Guilin in May with 2 small kids

We're thinking of going to Guilin next weekend on a 3 night stay with our 2 kids aged 3 1/2 yrs and 20 mths. Having read various travel websites, we're thinking of staying the first night in Guilin, second day - visit the Longsheng rice terraces, 3rd day - Li River cruise to Yangshuo and spend a night there, 4th day return to Guilin and do some sightseeing there before taking the 9pm flight back to HKG.


Has anyone gone on a similar trip before? I got some quotations from 2 travel agents based in China and the cheapest for the 4 of us was USD1200 which includes hotel, airport-hotel-airport transfers, entrance fees to sites included in the tour program, Li River cruise, breakfast and lunch. Is this a reasonable amount? More importantly, is this a good time to go? I've looked at a 10 day weather forecast for Guilin, and I can see that it's the rainy season. If it was just me and hubby, I wouldn't mind so much but with the little ones, it would be much harder sightseeing in the rain.


Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

we sort of did 3-4 yrs ago - before we had kids. Only we stayed in Guilin and did not stay over in Yangshuo - i really liked Yangshuo tho, so, yes, go for it - stay one night there, not much to do but it is lovely. I think you can also go to a lights show there - quite spectacular i was told - dancers with torches, etc..

It was part of our trip around China, so cant really help out on the price but as for the rainy season - Guilin is VERY rainy, pretty much always - and that is part of its charm - esp when you do Li River cruise, the all say if it is a misty day, it is better than sunny, the hills look particulary spectacular.

Go for it - beatiful place!

Guilin/Yangshuo was our best trip ever with our kids (ages 4 and 7). I can't comment on prices as it depends on hotel, etc. In Guilin, we stayged in the Sheraton and actually got adjoining room with our kids. Just around the corner and up a couple blocks on a pedestrian street was a Western Restaurant that my kids liked. I think it was called Rosies or another woman's name. Sights: the Reed Flute Cave is good, there is a palace at Solitary Beauty peak. Li River Cruise takes about 5 hours - take some entertainment for the kids and maybe some food if they don't like Chinese. Yangshuo is a fairly laid back backpacker place. The Paradise Resort is probably the best place in town (4*) and there are lots of little places to eat - no problem for kids. Did bamboo rafting and Big Budha mud cave.

My Mum & step father want to go to Guilin & tour for a few days around for 5 or 7 days.


Problem is that they do not speak english at all.


Would you know any travel agencies that could organize for them a tour with a guide?


It would be a disaster if they joined these mainland chinese tours with stickers, caps following the leader & his flag...


Thanks for your help!

Thanks for all your input. The weather forecast for this weekend in Guilin says thunderstorm and rain, so I think I will postpone the trip to another weekend.


Diego, I got the quotation from a company called China Highlights. They seem to be pretty reputable but I'm not sure what language tourist guide you're looking for, so can't help in that area.