Itinerary · 10 days · relaxed
Photography focus — Yunnan and Guilin, 10 days
Ten days through two of China's most photogenic landscapes: Yunnan's terraced rice fields and highland villages, followed by the karst pinnacles and river mist of Guilin and Yangshuo.
This itinerary is planned around light — early mornings at the Yuanyang terraces for sunrise mist, golden-hour sessions in the karst hills of Yangshuo. The pace is relaxed precisely because photography requires waiting: for the right light, the right weather, the right crowd density. Both Yunnan and Guilin reward repeat visits to the same location at different times of day. Pack a tripod.
Day by day
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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)
| Backpacker | ¥1800 |
| Mid-range | ¥4500 |
| Comfortable | ¥10000 |
Per person total 10 days including domestic flights (approx ¥1,000) and private car hire (approx ¥500 for Yuanyang). International flights excluded.
Cities covered
Attractions covered
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