--- title: "Three Cities, Three Waters" description: "7 days from the Bund to a bamboo raft seeing China from three waters" type: "tour" route_id: "shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days" total_days: 7 price: 2280 highlights: ["Shanghai", "Yangshuo", "Foshan", "Guangzhou"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days" locale: "en-GB" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","zh-TW":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-TW/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days"} --- # Three Cities, Three Waters 7 days from the Bund to a bamboo raft, seeing China from three waters City, karst and delta. Yu Garden, a Li River sunrise, lion dance, Wing Chun and morning tea, with English-speaking guides at every stop. - Gentle — short walks, cable cars on climbs, seating usually nearby — City walking, one relaxed countryside ride, and a short pre-dawn stone-step climb at Xianggong Hill; no high-altitude days. ## Overview Shanghai opens on the Huangpu, Yangshuo slows the route to river pace, and Foshan closes it with lion dance, Wing Chun and morning tea. One flight and one rail leg link the three chapters. LyrikTrip travel designers ## Summary - Route ID: shanghai-guilin-guangzhou-7-days - Duration: 7 days / 6 nights - Starting price: $2,280 - Status: active - Highlights: Shanghai, Yangshuo, Foshan, Guangzhou - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/eBNpV9PK.webp ## Hero tags - private - culture - nature - food - light-active ## Highlight notes - Best for: private travellers, couples and families, first-time visitors seeking southern China - Three cities, one week, and water running through all of it. ## Selling points - Watch Pudong's towers light up across the river from the Bund at dusk. - Walk Yu Garden by morning, then let the Former French Concession turn the city's volume down. - Ride the quiet lanes along the Yulong River the day you leave Shanghai, with peaks in every direction. - Give the Li River a whole day, sunrise from Xianggong Hill and a raft past Nine-Horse Fresco Hill. - Catch a lion dance under the eaves of Foshan Ancestral Temple, then strike a Wing Chun pose yourself. - Finish on a slow morning of bamboo steamers and refilled pots in a Foshan teahouse. ## City highlights - Shanghai (2 days): garden, museum and tree-lined streets - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fmI6aigU.webp - Yangshuo (2 days): one river, dawn to dusk - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5zFw5FSH.webp - Foshan (2 days): the arts the temple kept - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/43d3e1c2c3b8.jpg - Guangzhou (1 days): morning tea and departure - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bc310a3e391c.jpg ## Experiences Three cities, one week, and water running through it all. - Yulong River Cycling (Yangshuo): an afternoon ride at a relaxed pace through the countryside along the Yulong River, on the same day you arrive from Shanghai. The route passes rice fields, farming villages, riverside paths and limestone peaks: rural southern China at handlebar height, hours after you left one of its biggest cities. - Subtitle: an afternoon ride at a relaxed pace through the countryside along the - Tags: Active - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: The route passes rice fields, farming villages, riverside paths and limestone peaks: rural southern China at handlebar height, hours after you left one of its biggest cities. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/02042b694496.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b09be4e9e978.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f08a7d5e0a6e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ed66fae24c5f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/60d1bfc0b970.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d129588d0b34.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5943b2f5538d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f3ad04674ebb.jpg - Li River Bamboo Raft at Xingping (Yangshuo): the scenic stretch of the Li River around Xingping and Nine-Horse Fresco Hill, the hill named for the horse shapes read in its cliff face. You walk Xingping's old streets first, then board the raft; this reach of the river appears on the back of China's 20-yuan banknote. - Subtitle: the scenic stretch of the Li River around Xingping and Nine-Horse Fresco - Tags: Nature - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: You walk Xingping's old streets first, then board the raft; this reach of the river appears on the back of China's 20-yuan banknote. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ffdbab928ef1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8808cbb6b428.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/111916249320.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f3ad04674ebb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7eea69cfad11.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3fe4bfb22c5b.jpg - Xianggong Hill at Sunrise (Yangshuo): A pre-dawn start and a short climb of stone steps to the platform photographers rank among the Li River's finest: the great bend below, layered peaks turning silver, then gold, as the light comes up. Mist changes the picture by the minute, which is the point. - Subtitle: Sunrise over the Li River bend - Tags: Photo - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: Mist changes the picture by the minute. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/08e757afb5b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/16653fa18065.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4ede174ee009.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7760be33afee.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7d28774a7484.