You should hire a car to get there from Guilin as it is around 2 and half hour to get there from Guilin, about 3 and half hour to get there from Yangshuo. I am local of this area and you can visit www.guilinprivatetours.com, Suggested itinerary for your refrence as follows.
Day 1. Guilin city tour, including Elephant Hill, Yao Mountain by cable car to the top to see the view of Guilin and country. Reed Flute Cave.
Day 2. Rice Terrace one day tour, drive back to Guilin and stay overnight there.
Day 3. Li River Cruise. stay in Yangshuo.
Day 4. Yangshuo coutryside tour, visit vilages, Yulong River, do bamboo rafting, Moon Hill. Stay in Yangshuo.
Day 5. Visit Xingping old town and Fuli old town, visit local market at Xingping or Fuli town. Stay in Yangshuo.
Our hotel sent a car to the Guilin airport to pick us up and take us to Yangshuo. On the way back, we had our guide make the arrangements. We toured the longji rice terraces and it was beautiful. There were not a lot of tourists there which was nice and the view was spectacular. On the way we stopped at a tea farm and had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony which was fun. The drive was pretty windy though so you may want some Dramamine if you get car sick like myself.
Two night in Guilin ,and 4 nights Yangshuo. It wil cost 2 and half hours from Guilin to Yangshuo, and if you are budged you could chooose one day short tour to Longji but for this tour is not to Dazhai only to Pingan Village. If you want to Dazhai you could choose privacy tour but it will expensive. You still can do by yourself they have bus from Guilin to Longsheng and then change bus to Longji.
rosebruce,
What everyone else has said about the Dragons backbone is correct however you will be visiting in Winter and the terraces may be bare with the rice harvested late Autumn. They are however still worth a look because even bare they are spectacular and a chance to see some of China's minority groups in the area.
If you would like to see a slide show of the terraces contact me on pwintle00@hotmail.com and I will send it to you I am unfortunately unable to send it in this forum
Lucky Aussie
I don't know about the Dragon's Backbone, since I haven't been there. But I've been doing my research for the rice terraces at Yuanyang, and this time of year would be the best to see them, especially if you're a photographer. The terraces are devoid of growth but full of water, so you get marvellous sunrise/sunset photos when the lighting and weather is right.
jadeleo,
You have any idea of the cost of the itenerary you suggested on november post (without hotels).
How much we should pay a guide/driver for such 5 day trip?
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