Before we begin with anything else, this travel guide will cover Guangzhou, Yangshuo, Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang. These are the destinations we recommend when travelling to South China since it includes the most photogenic and amazing natural landscapes, crazy beautiful ones that only China has. If you are a nature lover and a landscape photographer or just want to visit China, then I highly recommend reading ’til the end…
THE ROUTE:
Tourist Spots we will cover are:
- Canton Tower and Pearl River (Guangzhou)
- Li River and Lao Tzai Hill (Yangshuo, Guilin)
- Avatar mountains (Zhangjiajie, Hunan)
- Fenghuang Ancient City (Fenghuang, Hunan)
A Brief Introduction
Southern China includes the provinces of Guangdong, Henan, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as well as Hongkong and Macau. To the west is Guangxi which is less developed with lots of minorities and to the north is Guilin, a rather famous destination for tourists, known for its magical landscapes and natural scenery. Hainan island meanwhile is known as a tropical destination whereas HongKong (see must visit spots here) speaks for itself as a rather bustling destination with magnificfent skylines, while Macau sets itself apart as the “Las Vegas of Asia”. Guangzhou is a port on the north of Hongkong that boasts of it’s architecture, and has been China’s busiest trading center for centuries. It’s one of China’s biggest cities and our starting point for this Travel Guide.
FACTS and PRE-TRIP PREPARATIONS:
Currency: Yuan
Language: Mandarin
Visa: Needed (2 Weeks Approval Time)
Payment : Cash, WeChat, AliPay
Socket :
Suggested Apps to Download:
- Lots of VPN ( trust me)
- Dear Translate/ Google Translate / U Dictionary
- Didi ( Grab or Uber Version in China)
- Google Maps / Baidu Maps
How to Get There
We flew from Clark to Guangzhou via Cebu Pacific Air and it took us less that three hours to get there. Cebu Pacific also offers flights to Guangzhou and Shenzen straight from Manila and if you are coming from the Philippines, then I suggest booking your flights here because of it’s low base fares and offers direct flights already. They also opened a direct flight from Clark just last year, so it’s become super convenient for you weary travellers.
If you are coming from elsewhere, It’s advised to jump off from either Guangzhou or Shenzen since from there, the first stop in the itinerary will be Guilin, and coming from these two points will be easier should you follow our itinerary.
Book Affordable Flights to Guangzhou or Shenzen HERE.
Baiyun International Airport
Weather
Southern china has an almost tropical climate with hot summers whilst their spring is pleasant and dry and winter is mildly cold. Central China however, has almost continual rainfall while their summers can reach 29°C and winters that are really cold and can reach 0 to -4°C from December to February. Brrr….
Best months to Visit?
September- October is a great time. Also March to May are the best months to plan a trip here.
What to Do / Destination:
GUANGZHOU
Visit the Canton Tower – no entrance fee
Enjoy the sunset at Li River – no entrance fee
Beijing Road Commercial Tower – shopping malls, try the local street food, hunt for souvenirs
Feast on Dimsum! – don’t miss out on authentic dimsum when in Guangzhou
YANGSHUO
Hike up Lao Zhai Hill- around 1.5 hr hike, steep and narrow pathways with a rewarding view at the top (exercise caution when hiking as there are no hand rails and rocks are uneven)
Rafting or Cruising in Li River
Cormorant Fishing
Enjoy Xingping Town at Night
ZHANGJIAJIE
Explore the Avatar Mountains- Tianzi Mountain, Hallelujah Mountains, Bailong Elevator
Cruise in Baofeng Lake
Walk around Zhangjiajie
FENGHUANG
Explore Houses on Stilts
Enjoy their nightlife
Shop their night market
Budget Guide
Accommodation: 178Y + 387Y (3 nights) + 130Y + 128Y = 823Y/2 persons = 450Y per person for 4 nights (rounded up from 411.5Y)
Transportation: 526 + 755 + 144 + 10 + 375 + 450 = 2,260/2 persons = 1,200Y per person for 8 days and 7 nights (rounded up from 1,130Y)
NOTE: There were days when we walked around more and days where we took taxis instead of riding the bus so adjust the budget to your preferred mode of transportation!
Food: Our AVG spending per meal was 50Y as there are a lot of budget-friendly options for you to choose from! 50 x 4 meals x 8 days = 1,600Y/2 persons = 800Y per person for 8 days
Entrance/Admission Fees: Our rounded up expenses for all the admission fees (plus tips here and there) only cost about 720Y. 720Y/2 persons = 360Y per person for 8 days
Note: The above guide was based off of our expenses during our stay. Some prices may have changed and/or no longer available. Always counter-check with other itineraries or budget guides for a more accurate estimate! You may adjust it depending on the way you would like your travel experience to go!