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f728d8c37b0a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2d6fd62c3ee4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2ee126c13fe9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7159e7fa6afd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/56823258cae1.jpg - Riverside Afternoon Tea (Yangshuo): This source is a SINGLE translation unit. Even if it contains many lines, list items, paragraphs, or sub-sections, translate the ENTIRE source as ONE string. Do NOT produce one translation per list item or per line — the whole source becomes exactly one output string. - Subtitle: a table set beside the Li River in mid-afternoon, mountains and water - Tags: Slow - Host: Yangshuo, Yangshuo Lens — Countryside and karst calm - Access: It sits deliberately between the morning’s raft and the evening’s soft light: the pause that turns a sightseeing day into a river day. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/484bdca99f74.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6163ecd43212.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6c5367f53386.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c01fb0411dbf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/876ec4ec8b81.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ffdbab928ef1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/636bbab57542.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7eea69cfad11.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3fe4bfb22c5b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f00b6b8a0bcd.jpg - Diejiao Dragon Boat Culture (Foshan): Diejiao Water Town in Foshan, where the waterways are narrow and the bends sharp, which is the whole point of its dragon boat tradition. The programme is arranged around the confirmed local training and competition calendar in May and June: watching a crew train, catching a local race, or learning the boat, the positions and the rhythm that holds a team together. A community event, not a staged show. - Subtitle: Diejiao Water Town in Foshan, where the waterways are narrow and the - Tags: Folk - Host: Guangzhou Local Host, Guangzhou culture and logistics specialist — A local host who curates the Guangzhou chapter around access, timing and food. - Access: A community event, not a staged show. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4fea866568c3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f5dfcbfd153.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3b82811d08a7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/63fc32252f49.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5d0617ca74b8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/89c4baf7b95d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bb5d62dadde4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6359fa73ac40.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/69c4562ae420.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b2dcada3367.jpg - Aion Smart Factory Visit (Greater Bay Area): outside the dragon boat season, an introduction to China's new-energy vehicle industry: automated production lines, intelligent manufacturing, and the electric vehicle technology behind the Greater Bay Area's development. The delta's other tradition is making things. - Subtitle: outside the dragon boat season, an introduction to China's new-energy vehicle industry - Tags: Tech - Host: Guangzhou Local Host, Guangzhou culture and logistics specialist — A local host who curates the Guangzhou chapter around access, timing and food. - Access: The delta's other tradition is making things. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2e975e88d9e5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4713393049c1.jpg - Lion Dance & Martial Arts at Foshan Ancestral Temple (Foshan): a historic complex bound up with the city's religious life, martial arts and community traditions. You watch a traditional lion dance and martial arts performance, then walk the courtyards, decorative architecture and cultural displays at your own pace. - Subtitle: a historic complex bound up with the city's religious life, martial arts - Tags: Folk - Host: Guangzhou Local Host, Guangzhou culture and logistics specialist — A local host who curates the Guangzhou chapter around access, timing and food. - Access: You watch a traditional lion dance and martial arts performance, then stroll the courtyards, decorative architecture and cultural displays at your own pace. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4060f37c2872.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce602709993e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ff98e78a9f8a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/09c5c90e9e5f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3f7f3e0940a4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/07dda953aec2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4f62f1d18cec.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c8982f41d30d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/210f056614e7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d2727d6d3098.jpg - Wing Chun Experience (Foshan): a session led by a local practitioner in the art's home city: first the history and principles, then a set of fundamental stances and movements taught to you. Wing Chun is the system Ip Man taught and the first martial art Bruce Lee trained in; Foshan is where it grew up. - Subtitle: a session led by a local practitioner in the art's home city - Tags: Martial arts - Host: Guangzhou Local Host, Guangzhou culture and logistics specialist — A local host who curates the Guangzhou chapter around access, timing and food. - Access: Wing Chun is the system Ip Man taught and the first martial art Bruce Lee trained in; Foshan is where it grew up. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/979bc77425de.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9e35927f723c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f99b6bff2754.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f23a3a708cda.jpg - Cantonese Morning Tea (Foshan): A leisurely morning at a long-established Foshan teahouse, included as the last day's breakfast. Dim sum arrives in rounds: prawn dumplings, siu mai, rice noodle rolls and barbecue pork buns, with the season adding its own. Morning tea is how Lingnan socialises: families and friends around a table, tea refilled for as long as you sit. - Subtitle: a sit-down morning at a long-established Foshan teahouse, included as the last - Tags: Food - Host: Guangzhou Local Host, Guangzhou culture and logistics specialist — A local host who curates the Guangzhou chapter around access, timing and food. - Access: Morning tea is how Lingnan socialises: families and friends around a table, tea refilled for as long as you sit. