Li River & Skyline — 8-Day Private China Tour
Li River Karst, Rice Terraces and the Shanghai Skyline — Guangzhou · Guilin · Yangshuo · Shanghai
8 days, 7 nights, and no shopping stops. From Canton to the karst river: Guangzhou, the Longji rice terraces, the Li River cruise to Yangshuo, and the Shanghai skyline — a southern route with the best of the river and the megacity.
Fully inclusive, itemised
Entrance fees, hotels, the meals in the itinerary, private transport, domestic flights and high-speed rail, and an English-speaking guide are all in the published plan. There is no per-day optional upsell list to work through on the ground.
Private, at your pace
Published as a private route for couples, families and small groups of any size. A private departure of two is the norm, not a special request — the same local guide in that city, the same private vehicle.
A local expert in each region
Every city on the route has its own licensed English-speaking guide — the Xi'an guide lives in Xi'an. Multilingual guides are available on request for French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese or Korean.
Start planning is free
Send us your dates, group size and what you would like to change. We reply with a full draft itinerary and a line-by-line price within 24 hours, and nothing is charged until you decide.
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days, 7 nights, and a deliberate rhythm: busy days alternate with lighter ones so the trip does not become a blur of monuments.
Day 1 — Arrive in Guangzhou
Guangzhou. Airport pick-up and transfer; free evening for Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street and Cantonese dim sum.
Day 2 — Guangzhou to Guilin by High-Speed Rail
Guilin. A 2.5-hour rail to Guilin; free time at Elephant Trunk Hill and East-West Alley.
Day 3 — Longji Rice Terraces
Guilin. The Dragon's Backbone rice terraces of the Zhuang and Yao minorities, with a hike along the terraced paths.
Day 4 — Guilin to Yangshuo — Li River Cruise
Yangshuo. The four-hour Li River cruise, the Paradise Scenic Area, and the Romance of the Song Dynasty show.
Day 5 — Yangshuo Countryside
Yangshuo. The Yulong River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, and a bamboo raft or cycle amid the limestone peaks and Xingping Ancient Town.
Day 6 — Yangshuo to Shanghai by Flight
Shanghai. Private transfer to Guilin airport and an afternoon flight to Shanghai.
Day 7 — Shanghai City Highlights
Shanghai. The Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and the Bund with a Huangpu River cruise.
Day 8 — Depart Shanghai
Shanghai. Private transfer to the airport for your outbound flight.
What is included
Included in the price
- All scheduled attraction entrance fees (first-gate)
- 7 nights in Ctrip 4-diamond hotels (twin room, single supplement applies)
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Licensed English-speaking local guides in every destination (other languages on request)
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and chauffeur
- Door-to-door airport and railway station transfers
- Domestic flights and high-speed rail as listed in the itinerary
- Scenic-area transport (cable car, shuttle bus, elevator) and shows where listed
- Medical and baggage insurance; 24/7 dedicated operations support
Not included
- International flights to and from China
- China visa fees and travel documentation
- Meals not explicitly stated in the itinerary, personal expenses and gratuities
- Optional activities marked optional in the day programme
- Single room supplement
- A 3% tax on the total cost
Who this tour suits
A southern China route for travellers entering via Guangzhou or Guangdong, mixing the karst countryside with a flagship city finish in Shanghai.
If you are a senior traveller or need a slower pace, tell us and we will adjust the driving days, the walking load and the hotel floor for you. Any of our other routes — Grand China, Imperial Capitals, Pandas & Buddha, Jade Dragon & Erhai, Harbin Ice & Snow, Li River & Skyline, or Peaks & Neon — can be added to this one.
Frequently asked questions
How is this tour priced?
Can the itinerary be changed?
How do we book and pay?
Do you help with China visas?
Is the trip really shopping-free?
Can you do a private trip just for us?
Credentials you can check, not claims you have to trust
We are not going to publish reviews we cannot verify. What we can do is show you the paperwork, and tell you exactly what it is and whose it is.
China Tourism Association — Important Partner
Outstanding Service Team 2024–2025
CATS Top 20 Travel Agency Brands
CATS Director Company
How this works: Wander China is the retail brand. The licensed legal entity behind every booking is Aba Prefecture Kalong Travel Service Co., Ltd. — so the association and award records above sit with the company that actually holds the tourism licence, the contracts and the insurance, not with a brand name.
The team behind your trip
We are a small company on purpose. Our core management averages more than 15 years in China's inbound travel industry, and the names below are the people who sign off on your itinerary, not a stock photo.
Richard Zheng
Handles international partner development and tailored solutions for overseas travellers, and stays with each enquiry until the departure date.
Huabin Bao
Coordinates end-to-end inbound service execution, itinerary changes and day-of-travel logistics for international guests.
Operations Desk
Licensed guides, private vehicles and a dedicated operations contact reachable around the clock throughout your trip.
Related tours
Grand China — 16 days
Imperial Capitals — 7 days
Pandas & Buddha — 7 days
Get your tailor-made version of this tour
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like changed. We reply with a full draft itinerary and a line-by-line price within 24 hours, and nothing is charged until you decide.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp +86 180 8188 7981 (Richard) or call +86 180 8188 7981.
Ask about this itinerary
Tell us your dates and group size. You get a written day-by-day plan and a line-by-line price within 24 hours — nothing is charged until you approve it.