7-Day Guilin and Chongqing Private Tour of Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, Yulong River, Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges and Baoding Mountain Carved Stone

Attractions: Reed Flute Cave, Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, Ping’an Village
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Longji

Guilin

Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:30 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Reed Flute Cave in around 30 minutes ride.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan)

Upon arrival in the cave, you will into the underground karst cave and marvel at the amazing formations of stalagmites and stalactites. The Reed Flute Cave is a renowned karst cave with a great number of stalagmites and stalactites in shapes of bamboo shoots, pillars, curtains and flowers, which turns it into a splendid underground palace. Inside the cave, you could discover more astonishing sights, such as stone lions, miniature forest, pagodas and crystal chambers. Each one has a romantic or interesting story associated with it. The vivid interpretation of our guide along with the lighting add mystery to the scene. One trip to the cave lasts about 40 minutes.

Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces

After a two-hour drive we will reach the entrance for the Longji Terraces where you will buy get the Longji entrance tickets for the rice terraces in Ping’an Village, This village has the most famous and beautiful rice terraces in Longji and need about a 30-minute drive again from the entrance tickets office. The Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces is a splendid agricultural spectacle with a history of more than 650 years. The most eye-catching part of the terrace cluster is the Ping’an Village Rice Terrace, which was the earliest one discovered by tourists and photographers. Numerous narrow rice fields dug along the hill slopes form terraces connected by winding flagstone trails. There are viewing platforms for visitors to view the entire terrace fields built tier upon tier. While you are there you can also experience the minority Zhuang people’s traditional way of life. It is quite interesting to help them in the fields, try on their bright-colored ethnical costumes, and visit their unique stilted houses.

Ping’an Village

Upon arrival, Then we will take a moderate trek along steps to Ping’an Zhuang Village. The walk up takes about 40 minutes. our guide will take you on a stroll around the village where you can glimpse the local Zhuang peoples’ unique wooden stilted houses and we can have a lunch in the village. After a short lunch break, continue your terrace exploration to the No.2 Viewing Platform(Seven star with the moon), a 15-minute walk, which is a fantastic spot for a bird’s-eye view of the Longji Terraces beneath your feet. You will have enough time to take pictures and enjoy the fresh air at the platform. And then, we will head to No.1 Viewing Platform(Nine Dragons and five tigers) and need 30 minutes via the flat path. Afterwards, checking in hotel at Ping’an and is free time for you.

Attractions: Ping’an Village, Chengyang Bridge Scenic Resort
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Yangshuo

Ping’an Village

Today you will take a Dong Minority tour to the Dong Village in Sanjiang. Situated at the foot of mountains and surrounded by rivers, Dong Village features well-preserved residential houses and charming natural landscape.

Chengyang Bridge Scenic Resort

In the village, you will see the landmark constructions of Dong village, the Wind and Rain Bridge and Drum Tower.Constructed with wood and bricks, the Wind and Rain Bridge blend the styles of bridge, corridor and kiosk into a whole, reflecting the unique Dong style and the wisdom of the Dong people. The bridge was built to provide a shelter for the people who works in fields, but later became a date place for the young people and a famous attraction to visitors at home and abroad. When you see the lofty pointed tower with upturned eaves, you will know that you come to a Dong Village. The Drum Tower is always located in the center of a village, acting as the political and cultural center. Every time when the chief of the village beats the drum on the top floor, villagers will stop their work and get together around the Drum Tower.

Attractions: Yulong River, Xingping Town, Yangshuo County
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Yangshuo

Yangshuo County

In the morning, our guide will meet you at 9am and go to the Yangshuo countryside.

Yulong River

Then you will go along the Yulong River by bicycle or E-bike to immerse yourself in the local idyllic landscape for 2-3 hours. En route, you will see vast farmlands dotted with colorful wildflowers and log cabins, stretching out from the foot of rolling hills. There are sometimes peasants driving one or two oxen to plow the fields, injecting a sense of vitality into the rustic scenery.

Xingping Town

After the lunch break, we will drive for an hour to the Xingping Dock for your motorized raft journey on the Li River. On the way we will pass by Fuli Town which is renowned for a traditional handicraft – painted fans. If you are interested, we can make a short stop there.

Yangshuo County

After the boat tour, you can walking around the Xingping old street then we will drop off you at Yangshuo hotel. There is a night show option in Yangshuo. It is the ‘Impression Sanjie Liu’, performed above and on the Li River and against verdant hills. The dreamlike stage effect and original singing and dancing of national minorities have won the performance a great reputation among visitors. The show begins at 20:00 and lasts for 70 minutes; ticket prices range from CNY 268 to CNY 368 depending on the seats. If you are interested, our guide will reserve tickets for you and escort you to the site after you finish your dinner.

Attractions: Yulong River, Xianggong Mountain
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Chongqing

Yangshuo County

In the morning, our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel at around 09:00, and then escort you to the Yulong river, where you will start the Yangshuo Yulong bamboo boat tour.

Yulong River

Taking a bamboo raft ride on the Yulong River (or dragon river), a tributary of the Li River, is a very relaxing way to enjoy the highly scenic area south of Yangshuo. Here you can enjoy the stunning scenery and views of country life on a non-motorised raft in the traditional way with a gondolier who steers you over the breakwaters past many small mud-brick villages and farmlands. Once you’re on the bamboo raft, sitting and enjoying the peaceful countryside, the limestone mountains, the beauty of this experience opens out before you. Even if you have cycled the area with a few hidden stretches approaching the river, the view from the river is very different. The boat lasts for 50 minutes, one way boat ride.

