When most people visit Guilin, they head straight to Yangshuo. If you have an extra day, I'd really recommend starting your trip in the Longji Rice Terraces instead.
This is exactly how I planned my route, and looking back, I wouldn't change a thing.
Day 1: Guilin → Longji Rice Terraces
After arriving at Guilin Railway Station, I booked a Didi directly to the Longji Rice Terraces. The drive took just over an hour and wound through beautiful mountain roads before reaching the entrance to the scenic area.
I spent the night at Qingshan No.1 Longji Courtyard, a peaceful boutique hotel tucked into the mountains with panoramic views over the rice terraces. You can find the hotel here if you'd like to include it in your itinerary.
The hotel has a beautiful coffee shop where I ended up spending far more time than I expected, simply enjoying the view with a cup of coffee. There was also a little dog that lived there and happily wandered around greeting guests, which made the place feel even more welcoming.
Although the hotel has a rustic mountain style, everything was comfortable, the atmosphere was peaceful, and the staff were incredibly kind throughout my stay.
If you're looking for somewhere quiet to slow down before continuing your trip, I can definitely recommend staying here for a night.
Day 2: Exploring the Longji Rice Terraces
The next morning, I took the Jinkeng Cable Car up to Golden Buddha Peak (Jinfo Ding), one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Longji Rice Terraces. The cable car ride itself takes around 20 minutes, and from the top you can admire endless layers of rice terraces stretching across the mountains. It's one of those landscapes that photos never quite capture. Depending on the season, the scenery transforms completely, from bright green in summer to golden before harvest, and mirror-like reflections during the planting season.
If you have more time, you can also hike to West Hill Music (Xishan Shaole), the highest viewpoint in the area and one of the best places to watch the sunrise, or Thousand Layers to Heaven (Qianceng Tianti), known for its dramatic close-up views of the terraces. Exploring all three viewpoints comfortably is best done over one to two days, while half a day is enough if you only plan to visit Golden Buddha Peak by cable car.
After spending the morning enjoying the views, I had a private taxi arranged waiting for me at the entrance that would take me to Yangshuo. The drive takes around 2.5 hours, making it an easy transfer without needing to return to Guilin first.
Looking back, spending one night in Longji before continuing to Yangshuo was the perfect balance. It gave me enough time to slow down, enjoy the terraces without rushing, and continue the journey feeling refreshed.
Day 2–3: Yangshuo
Yangshuo was the perfect second stop after Longji.
Instead of mountain villages and rice terraces, you'll find dramatic limestone peaks, rivers, bamboo rafts, cafés, boutique hotels and some of the most beautiful countryside in Guangxi.
I spent the next couple of days exploring the area, staying at two incredible hotels that I shared in detail here:
→ Where to Stay in Yangshuo: Two Hotels with Stunning River and Mountain Views
Find my Yangshuo Hotel List (Google Sheet) here.
How many days do you need in Longji?
The Longji Rice Terraces (also known as the Longsheng Rice Terraces) are made up of three main scenic areas:
- Jinkeng (Dazhai) Rice Terraces (金坑大寨梯田) – where I stayed, known for its dramatic mountain views, cable car, and excellent hiking trails.
- Ping'an Rice Terraces (平安梯田) – the most popular area, with easy access and famous viewpoints such as Nine Dragons & Five Tigers and Seven Stars with the Moon.
- Longji Ancient Zhuang Village (龙脊古壮寨) – the oldest and quietest section, perfect if you're looking for a more local experience.
If you're short on time, I'd recommend spending 2–3 days exploring the area. This gives you enough time to stay overnight, enjoy one of the scenic areas without rushing, and continue your journey.
If you enjoy hiking, photography, or simply want to experience several villages and viewpoints at a slower pace, 4 days is ideal to explore multiple sections of the Longji Rice Terraces.
For this itinerary, I chose to stay in Jinkeng (Dazhai) before continuing on to Yangshuo.
Continuing your trip
After finishing my stay in Yangshuo, I simply took the high-speed train from Yangshuo Railway Station to my next destination.
This route ended up being one of my favourite ways to explore the highlights of Guangxi because it combines two completely different landscapes without feeling rushed.
If you're planning your first trip to Guilin, I'd definitely recommend spending one night in Longji before continuing to Yangshuo. It's an easy itinerary, and you'll get to experience both the peaceful mountain terraces and the famous karst scenery that makes this part of China so special.
For this trip, I didn't visit Guilin city, but most people like to spend a day here.
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Tip for travellers: In China, most people use Trip.com to book hotels and transport. It’s the platform I’ve gotten used to myself, and honestly, I find it the most reliable option when travelling here.
I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Yangshuo. It truly is a magical place worth experiencing.
