3 days weekend escape trip to guilin-Xingping from Hong kong with hidden gem
Day 1: All Aboard to Guilin 🚅 🏞️
Kickstart your adventure by hitting up Kowloon West Station early in the morning—gotta catch that train buzz! Grab your ticket to Shenzhen North, then transfer to the train heading straight for Guilin (travel time is about 3 hours, so don’t forget those travel snacks 😎).
When you arrive at Guilin Railway Station, hop into a Didi (this app is a lifesaver in China—super cheap and convenient). Pro tip: Book your hotel by the Li River near Elephant Hill (象鼻山, address: No. 1 Shanhu North Road, Xiangshan District). You’ll be within walking distance of most must-see spots!
If you time it right, you'll check into your hotel around noon. After that, call a Didi and cruise over to Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩, address: No. 1, Ludi Road, Xiufeng District, Opening hours: 8:00-18:00). This place is mind-blowing—massive chambers with neon lights making everything pop, but honestly, I wish it was just a little more natural. Still, it’s THE must-visit cave in Guilin!
Lunch time! Head downtown and hunt down some Guilin rice noodles with pork (skip the soup for max flavor—the locals totally get it). The afternoon calls for some chill, so take a stroll through the Elephant Hill Scenic Area and snap iconic photos from the viewpoints. If you’re feeling it, try the short and easy 15-minute hike up Elephant Hill—but heads up, the views are decent, but not jaw-dropping.
Hit up Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park (Sun & Moon Pagodas, address: No. 10 Wenming Road, Xiangshan District)—the smooth lake and famous pagodas make for total Insta-worthy snaps 🌖🌗. As dusk sets in, wander through the pedestrian street market and old lanes of downtown Guilin. Try local snacks like osmanthus flower pie, rice cake, nougat, and more—you gotta taste it all!
Wrap up the evening with a visit to Jingjiang Princes’ City (靖江王城, address: No. 1 Wangcheng Road, Xiufeng District)—history vibes and a perfect ending for Day 1.
Day 2: Cruise Vibes & Adventures in Xingping 🛶🏯
Book a 4-star Li River cruise plus bamboo rafting to Xingping ancient town via your hotel (about 250 yuan/person—super worth!). In the morning, get picked up from the designated bus station and enjoy a scenic 2-hour ride to the pier, then vibe through a 1-hour downstream cruise 🌊. After, transfer onto a classic bamboo raft for another 50 minutes.
Heads-up: It’s kinda chilly and windy in winter, so pack a cozy jacket. Springtime is way more chill! Lunch is included at a local restaurant after the river cruise, then it’s off to the legendary 20 Yuan scenic spot for straight-up iconic Guilin pics 📸.
Back to the hotel in Xingping for check-in and a quick recharge. For sunset, tackle Laozhai Mountain—the n Xingping! It’s a 1-hour climb from town, but real talk, the final stretch gets tricky and steep on rocky paths. Make sure you’re feeling fit! The sunset crowds are real, but the magic is worth the patience (even if the weather isn’t totally clear).
After conquering the hike, roam Xingping Old Street—super chill at night. Grab dinner at a local spot and dive into the iconic beer fish (a Guilin tradition—still gotta try it even if it's an acquired taste) plus some stir-fried veggies and beef. Such a vibe to end an epic day!
Day 3: Secret Local Hike + Back to HK 🗺️✨
On your last day, go off the grid with a “locals-only” hike starting from the north side of the Li River, near Holiday View Inn (address: No. 56 Xinping Town). Look for the trailhead marked by a red arrow in my pic—trust, it’s a hidden gem! The 30-minute trek follows quiet landmarks, epic tea stops, and zero tourists—serious zen time! 🍵
Wrap up with one last local lu