Kunming And Guilin, China

I want to visit Guilin so i;m wondering you guys can help me plan my trip to Guilin and Kunming. Maybe 3 days 2 night each.

Hi Ayu,
It's been a while since I've been there, so I can't give you any info on trains and hotels and things like that. But one thing I can suggest is to not spend 3 nights in Kunming if you have a limited time. In fact, unless you have something specific to see in Kunming and there is a reason you are going, I wouldn't even bother going at all. It's an ok city, but with only a week, it won't be a highlight. If you do go, just spend one full day checking the place out and it will probably be enough. Guilin on the other hand has so much to see, is beautiful, and one week is barely enough.
I think the highlights of Guilin is actually Yangshou, a smaller town not too far away by bus/taxi (I think you can take a boat too). Don't miss it. I spent 10 days or so there and loved every minute of it. I recommend renting bikes and spending a day or two just cruising around the country side. Do a hike up Moon hill for a great view. Take a raft trip down the river. And don't miss a day trip to Longsheng to see the rice terraces. It's pretty amazing.

Also bear in mind that distances in China are huge, and despite appearances on the map Kunming is a very long way from Guilin. We were planning on visiting these 2 areas when we were in China but cut down our plans to visiting just Yunnan because it was impractical. And we had 3 weeks.

Guilin is China's most picturesque city. Better than Kunming.

I think people go to Li Jiang and Dali,when in YUNAN...

When in Guilin, one must go to Yangshuo. But Guilin City, is good enough without taking the two hour bus ride to paradise Yangshuo.

Kunming to Guilin is probably 20 hours by train. Its like going to Shanghai from the South.
Unless, you are going to Dali and Lijiang, Yunan is not that important. Might as well hit Hainan island, I think its 10 Hours by bus.

We went to Guilin last November but stayed in Yangshuo for 2 nights. Signed up for a bamboo boat trip to Liugong Village, an old village, south of Yangshuo, but the unscrupulous boatman cheated us by taking us to a nearby village. Luckily, the travel agency, CITS, refunded us most of the money. Went and watched the Liu Sanjie show which was very good. Also did a boat trip at Xingping, which is the spot featured in the RMB20 note. Spent a night and day in Guilin. Went to Elephant Trunk Hill Park and Seven Stars Park. Didn't have much time at the latter park as we had a plane to catch. Anyway, it pretty much rained the whole time we were in Yangshuo and Guilin, so please check the weather forecast before you go.

Guilin Yangshuo is a nice place, you can explore this area by bike, hike or by car, even electric motorbikes. There are many activities you can do here, bamboo rafting in Yulong river, li river cruise in Xingping old town, visit old villages, Moon Hill, do hot air balloon, watch liu sanjie light and sound show. [snip]

[ Edit: Sorry, no promos please. ]