace is adapted to suit the clients and includes all rock climbing equipment & instruction (if applicable), a high quality bike, helmet, private transportation, driver, English speaking guide and choice of a delicious local lunch or international picnic in a scenic spot. You can choose which area to explore such as The Dragon River, The Li River, Moon Hill and Upper Li River areas.

Bike excursions:   If you are comfortable on two wheels biking is best choice to get out and experience the countryside up close through surprisingly flat rural trails weaving through farmer’s fields and karst mountains. For those seeking a tougher day of biking we can also offer longer more adventurous trails.

Rock Climbing: Yangshuo attracts some of the top climbers in the world to test their skills and also offers routes to suit all skill levels. A pair of our internationally trained professional guides can safely and seamlessly help you see the areas stunning scenery from a different perspective.

Bamboo Rafting: floating on a traditional bamboo raft offers a unique view of the region and the opportunity to see local farmers at work, water buffalo and admire the scenery.

Cooking Class: attend a boutique local cooking school based in a beautifully restored local farmhouse in a small village. With professional instruction in a hygienic open-air classroom (not always private classes) these well organized classes help you to create your own local delicacies for dinner.

Hiking: While a bike provides a pace for countryside touring that perfectly balances distance covered with the opportunity for up close experience, foot based exploration facilitates an interaction with the terrain akin to the locals and is a great choice for non-cyclists and aspiring photographers.

Kayaking: Get off the beaten track and explore the rivers with professionally trained and experienced kayak guides. Tour boats do no venture to the southern stretch of the Li River from Fuli to the 800 year old village of Liu Gong Village. Enjoy taking in the backdrop of peaks and riverside life en route.

Mud caving: Unlike a dry tourist cave, wet caves are still quite actively being shaped by water and are locally opened for tourism exploration. This experience combines accessibility with 'Indiana Jones' style adventure and lots of mud.

Overnight hiking and camping: Get away from the crowds and trek into the remote karst regions, enjoy the outdoors and wake up to a view you will never forget. The hike can be suited to your fitness level, from challenging to a gentle walk.
 

Terratribes Tailor Made

Our tours can be tailored to meet your needs. Pick and choose from several activities to create your ideal Yangshuo experience from one day to a week long adventure. For example you can do one day of activities or join several days together such as:

Day 1: Full Day Bike & Rock Climbing Tour on the Dragon River: Combine cycle based countryside exploration with the exotic new experience of rock climbing providing a well earned fresh view of the area.

Day 2: Full Day Mud Caving & Kayaking: This combination allows to explore one of the areas famous rivers at a relaxed pace and a visit to a local cave actively being shaped by water, a great way to see some cave formations in a more adventurous setting with chambers of mud youth are known to truly embrace!

Day 3: Li River Bamboo Boat and Overnight Guangxi Wilds Hike: This overnight exploration opportunity combines hiking and bamboo rafting on the finest stretch of the Li River with a hike into the Guangxi Wilds on the eastern side of the Li River including camping in a secluded location. We are one of the only companies able to provide this experience which is perfect for camping and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a realer wild rural China.
 

Yangshuo Unique Activities & Evening Tours

Evening Rural Cormorant Fishing with dinner:  After a deluxe dinner travel to a rural location to experience the site of Cormorant Fishing. Unique to Guangxi and parts of Japan, this traditional practice uses Cormorant birds who, assisted by light, dive for fish and return their catch to the Fisherman’s basket. Note that this activity is done by travelling in a boat beside the fisher and that the site of a bird not traditionally domesticated being used to assist with food production is not for everyone. This activity is not always private.

Evening Dinner & Liu San Jie Show (Standard Seats) / (VIP Seats) / (Presidential Seats): After dinner witness “Impressions: Liu San Jie”, an artistic performance created by Oscar winner director Zhang Yimou (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Beijing 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony) that features a mind-blowing cast of 500, unique use of sound and light and takes place in a private bay with a stunning backdrop of river and mountains. We are not fans of typical tourist performances but the scale and grandeur of this performance make it really unforgettable. All seats offer great views with standard being stadium style while VIP & Presidential offer more comfort and privacy. Transportation is private guided but the show has other spectators.

Traditional Fan Painting (2 Hours in Fuli): Located 25 minutes south of Yangshuo, Fuli is a less visited traditional village famous for the production of hand painted fans, a practice that continues to this day both for export and for sale in Yangshuo boutiques. Spend time learning the art of fan production and painting from a local master bringing home a unique memory and new skill in an ancient Chinese art.

Traditional Chinese Painting (2 Hours) / Chinese Calligraphy (2 Hours): Forest Lin is a local celebrity in the Yangshuo area both for his training and skill in traditional Chinese art and his flamboyant embrace of Yangshuo’s changing face. Forest loves to share his artistic knowledge with interested clients and can include some landscape t-shirt painting for families with children.

Kung Fu (2 Hours): Kung Fu, Wushu and Tai Chi are popular traditional martial arts in China practiced by both millions of people around the world. An opportunity to try these arts with a trained master in China adds a unique experience to any China visit. These activities can be arranged at a local school or location that enhances the experience and best compliments the tour.
 

Longsheng Tours

Full Day Longsheng Touring with lunch: The reason to visit Longsheng is to explore the slopes taking in the stunning vistas, agricultural activity and local customs. This tour is a day of exploring on foot with lunch and the assistance of your English speaking guide. Exact details of the day depend on you, the guide and the weather but for walking enthusiasts it offers a great opportunity to hike away from Ping’ An to Zhuang villages that other visitors don’t experience with scenery that will make the amateur photographer in you smile.

Full Day Rice Terraces, Local Farm & Rural Lifestyle Experience with lunch: The Longsheng experience is meandering through rice patties to take in the imagery and landscape of this remote agricultural area. This tour focus is to stop, get off the trail and get your feet wet working alongside a local farmer tending their land. Working alongside the farmer with the translation and interpretation of your English speaking guide our hope is that you’ll work up a good appetite and enjoy lunch. This activity is not available at all times of year and is best for families with children.

Full Day Rice Terraces & Local School Visit with lunch: The rural education system in Longsheng is unfortunately far behind that of urban China. While exploring the scenic views and culture of the area take a pause to visit a local school and do a little service work and games with the kids.

Full Day Rice Village to Village Trek with lunch & dinner: This follows an 18km trail that has connected the villages of Ping’ An, Zhongliu, Tian Tou Zhai and Dazhai for hundreds of years. We store luggage and provide a day pack to ensure client comfort. The trail provides some of the best terrace views in the area as it passes over two forested highlands and three valleys of terraces providing walking enthusiasts with an authentic, natural cultural experience of an ancient trail that is to this day the access for patties and villages that less adventurous visitors just don’t get to experience.

Full Day Longsheng Hiking return to Ping’ An with lunch: This full day touring experience takes in much of the experience and terrain of the trek but returning to Ping’ An in the evening