Day1

11: 00 Landing in Guilin, open the taste buds with a bowl of 5 yuan Rice noodles

It only takes 2.5 hours by high-speed rail from Guangzhou to Guilin (ticket price is 165 yuan), and the weariness of just getting off the train is instantly cured by the aroma of brine wafting from outside the platform. I went into the Rice noodles shop at the corner of the alley and was shocked by the price when I ordered the order - only 5 yuan for two liang of "Guilin braised vegetable noodles"! Crisp pot roast meat, sour bamboo shoots and peanuts are spread all over the bowl, poured with brine, and Rice noodles is sucked into the mouth smoothly. Finally, I understand what the local people say: "If you don't eat flour for three days, the gods can't stand still.".

14: 00 Elephant Trunk Hill Scenic Area: Unlock a landscape blockbuster with a 0 yuan ticket

Starting this year, Elephant Trunk Hill will be fully open for free! Standing at Observation Deck 2, the Li River bends into a "crescent moon" here, Elephant Trunk Hill is like a giant elephant drinking water, and the mountain crossing bridge on the other side is like a silver chain connecting the green mountains. I rented a 20 yuan ethnic costume to take a photo. As the old fisherman passed by on a bamboo raft, a white egret suddenly flew in the background. This scene is worth all my expectations!

19: 00 Zhengyang Pedestrian Street Night Market: You can get a full meal for 10 yuan

Oil tea is 5 yuan/bowl, glutinous rice wrapped in sour beans is 3 yuan, and fried insect skewers are 10 yuan/3 (I mustered up the courage to try bamboo worms, and surprisingly, they looked like burnt popcorn!). The most surprising thing is the 3 yuan/piece Ai Ye Ba, which has peanuts and sesame seeds flowing through the skin when bitten open. In the night market, you can also find bamboo combs priced at 5 yuan per pair and 3 hand embroidered sachets priced at 10 yuan, which are very affordable.

Day2

08: 30 Li River Bamboo Raft Drifting: A 4-star Experience for Only 120 yuan

I signed up for a bamboo raft group (including pick-up and drop off) for the Yangdi Xingping section, with a price of 120 yuan per person for a 4-person raft. The boatman explained the legend of Jiuma Huashan while supporting the raft, and also taught us how to identify the real and fake background of 20 yuan RMB. When passing through the reflection of the yellow cloth, the morning light dyed the mountains and waters amber, and the phone could not capture the beauty of one ten thousandth.

13: 00 Yangshuo West Street: God level snacks beyond beer fish

Avoid online stores, and buy 5 yuan/piece of Ayeye Cis in the cart of Grandma at the entrance of the alley. Black sesame peanut stuffing can be brushed! The 38 yuan/jin Li River beer fish (choose hairy bone fish) has fresh and tender meat, but what's even more stunning is the 8 yuan/bowl of locust blossom jelly - sprinkled with osmanthus honey, the sweetness glides over the tip of the tongue, and suddenly understands why Tao Yuanming retreated to the mountains and waters.

16: 00 Encounter Dragon River Cycling: Rent an electric bike for 20 yuan to cross rice paddies

I rented a small electric donkey (20 yuan/day after bargaining) and rode along the Yulong River into the Ten Mile Gallery. When passing by the Gongnong Bridge, the sunset dyed the phoenix tail bamboo golden, and white egrets swept over the water. In the distance, the smell of villagers burning firewood wafted in. I parked and bought oranges for 2 yuan/jin, and the juice is so sweet that it sticks to my hands.

Day3

07: 00 Longji Terraced Fields: 100 yuan ticket value returns to the beautiful scenery of the four seasons

I signed up for a one-day tour (including a cable car round-trip of 180 yuan), and when the cable car broke through the clouds, the entire terraced field unfolded beneath my feet. September is the harvest season, with golden rice waves cascading from the foot of the mountain to the clouds, adorned with wooden houses from the Yao village. I drank 5 yuan/bowl of glutinous rice wine at the grandma's house on the mountaintop, paired with freshly picked crispy persimmons, sweet to my heart.

14: 00 Return Surprise: Companion Gift on Airport Bus

When taking the airport bus back to Guilin (20 yuan/person), the driver recommended buying Li River Drunken Fish (35 yuan/pack) and Osmanthus Cake (15 yuan/box). I didn't expect to encounter a foreign backpacker while boarding and exchange half a bag of drunken fish for a heated discussion about the "Chinese landscape aesthetics" - it turns out that the charm of Guilin can really redefine the value of travel.

Travel Tips:

Starting from Guangzhou, choose the early high-speed train (departing at 7:05) to seamlessly connect with the Guilin itinerary

Choose Yangdi Xingping section for bamboo rafts on the Li River, avoid motorized rafts and opt for manually supported rafts

Remember to check the battery level when renting a car in Yangshuo, and use Tencent Maps for more accurate navigation

It is recommended to stay at Longji Terraced Fields for one night, as the sea of clouds in the early morning after the rain can be considered a miracle

Total cost:

Transportation (high-speed rail round-trip+local): 500 yuan

Accommodation (3-star hotel): 350 yuan

Catering+Ticket: 800 yuan

Total: 1650 yuan (spending over 1000 yuan less than the budget!)

In Guilin, poetic landscapes do not require expensive tickets, and happiness on the tongue does not require Michelin labels. This city, embraced by karst landforms, tells me in the simplest way: true luxury is to leave both the eyes and the soul fully loaded.

Recommended Guided Tours

China Historical & Landscape Tours

10 Days| Beijing-Xi'an-Guilin-Shanghai

This is a must-do tour for your first visit to China, allowing you to appreciate the magnificence of China's Golden Triangle and the poetic beauty of Guilin's landscape.