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7a614a04d484.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e396db1e840d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f19eb0569240.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### Three Waters - 7 days City, Karst and Delta #### Shanghai (2 days) - Subtitle: garden, museum and tree-lined streets - Recommendation: Open with the Huangpu skyline, Yu Garden and Shanghai Museum. - Transport: Flight - Transport mode: airplane Keep arrival evening light and walk the Bund after dark. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fmI6aigU.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/13x1KtnS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Q9afrZn.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Riqjj0n.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1VrlDwIi.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vYpI6NZ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3PEjxTGx.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4EbDdFHb.webp ##### Day 1: Arrival and the two banks - (transport) — Meet the guide and transfer to the hotel. - (sight) — Walk the Huangpu riverfront after dark. ##### Day 2: Garden, museum and tree-lined streets - (sight) — Walk through pavilions, rockeries, ponds and old-city streets. - (sight) Shanghai Museum — See bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy. - (sight) — Stroll along tree-lined avenues past historic residences. #### Yangshuo (2 days) - Subtitle: one river, dawn to dusk - Recommendation: Slow the route on the Yulong and Li rivers. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Match river activities to weather, water conditions and pace. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5zFw5FSH.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3RSDiQUA.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/43ER0eM0.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4iXf7Jvh.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4LasL8DS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51gauczC.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5Pv2GT5l.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/629OKLgJ.webp ##### Day 3: To Yangshuo - (transport) — Shanghai to Guilin flight, then private transfer. - (sight) Yulong River — Cycle past rice fields, villages and riverside paths at a relaxed pace. - (note) — Free evening for local food and small shops. ##### Day 4: One river, dawn to dusk - (sight) — Pre-dawn viewpoint over the Li River bend. - (sight) — Walk through Xingping and raft past Nine-Horse Fresco Hill. - (dining) — Complimentary tea by the Li River included. #### Foshan (2 days) - Subtitle: the arts the temple kept - Recommendation: Close with lion dance, Wing Chun and morning tea. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Confirm seasonal programs and venues before arrival. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/43d3e1c2c3b8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/00a0f32ba0ae.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/346da520a391.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4060f37c2872.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4fea866568c3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/64ff5c6f754a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6ff2ccdfd38c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7a614a04d484.jpg ##### Day 5: Into the delta - (transport) — High-speed rail into the Pearl River Delta. - (sight) — May-June community calendar or the factory reception calendar outside the season. - (transport) — Private transfer from Guangzhou to Foshan for check-in. ##### Day 6: The arts the temple kept - (sight) Foshan Ancestral Temple — Historic courtyards, lion dance and martial arts. - (sight) — History, principles and fundamental stances. - (sight) — Restored buildings, ancestral halls and narrow lanes. #### Guangzhou (1 days) - Subtitle: morning tea and departure - Recommendation: Guangzhou closes the route on the Pearl River, shifting the delta from craft streets to skyline. - Transport: Private vehicle - Transport mode: car Use the last morning for Cantonese tea, then drive to Haixinsha and Zhujiang New Town before departure. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bc310a3e391c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5wcQq4Zx.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7rOa5eZw.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1983e458756c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bca40b03bf3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7a614a04d484.jpg ##### Day 7: Morning tea and departure - (dining) — Included breakfast in a long-established Foshan teahouse. - (sight) — Walk beside the Pearl River before departure. - (transport) — Transfer to Guangzhou airport or railway station. ## Daily plan ### Day 1 — Shanghai: arrival and the two banks Land, check in, walk to the river. The first lesson of Shanghai is taught at night. - Arrival: your guide meets you at arrivals and a private vehicle brings you to the hotel; the evening stays light on purpose. - The Bund after dark: you walk the riverfront promenade, historic trading houses at your back and the lit towers of Pudong across the Huangpu: one river, two centuries of the same city. You'll keep turning from one bank to the other, and quietly give up choosing between them. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: At leisure ### Day 2 — Shanghai: gardens, museums, tree-lined streets The old city, then the collections. By afternoon, Shanghai drops its voice. - Yu Garden and the old city: pavilions, rockeries, ponds and winding pathways built for slow walking; then the surrounding old-city streets, where local shops and everyday commerce press close to the garden walls. - Shanghai Museum: ancient bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy: a quiet couple of hours that put names and dates under everything else you'll see this week. - Wukang Road and the Former French Concession: you walk tree-lined avenues past historic residences and small independent shops; the scale of central Shanghai falls away street by street. