Photography focus — Yunnan and Guilin, 10 days

Day by day

1. Day 1 · kunming

   Arrive Kunming, orientation

   Arrive KMG. Rest and organise equipment. Green Lake Park in the late afternoon for a low-pressure warm-up shoot — local elderly residents playing chess and flying kites are good subjects.

   Stay in: Kunming city, near Green Lake.

2. Day 2 · yuanyang

   Drive to Yuanyang

   Private car or bus to Yuanyang (4h south of Kunming). The Hani rice terraces here are carved into steep hillsides at 1,200m — at their finest in winter and spring when flooded. Arrive in time to scout the Duoyishu viewpoint for tomorrow's dawn shoot.

   Attractions: yuanyang-rice-terraces

   Stay in: Yuanyang New Town or a guesthouse near the Duoyishu viewpoint.

   Private car or bus KMG → Yuanyang, 4h.

3. Day 3 · yuanyang

   Yuanyang terraces — sunrise and sunrise mist

   Pre-dawn drive to Duoyishu viewpoint (6:30am sunrise varies by season). The terraces fill with mist and light for approximately 90 minutes at dawn. Return for breakfast. Afternoon: Bada and Laohuzui viewpoints for different angles and light quality. Second sunset shoot if weather is good.

   Attractions: yuanyang-rice-terraces

4. Day 4 · yuanyang

   Village markets, terraced paths

   Morning walk along the terrace bunds — the working paths between flooded paddies at low level give ground-perspective shots unavailable from the viewpoints. Hani and Yi minority villages in the valley. Afternoon return to Kunming or onward to Jianshui.

   Attractions: yuanyang-rice-terraces

5. Day 5 · kunming

   Return Kunming, flight to Guilin

   Return drive to Kunming (4h). Afternoon flight KMG → KWL (1.5h). Arrive Guilin late afternoon. Walk the Two Rivers and Four Lakes illuminated waterway.

   Attractions: reed-flute-cave

   Stay in: Guilin city, near Elephant Trunk Hill.

   Flight KMG → KWL, 1.5h, ¥400–600.

6. Day 6 · guilin

   Li River and karst hills by boat

   Morning Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4.5h). The karst peaks appear gradually and persist for the full journey — classic images of mist-wrapped pinnacles are more likely in spring. Arrive Yangshuo early afternoon.

   Stay in: Yangshuo — guesthouse on the edge of the West Street tourist zone, near open countryside.

   Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo, 4.5h, ¥220–330.

7. Day 7 · yangshuo

   Yulong River, golden-hour karst

   Morning bamboo raft on the Yulong River — quieter than the Li, with fishermen and water buffalo. Hire a bicycle after noon and ride into the surrounding countryside. The flat light at 4–6pm across the rice fields with the karst backdrop is the Yangshuo shot.

   Attractions: yulong-river-bamboo-rafting

8. Day 8 · yangshuo

   Moon Hill, Xingping village

   Morning climb to Moon Hill arch (40 min from base) for elevated karst views. Afternoon at Xingping village (20km north on the Li River) — the 20-yuan note landscape viewpoint is here. Return Yangshuo by bus.

9. Day 9 · longji

   Longji rice terraces

   Day trip from Yangshuo or overnight north toward Longji (3h by organised car or bus). The Longji dragon-spine terraces run across multiple ridges — Ping'an and Dazhai viewpoints. The terraces are flooded in spring, harvested in autumn, and snow-dusted in winter. Each season is photographically distinct.

   Attractions: longji-rice-terraces

10. Day 10 · guilin

    Return Guilin, depart

    Return to Guilin by bus (2h). Reed Flute Cave if time allows before the airport. Fly out from KWL.

    Attractions: reed-flute-cave

    Bus Yangshuo → Guilin 2h, then flight KWL → onward.

Budget guide (CNY per day)

Per person total 10 days including domestic flights (approx ¥1,000) and private car hire (approx ¥500 for Yuanyang). International flights excluded.