The river trips from Guilin get negative reviews for a reason. I'd recommend doing a shorter one in Yangshuo. I don't think the river will be too lowin Nov.

Li River Resort in Yangshuo (see yangers.com) gets good reviews. They also will organise a taxi from the airport if you don't want to stay in Guilin the first night.

If you catch the bus to Guilin, you will then need another bus or taxi to the airport. This will be a long trip but still possible to get to HK (as long as not an early morning flight) Therefore, perhaps 2 options - a taxi direct to the airport from Yangshuo, or a sleeper bus from Yangshuo to Shenzhen. You could also fly to Shenzhen rather than HK if you want to save money.

Sorry - should be Li River Retreat.

Thanks! I'm reading more and more posts that suggest going direct to Yangshuo rather than the river cruise - as you suggest. I think I'll follow that advice.

I took the best shots in Yangshuo. We hired a driver to take us to the countryside. There were no issues with a large camera.

There is a photo op on every corner! We got a kick photographing the water buffalo, the kids, the karsts in any light. I have wayyyyy too many photos of the karst just outside my room at the Li River Retreat. In one the sky is purple, another pink, another blue....and on and on.

Hi all! Since I posted the original message my travel plans have been on hold. But I keep checking back for messages and enjoy reading all the posts. I feel like I am living vicariously through all of you who have visited. I used to take travel for granted; it was nothing for me to add on a few days in interesting places when I travelled for business. Now that is all history and I am left with wanderlust. I'm blessed to have a great job but travel budgets are cut to the bone. I'm still longing to see Yangshuo and am confident that I can be safe on my own. I'm going to split my next 2 trips to China into two different goals. One will be to Hong Kong and then Yangshuo via Shenzhen and I will spend a whole week in Yangshuo. The other will be to Beijing where I will spend a week enjoying that city and photographing the Hutongs. I will do one organized tour which will the the chinaguide overnight on the Great Wall. The point is that all this wanderlust will now need to be on my own dime and frankly that is not a bad thing. It makes me value the expectation all the more. It may take me a bit longer to save the money but every hour of the flight will be more worthwhile and the anticipation will be amazing. I don't post often but I read everything on this forum. Please keep up the posts..it feeds my dream of getting there :)))

Most of hotels arrange pickup.

If you want to shoot li river you should shoot in the early morning for the best veiw of li river.

Cormorant fishermen ask tourists pay for their pose.

You can get back to Guilin at the same day.

It is safe in Guilin and Yangshuo and Guilin.