Xianggong Mountain

After Yulong bamboo boat, we will drive you to see the Yangshuo Xianggong hill.We will climb for 15 minutes along a moderately sloped staircase to reach the top of Xianggong Hill. Please inform our guide in advance if you need a walking stick. Lying between the famous Yellow Cloth Shoal and the Mural Hill, Xianggong Hill is one of the greatest viewing platforms in Guilin to take in the glamour of the Li River. The supreme view of the meandering Li River making a 180-degree bend, attracts countless visitors and photographers annually.

Guilin North Railway Station Parking Lot

After the lunch,we will drive to Guilin West Railway Station, where a train to Chongqing is waiting for you. We may book the G1872 17:18-22:15 for you.The train takes around 5 hours.

Chongqing Railway Station

Upon arrival at Chongqing, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the Chongqing hotel(Driver only. no guide).

Attractions: Wulong Karst geological park, Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Chongqing

Chongqing

At around 08:30, our excellent tour guide will pick you up at your downtown Chongqing hotel for a 3-hour comfortable private vehicle drive to Wulong County.

Wulong Karst geological park

Wulong, featuring peculiar karst landforms, boasts of jaw-dropping stone bridges, caves, pits, eroded sinkholes and gorges. Wulong becomes known to foreign tourists due to Michael Bay’s hit movie – Transformers: Age of Extinction, which directly shows the majesty beauty of the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong. Besides the famous movie-site, other interesting nature objects are also in this area, like Furong Cave, Longshuixia Gap and Fairy Mountain.

Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges

After a hearty lunch at a local restaurant, your splendid Chongqing Wulong karst tour begins with the Three Natural Bridges, the essential scenic feature of this world heritage area. Exquisitely sculptured by the hands of god, the three giant stone arch bridges are real wonders that can’t be seen anywhere else in the world. Inside the tranquil scenic area, you can embrace the rugged beauty of the mountain bridges and gorges by meandering along the narrow path on the valley’s bottom. During the 2 – 2.5 hours visit, you will also stop by an ancient staging post near Qinglong Bridge, which was constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) for handling official business and receiving guests. The wooden-structured courtyards are still well preserved with more than 20 rooms remaining. After some free time to wander around, your Wulong trip from Chongqing concludes. You will be transferred back to your hotel. Upon arrival at around 18:30.

Chongqing

At the end, your guide will escort you to your Chongqing hotel.

Attractions: People’s Assembly Hall, Stilwell Museum, Ciqikou, E’ling Park
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Chongqing

Chongqing

In the morning, our driver and tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 09:00am then transfer to Chongqing city center for the city day tour.

People’s Assembly Hall

Your first stop of this tour will be The People’s Hall of Chongqing, a landmark architecture completed in 1954 to memorize China’s resistance war and establishment of new government. It is also one of the top 10 classic architectures in 20th century Asia.

Stilwell Museum/Former Residence of General Stilwell (Shidiwei Jiangjun Jiuju)

Then, you will visit Chongqing Stilwell Museum – The Flying Tiger Memorial, which was once used as an important lodging place by the KMT government to accommodate VIPs during the war against Fascism.

Ciqikou (Porcelain Port)

After the museum visit, your guide will take you to taste authentic Chongqing Hot Pot (steam bowel) which is well known and popular in China. You will challenge this hot and spicy dish for lunch to appreciate its popularity. In the afternoon, you will visit Ciqikou old town. Ciqikou received its name from making of Chinaware in ancient time. It is also a good place to explore local folklore.

E’ling Park

Your last stop in Chongqing will be the Eling Park, the highest scenic location where you could enjoy aerial views of the whole city.

Chongqing

At the end, you will be chauffeured to your hotel where this tour concludes.

Attractions: The Dazu Rock Carvings, Baoding Mountain Carved Stone
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Not Included

Chongqing

Today, you will go to Dazu County for a whole day of sightseeing (your guide will meet you at 08:30 in your hotel lobby).

The Dazu Rock Carvings

This is the birthplace of the amazing Dazu rock carvings, which were created from the late Tang dynasty (618~907) to the early Song dynasty (960~1127). With the theme of Buddhism, the Dazu cliffside carvings are distributed in Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shimenshan and Shizhuanshan. You will spend the day visiting the Baodingshan carvings located about 527 meters above sea level. It consists mainly of the Dafowan rock carvings area and the Xiaofowan rock carvings area.

Baoding Mountain Carved Stone

After the 2hrs driving, we will reach the well-preserved Baodingshan Carvings. There are green buses taking you to Baodingshan directly. You will see that mountain cliffs are densely scattered with Buddhist and Taoist statues as well as celebrity figures from the late Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). There are about 10,000 statues of Buddha carved on the 500 meter cliff in the U-shaped Dafowan. It is said to be a long narrative mural with plenty of commentary but no repeated content. You can wander at your own pace to have a close look at the precious grotto art. After the tour, a bumper lunch will be served at a fancy restaurant so that you can taste authentic Chongqing cuisines.

Chongqing

After lunch, we will drive to Chongqing West Railway Station/airport or back to Chongqing hotel. End of our 7 day Guilin to Chongqing tour services.