Quick answer
Use all nine days for the southern Nanning–Chongzuo–Beihai–Weizhou journey, or choose the separate eight-day Guilin–Yangshuo–Longji route. The mixed source route lists nine daily stages despite its eight-day heading.
- Each major change of area can move the luggage and the hotel. Keep those transfers visible in the planner.
- The nine-day southern and eight-day northern plans remain distinct. A shorter trip should choose a smaller region rather than compressing all their stops.
- Complete main route
- 9 days
- Suggested base
- Nanning → Chongzuo/Pingxiang → Beihai → Weizhou / Guilin → Yangshuo → Longji/Longsheng
- Planning information reviewed
- 2026-10-14
How many days to spend
The PDF prints a nine-day southern route and an eight-day northern route. A third mixed route is titled “eight days” but actually labels nine stages; that mismatch is shown openly.
- 9 days: Follow all nine southern stages in the main day plan.
- 8 days: Use the complete northern route in the module below.
- 9 listed stages days: The source’s mixed Guilin–Nanning–Beihai route has nine D labels despite its eight-day heading.
Where to stay
Nanning → Chongzuo/Pingxiang → Beihai → Weizhou
Best for: Southern nine-day journey
Keep the changes of overnight base visible. The island night requires a confirmed property and two sailings.
Guilin → Yangshuo → Longji/Longsheng
Best for: Northern eight-day journey
Plan lodging against one-way river travel and the terrace-area road transfer rather than returning to one hotel every night.
Best time to visit
- No fixed season or month-by-month claim is copied from the older guide. Check the current local forecast and visitor notices for your dates.
- Review holiday crowding, weather alerts, trail or ferry conditions, and any site-specific restrictions before travelling.
Getting around
This is a regional route, not one city arrival. Confirm each road or rail move and the actual hotel base. Detian uses its own visitor centre; Li River full cruises run one way toward Yangshuo, while Weizhou uses Beihai’s passenger port and weather-dependent sailings.
Arriving in Guangxi
The southern and northern routes start in different areas. Choose the actual Nanning or Guilin arrival and confirm each onward leg instead of treating the region as one airport stop.
Choose the station for the first overnight base; this regional marker is not a station or attraction entrance.
Transport notes
Plan from the correct arrival point
This is a regional route, not one city arrival. Confirm each road or rail move and the actual hotel base. Detian uses its own visitor centre; Li River full cruises run one way toward Yangshuo, while Weizhou uses Beihai’s passenger port and weather-dependent sailings.
A practical 9-day outline
This is the city-level sequence. Open the day-by-day itinerary for detailed stops, timing, meals, transfers and backup options.
Day 1 · 南宁
Day 1 · Arrive in Nanning
Use Nanning as the start of the PDF’s southern Guangxi route; leave the first day flexible for arrival and a city orientation.
Day 2 · 南宁 → 崇左 → 德天大瀑布
Day 2 · Chongzuo and Detian Waterfall
Travel toward Chongzuo and the Detian waterfall area; the source places the overnight in Chongzuo.
Day 3 · 崇左 → 花山壁画 → 凭祥友谊关
Day 3 · Huashan rock art and Friendship Pass
Keep the source’s heritage-and-border pairing and its suggested Pingxiang overnight.
Day 4 · 凭祥 → 南宁 → 市区游
Day 4 · Return to Nanning
Return from Pingxiang and use the remaining time for a flexible Nanning city outing, as printed.
Day 5 · 南宁 → 大明山
Day 5 · Daming Mountain
The source assigns Daming Mountain its own day and notes that an overnight near the mountain may be possible.
Day 6 · 南宁 → 北海
Day 6 · Travel to Beihai
Make the intercity transfer to Beihai and settle in for the coastal section.
Day 7 · 北海
Day 7 · Beihai day
The PDF gives Beihai a standalone day. Choose a current combination of beach, old street and food rather than relying on any one closed or changed venue.
Day 8 · 北海 → 涠洲岛
Day 8 · Beihai to Weizhou Island
Cross to Weizhou Island and keep the source’s island overnight separate from the return day.
Day 9 · 涠洲岛 → 北海
Day 9 · Weizhou Island back to Beihai
Complete the island visit and return to Beihai as the ninth printed stage.
Places and details in photos
Guangxi karst river
Guangxi waterfall
Longji rice terraces
Guilin rice noodles
Beihai sea urchin
Booking and access checks
Different water journeys
A full Li River cruise is a one-way product with separate pier and onward transport. Huashan visits and Weizhou ferries have their own operator and weather dependencies.
