Hong Kong to Guilin: high-speed rail route and Yangshuo
This route connects Hong Kong to Guilin, China via high-speed rail through Shenzhen and Guangzhou, terminating at Guilin West Station. The journey includes a 3-hour business class train experience and access to Yangshuo's attractions including the Ten Mile Gallery bamboo rafting experience on Yulong River and the LiangSu Hotel.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Business Class on the High speed rail
- End
- Yulong River
- Stops
- 7
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Business Class on the High speed rail — Premium cabin service on China's high-speed trains offering comfortable seating, meals, and smooth travel between major cities at speeds exceeding 300 km/h.
- Ten Mile Gallery — 10-mile stretch along Yulong River named after a Chinese landscape painting scroll; visited by bamboo raft.
- Shenzhen — First major train stop; train becomes more crowded after leaving Hong Kong.
- Guangzhou — Second major train stop; train becomes very packed past Shenzhen.
- Guilin West Station — Destination of three-hour high-speed rail journey from Hong Kong Kowloon Station.
- LiangSu Hotel — Hotel check-in; features large lobby bear and rooms overlooking karst mountains.
- Yulong River — River where bamboo rafting activity takes place.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Hong Kong Kowloon Station to Guilin West takes around 3 hours on high speed rail with three different classes available.
- Timing
- High speed rail tickets can only be booked up to 2 weeks in advance. Business class sells out quickly, especially for morning trains—book during the morning of release.
- Timing
- The train gets less crowded when boarding from Hong Kong compared to stops at Shenzhen and Guangzhou where it becomes very packed.
- Where to stay
- Book a Panorama View Suite at LiangSu Hotel's Pink Castle in Yangshuo for limestone mountain views. Hotel includes free 30-minute photoshoot and infinity pool.
- Save money
- Hotel rates vary by season. Visit mid-October (low season) for approximately $350 USD per night instead of peak season prices.
- Tip
- Bamboo rafting through Ten Mile Gallery costs 200 RMB per person. Route option 6 avoids getting fully soaked while having small drops. Expect long queues even in low season.
- Timing
- Schedule helicopter or hot air balloon rides on the first day of your trip as they can be cancelled anytime without warning even in good weather.
- Tip
- Green shuttle buses run between starting and ending points of raft routes for approximately 20-30 RMB (saw 35 RMB offered).
- Food
- Try Beer Fish, a famous local Guilin dish. The restaurant 欣桂廚 on West Street in Yangshuo city centre is highly awarded and offers this specialty.
- Tip
- Nothing can be carried onto the helicopter except yourself and one phone. Helicopter tour footage can be purchased for 150 RMB.
- Tip
- Visit the 20 RMB note viewpoint in Yangshuo—it's an actual real place matching the artwork on the Chinese currency.
- Tip
- Wear water shoes or Crocs for bamboo rafting activities as feet will get wet during the experience.
Video on this route
Is this the most beautiful city in the world? 4 days in Guilin, Yangshuo