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 3 — To Yangshuo: rice fields by evening A flight south, then two wheels. By dinner, the skyline is a day behind you. - Fly south: transfer to the airport for the Shanghai to Guilin flight; your Guangxi guide meets you at arrivals, and a private vehicle carries you on to Yangshuo. - Yulong River cycling: an unhurried ride past rice fields, farming villages, riverside paths and limestone peaks. This morning you stood under towers; by late afternoon the tallest things around you are made of limestone. - West Street at night: the evening is yours: local food, small shops and a lively small-town hum. - Stay: Yangshuo - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 4 — One river, dawn to dusk Up before the sky. One river gets your whole day. - Xianggong Hill at first light: you leave before dawn and climb a short flight of stone steps in the dark. The river shows itself first, a pale curve between black peaks. Then the light arrives, and the valley fills in like an ink painting you are standing inside. When someone back home asks about China, you'll start with this morning. - Xingping and the bamboo raft: you walk Xingping's old streets, then board a bamboo raft for the stretch around Nine-Horse Fresco Hill, the hill named for the horse shapes read in its cliff face; this reach of the river appears on the back of China's 20-yuan banknote. - A riverside afternoon: after lunch and a short rest, a slow walk beside the Li; in mid-afternoon a table is set for tea at the water's edge, mountains on every side. You stay on for the soft evening light, with time to photograph the fishing boats against the river. - Stay: Yangshuo - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, packed for the early start if needed; riverside afternoon tea included ### Day 5 — Into the delta A fast train out of the karst. The delta decides the afternoon. - Rail to Guangzhou: after breakfast, transfer to the station; the high-speed train carries you from the karst into the Pearl River Delta, and your Guangdong guide meets you on arrival. - May–June: dragon boats at Diejiao: Diejiao Water Town's channels are narrow and its bends sharp, which is the whole point of its dragon boat tradition. Depending on the confirmed training and competition calendar for your date, you watch a crew train, catch a local race, or learn the boat, the positions and the rhythm that holds a team together. The picture to wait for: a full crew driving a long boat into a bend that looks too narrow for it. - Outside the season: the Aion Smart Factory: an introduction to China's new-energy vehicle industry: automated production lines, intelligent manufacturing, and the electric-vehicle technology behind the Greater Bay Area's rise. - Evening in Foshan: transfer to Foshan and check in; the same hotel holds you for two nights. - Stay: Foshan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 6 — Foshan: the arts the temple kept Lion dance before lunch, your own stance after. Foshan keeps its culture in working order. - Foshan Ancestral Temple: a historic complex bound up with the city's religious life, martial arts and community traditions. You watch the lion dance and martial arts performance, then take the courtyards, decorative architecture and cultural displays at your own pace. - Wing Chun: a local practitioner walks you through the history and principles of Foshan's own martial art, then teaches you a set of fundamental stances and movements. This is the system Ip Man taught and the first art Bruce Lee trained in, and it started here. You'll feel the stance in your legs tomorrow, and be quietly pleased about it. - Lingnan Tiandi: restored historic buildings, ancestral halls and narrow lanes folded into the modern city; an easy afternoon of walking. A second night in the same hotel: no repacking. - Stay: Foshan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 7 — Morning tea, one last skyline Breakfast is the main event today. Then one last skyline on the way out. - Cantonese morning tea: a long-established Foshan teahouse, a pot that keeps being refilled, and dim sum ordered in rounds: shrimp dumplings, siu mai, rice noodle rolls and barbecue pork buns, with the season adding its own. Morning tea is how Lingnan socialises: families and friends around a shared table. Somewhere around the second pot, you'll understand why nobody here calls breakfast a quick meal. - Haixinsha and Zhujiang New Town: you check out and drive to Guangzhou; from Haixinsha, with the week's third river beside you, the towers of Zhujiang New Town show the modern face of the Greater Bay Area. - Departure: a private transfer to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or the railway station, with time to spare. - Meals: Traditional Cantonese morning tea included; other meals at leisure ## Hotels ### Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort) - City: Shanghai - Description: Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a07e8f886100.jpg ### Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel - City: Yangshuo - Description: A characterful Yangshuo stay with a countryside feel, suited to travellers who prefer charm over a standard city hotel. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hHS5RgEc.webp ### Artyzen Habitat Taopu Shanghai - City: Shanghai - Description: Lifestyle hotel in Shanghai’s Taopu area with modern design and comfort. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/jcnnQH43.webp ### Aiwei Wuxi Hotel Foshan Zumiao - City: Foshan - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/02530690da0d.jpg ### Vaperse Hotel - City: Guangzhou - Description: Vaperse Hotel. A selected stay in Guangzhou. