Guilin 5-Day Hard-Learned Lessons: Don’t Let Your Spending Mindset Collapse, This Is the Right Way to Travel

1. Trip Overview

✅ Route: Guilin City → Yangshuo → Longji Terraced Fields (reverse off-peak, focusing on fewer crowds and beautiful scenery 💰 saving)
✅ Highlights: Check in at Li River bamboo raft, Yulong River sunset, Longji autumn colors, avoid being “fleeced” by tourist spots

2. Daily Itinerary + Pitfall Avoidance Guide

🔹 Day 1: Guilin City "Classic First Impression · Money-Saving Tips"

📍 Must-visit:
🌄 Elephant Trunk Hill Scenic Area: Don’t spend 💰50 on the main ticket! Head straight to "Zizhou Park" for a free distant view of Elephant Trunk Hill, tricky photo spots for great shots, saving enough for a bowl of rice noodles 🍜
🏯 Jingjiang Princes’ City: Tour the ancient palace and climb Duxiu Peak for a panoramic view of Guilin city (half price with student ID! Don’t buy expensive guided tours, eavesdrop on locals chatting about history)
🏮 Dongxi and Xixiang Alleys: Ming and Qing dynasty ancient streets for food and shopping, look for "Chongshan Rice Noodles" and "Old Dongjiang Rice Noodles," authentic Guilin rice noodles for 10 yuan, ignore tourist trap “ancestral” gimmick shops

💡 Avoid: Don’t take the 💰200+ Two Rivers and Four Lakes boat tour! For night tours, choose to walk around Rong Lake + Shan Lake, see the Sun and Moon Twin Towers and glass bridge night view, enjoy the atmosphere for free ✨

🔹 Day 2: Yangshuo "Soul of Mountains and Rivers Check-in · Pitfall King"

📍 Activities:
🚢 Li River Bamboo Raft: Focus on the "Yangdi-Xingping section," a 20 yuan RMB iconic photo spot! Book tickets in advance on the "Guilin Tourism Official Platform," don’t trust overpriced black-market agents at the dock
🏘️ Xingping Ancient Town: Stroll the old street and try "Ai Leaf Baba," don’t buy overpriced “Li River rare stones,” they’re mass-produced goods…
🚴 Yulong River Cycling: Rent an electric bike to leisurely tour along the river (💰30/day), sunset at Gongnong Bridge 🌇 is breathtaking! Don’t join group “cycling packages,” freedom is better

🍜 Food: Xie Sanjie Beer Fish choose "Li River grass carp," don’t fall for “wild fish” price traps! Look for "Skinny Rice Noodles," a hidden delicious spot in an alley, 10 yuan fills you up

🔹 Day 3: Yangshuo "Deep Culture · Hidden Gems"

📍 Secret route:
🌿 Ten-Mile Gallery: Rent an electric scooter for a slow ride (💰30/day), visit Totem Ancient Road and Big Banyan Tree along the way, don’t buy combo tickets!
🌉 Fuli Bridge: Few people and beautiful scenery! Ancient bridge at the source of Yulong River, shoot bamboo rafts passing under 🚣♂️ 100% photo success rate, quieter than popular spots
🏨 Yangshuo Tangshe: Check in at the trendy hotel’s public area, see the clash of mountains, rivers, and old sugar factory architecture, take great photos for free, don’t waste money on expensive rooms

🍢 Food: Must-eat "Skinny Rice Noodles" hidden in alleys! Xie Sanjie Beer Fish choose live fish freshly killed, don’t fall for “sky-high fish” scams

🔹 Day 4: Longji Terraced Fields "Terrace Light and Shadow · Refuse to Be Overcharged"

📍 Activities:
🌾 Jinkeng Dazhai: Take the cable car to see the thousand-layer terraces (💰100 round trip), chase the sunset in the evening 🌄 Stay in Yao village wooden houses, experience long table feast + bonfire (choose homestays with meals included, don’t trust “tribe self-paid projects”)
🚌 Transport: Take a direct bus from Guilin North Bus Station (💰50/person), don’t join one-day tour groups! Travel freely and take photos as long as you want

💡 Tips: Visit in October-November for golden rice or April-May for water planting season! Don’t trust “guide ticket evasion,” buying tickets officially is worry-free and safe

🔹 Day 5: Guilin "Return Route · Efficient Check-in"

📍 Alternatives:
For caves, choose "Reed Flute Cave" to see karst wonders (don’t buy expensive guided tours, follow the free audio guide to hear stories); For art lovers, rush to the "New Guilin Museum," beautiful architecture + comprehensive exhibits, free admission to learn more
🎁 Souvenirs: Buy "Guilin Maojian Tea" and "Osmanthus Cake," choose established brands (like "Huaqiao"), don’t buy “no brand packaging” goods from tourist spots

3. Total Cost Reference (Per Person 1500-2000 RMB 🔥)

✅ Transport: City taxis + intercity buses, keep within 💰200
✅ Accommodation: City chain hotels + Yangshuo homestays, 4 nights about 💰600-800
✅ Tickets: Elephant Trunk Hill (Zizhou free) + Li River bamboo raft + Longji Terraced Fields, about 💰300
✅ Food: 💰50-80 per day, enjoy rice noodles, beer fish, Ai Leaf Baba