Border-route days
Confirm each actual stop and public-access requirement. The historical international extension does not establish current border entry or visa arrangements.
Complete northern Guangxi eight-day route
Every D1–D8 stage from the source is retained; current river, mountain and transfer details need separate checks.
- Day 1
Arrive in Guilin · 桂林
Begin the northern route in Guilin.
- Day 2
Elephant Trunk Hill and Two Rivers/Four Lakes · 桂林 → 象鼻山 → 两江四湖
The source’s Guilin sights day before the Yangshuo transfer.
- Day 3
Travel to Yangshuo · 桂林 → 阳朔
Transfer to Yangshuo and keep an overnight there.
- Day 4
Yulong River and cycling · 阳朔 → 遇龙河漂流 → 骑行
Check current river conditions and route safety before booking any activity.
- Day 5
Free day in Yangshuo · 阳朔休闲一日
A full relaxed Yangshuo day, not a transfer day.
- Day 6
Yangshuo to Longji · 阳朔 → 龙脊
Travel to the rice-terrace area for the source’s Longji overnight.
- Day 7
Longji terraces and Longsheng hot spring · 龙脊梯田 → 龙胜温泉
The source pairs terraces and hot spring; confirm present-day access.
- Day 8
Return to Guilin · 龙胜 → 十二滩峡谷漂流 → 桂林
Rafting is weather- and operator-dependent. Verify before fixing the return.
Guilin–Nanning–Beihai route: nine printed stages
- Source inconsistency: the heading calls this an “eight-day” trip, but the PDF lists D1 through D9. The stages below are reproduced as printed, not silently compressed.
- D1 桂林; D2 桂林 → 象鼻山 → 两江四湖; D3 桂林 → 阳朔.
- D4 阳朔 → 遇龙河漂流 → 骑行; D5 阳朔 → 桂林 → 南宁; D6 南宁一日.
- D7 南宁 → 北海; D8 北海 → 涠洲岛; D9 涠洲岛 → 北海一日游.
- Recheck the feasibility of the D9 island return plus Beihai touring; ferry disruption can change this sequence.
Regional food stops from the PDF
Guilin rice noodles · 桂林米粉
The PDF pairs a clear bowl photo with this Guilin staple. Toppings and sauces vary by shop.
Beihai sea urchin · 海胆
A source photograph from the coastal section; check current catch and restaurant handling before ordering.
Other regional dishes · 啤酒鱼、老友粉
Yangshuo beer fish and Nanning laoyou noodles belong to different route stages; do not treat one menu as province-wide.
Local planning tips
- Choose the north or south route before buying transport.
- Do not treat the mixed D1–D9 route as an eight-day product.
- Book Weizhou only after confirming both sailings.
- Allow a separate road-and-boat plan for Huashan and Friendship Pass rather than assuming they are neighbouring city stops.
Common planning mistakes to avoid
- Do not rely on historic prices, opening hours, contact numbers, bus routes, ferry timetables, hotel listings, or ticket conditions copied from the PDF.
- Do not assume every stop can be visited in the printed order on the same day; recheck current travel time, access, and the return journey.
- Treat route outlines as a starting point and follow current local safety, weather, and site instructions.
How to make the route work
Bases define the journey
Each major change of area can move the luggage and the hotel. Keep those transfers visible in the planner.
Retain full day divisions
The nine-day southern and eight-day northern plans remain distinct. A shorter trip should choose a smaller region rather than compressing all their stops.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I allow for Guangxi?
Use all nine days for the southern Nanning–Chongzuo–Beihai–Weizhou journey, or choose the separate eight-day Guilin–Yangshuo–Longji route. The mixed source route lists nine daily stages despite its eight-day heading. Shorter alternatives below are separate choices; they do not replace the complete main route.
Where should I stay in Guangxi?
Nanning → Chongzuo/Pingxiang → Beihai → Weizhou: Keep the changes of overnight base visible. The island night requires a confirmed property and two sailings. Guilin → Yangshuo → Longji/Longsheng: Plan lodging against one-way river travel and the terrace-area road transfer rather than returning to one hotel every night.
What should I confirm before booking?
A full Li River cruise is a one-way product with separate pier and onward transport. Huashan visits and Weizhou ferries have their own operator and weather dependencies. Confirm each actual stop and public-access requirement. The historical international extension does not establish current border entry or visa arrangements.