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d92eb8a946e.jpg ### Yangshuo Mountain Retreat - City: Yangshuo - Description: A peaceful riverside retreat for travellers who want Yangshuo's karst scenery to feel close, quiet and unhurried. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2R0KYRQ9.webp ### Rezen Meili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund) - City: Shanghai - Description: Rezen Meili Hotel: classic European style in central Shanghai, steps from People's Square, the Bund and Nanjing Road. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/842LWuH4.webp ### Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel - City: Shanghai - Description: Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5xOD9FRB.webp ### Conrad Guangzhou - City: Guangzhou - Description: A curated hotel option in Guangzhou, used as the shared route hotel resource. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/gAlT7wLC.webp ### Foshan Marriott Hotel - City: Foshan - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8D0ZZr4Q.webp ### Yangshuo Elite Garden - City: Yangshuo - Description: Located in central Yangshuo near West Street and the Li River, Yangshuo Elite Garden Hotel is a comfortable four-star hotel offering convenient access to the area’s main attractions. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/31Rz8fCF.webp ### Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean - City: Shanghai - Description: Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ciHY2Qvs.webp ### Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou - City: Guangzhou - Description: Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. A selected stay in Guangzhou. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8a41f79830b6.jpg ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Internal legs: Shanghai to Guilin flight and Yangshuo to Guangzhou high-speed rail ticket - Hotels: Six nights with daily breakfast - Experiences: Li River bamboo raft, Yulong River cycling, seasonal Diejiao dragon-boat programme or Aion Smart Factory, Wing Chun, riverside afternoon tea and Cantonese morning tea ### Not Included - Long-haul: International flights - Meals: Meals not specifically listed as included ### Special Notes Some programmes depend on seasons, weather or operator calendars. - Day 5 programme: Diejiao follows the confirmed May-June community calendar; outside that season Aion follows its reception calendar. - Xianggong Hill: Sunrise light depends on the weather; the river day continues in all conditions. ## Is Seven Days Your Length? Tell us your dates and who is coming. We will keep the three-water shape and adjust the pace around it. ### Keep the full week Best when you want Shanghai, Yangshuo and Foshan without rushing the river day. ### Shorter on days We can trim the Shanghai opening or Foshan close, but the Yangshuo river day should stay whole. ## Good to Know - Language: English-speaking guides in every city - Shopping Policy: No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here. - Tailoring: Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay. - Ports: Shanghai In · Guangzhou Out - Gateway markets: Lead country marker: GB. Gateway markets from inventory: UK, WEU, CA, ANZ. United States transit-window fit is strongest for this route. ## Your Private Concierge - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tailors the pacing, hotels and local hosts to suit each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### Step 01: Tell us what excites you Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there. - 24h: First concept delivered ### Step 02: We design it around you Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else. - 100%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### Step 04: Travel. We handle the rest. Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for. - 24/7: Support throughout your journey - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): Perfect for couples - My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): Great for families - Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): Alisa made the whole experience easy - Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly - Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - What's blocked: Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN. - Download before you leave: It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working. - Hotel Wi-Fi tip: Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops. - Good news: WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - China is cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities. - International cards now work: Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning. - Carry some cash: We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns. - Booking this trip: Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - Do you need a visa?: Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval. - 240-hour visa-free transit: Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight. - Processing time: Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates. - What we provide: Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - Is China safe?: China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence. - Emergency numbers: Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary. - Health & medications: Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically. - Language: English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller. ## Before You Book Everything worth knowing before you book. ### Dragon boats or the factory: which will we get? It depends on your dates. Diejiao follows the confirmed community calendar in May and June; outside those months, Aion takes the slot on its reception calendar. ### What if the sunrise is clouded out? The light depends on the morning's weather. The Li River bend, Xingping, bamboo raft and riverside tea remain in the day. ### Why aren't lunches and dinners included? Breakfasts, riverside afternoon tea and Cantonese morning tea are included. Other meals remain flexible and are paid locally. ### How fit do I need to be? Light to moderate, with city walking, relaxed cycling and a short pre-dawn stair climb. There is no high-altitude overnight.