Sample Itinerary and Expenses
EXPENSES (in CNY) and computed for 2 people*
DAY 1 (TEAM NO SLEEP)
– GUANGZHOU – GUILIN, YANGSHUO
Flight to GUANGZHOU
11:35 PM TO 2:15 AM – FLIGHT TO GUANGZHOU
2:15 AM TO 3:30 AM – IMMIGRATION, GET BAGGAGE, SIM CARD 180Y TAXI 86Y
8:00 AM TO 9:00 AM – WAKE UP, FIX AND BUY QUICK BREAKFAST AT A CONVENIENCE STORE/ CHEAP STREET FOOD 60 Y
9:00 AM TO 9:30 AM – HEAD TO GUANGZHOU SOUTH STATION
9:30 AM TO 10:32 AM CHECK IN THE TRAIN TO YANGSHUO
TICKETS CAN BE EITHER BOOK THROUGH KLOOK/OTHER WEBSITES – 268Y
10:32 AM TO 1:03 PM – QUICK LUNCH AND TRAVEL TO YANGSHUO 92Y
1:03 PM TO 2:30 PM – HEAD TO THE BUS STATION TO XINGPING TOWN 30Y
MOTOR RIDE FROM XINGPING TOWN TO HOSTEL 50Y
AND CHECK IN AT YANGSHUO HOTEL IN XINGPING 178Y
3:00 PM TO 6:30 PM EXPLORE THE OLD FISHING TOWN. FIND THE SCENIC SPOTS WITH THE CORMORANT FISHING AND ENJOY SUNSET
6:00 PM TO 6:30 PM – HEAD BACK TO THE TOWN
6:30 PM TO 8:30 PM – DINNER AND ROAM AROUND THE VILLAGE 78Y
9:00 PM – LIGHTS OUT
Day 1 Total Expenses = 1022Y
DAY 2
-YANGSHUO
8AM TO 10:30 AM- BREAKFAST AND GET READY FOR THE HIKE 44Y
11 AM TO 12:00 PM – PREPARE TO HIKE LAOTZAI HILL FOR SUNRISE
12:00 NN TO 1:30 PM – HIKE THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN
1:30 PM TO 2:30 PM – PHOTO SESSION AT LAOTZAI HILL
2:30:00 AM TO 4:00 PM – HIKE DOWN AND HEAD STRAIGHT TO CORMORNT FISHING 300Y
4:30 AM TO 7:00 PM – EXPLORE MORE OF YANGSHUO – CORMORANT FISHING
7:00 PM TO 9:00 PM – DINNER 84Y
Day 2 Total Expenses = 428Y
DAY 3
YANGSHUO TO ZHANGJIJAE
7:00 AM TO 8:00 AM – WAKE UP, FIX AND CHECK OUT
8:00 AM TO 9:30 AM – BREAKFAST, AND BUS TO YANGSHUO
BREAKFAST: 36Y
BUS: 10Y
9:30 AM TO 10:00 AM – TAXI/BUS TO TRAIN STATION 30Y
10:05 TO 10:31 AM – WAIT FOR THE TRAIN TO GUILIN NORTH
TRAIN TO GUILIN NORTH TRIP.COM/ KLOOK: 52Y
10:05 AM TO 10:31 AM – TRAIN TO GUILIN NORTH
10:31 AM TO 11:36 AM – LUNCH, GET PHYSICAL TICKET AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT TRAIN TO CHANGSHA
68Y
TRAIN TO CHANGSHA SOUTH VIA TRIP/KLOOK ( 11:36 AM TO 2:56 PM SOFT SEAT ): 361Y
SNACKS/DINNER TO BRING FOR THE 4 HR JOURNEY: 29Y
11:36 AM TO 2:56 PM – TRAVEL TO CHANGSHA SOUTH
2:56 PM TO 3:30 PM – TRAVEL TO CHANGSHA STATION VIA METRO
3:30 PM TO 5:00 PM EARLY DINNER 12Y
5:00 PM TO 5:40 PM: GET PHYSICAL TICKET
TRAIN FROM CHANGSHA TO ZHANGJIAJIE – 6:38 PM TO 11:03 PM 174Y
11:03 PM TO 12:00 AM – TRAVEL TO WULINGYUANTIU YOUTH HOSTEL
TAXI: 60Y
12:00 AM TO 12:30 AM – CHECK IN AND FIX
HOTEL FOR 3 NIGHTS 387 Y
12:00 AM – LIGHTS OUT
Day 3 Total Expenses = 1219Y
DAY 4
ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL PARK (TIANZI MOUNTAIN)
5:45 AM TO 6:40 AM – QUICK FIX AND BRUNCH 68Y
6:40-7:00 AM – HEAD TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE NATIONAL PARK
7:00 – 8:00 AM ( DEPENDING ON THE LINE )- BUY THE TICKETS CABLE CAR TO TIANZI 144Y
PARK ADMISSION FEE W/ BUS (COVERS ALL THE SCENIC SPOTS AND BUS RIDES ) : 388Y
8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM – EXPLORE THE NATIONAL PARK AND TAKE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS.
6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM – DINNER AND STROLL AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREA
DINNER: 60Y
8:00 PM TO 9:00 PM – PREPARE TO SLEEP
9:00 PM – LIGHTS OFF
Day 4 Total Expenses= 660Y
DAY 5
ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL PARK (BAILONG ELEVATOR AND HALLELUJAH MOUNTAIN)
6:00 AM TO 7:00 AM – FIX AND BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL 30Y
7:00 AM TO 8:00 AM – HEAD TO BAILONG ELEVATOR 144Y
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – BAILONG ELEVATOR AND HALLELUJAH MOUNTAIN
LUNCH 52Y
5:00 PM – HEAD BACK TO HOSTEL
5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM – WALK AROUND AND FIND A PLACE TO EAT DINNER 84Y
7:00 PM TO 7:20 PM – WALK BACK TO THE HOTEL
7:20 PM TO 9:00 PM FIX AND LIGHTS OUT
Day 5 Total Expenses = 310Y
DAY 6
ZHANGJIJAE – FENGHUANG
5:00 AM TO 6:00 AM – SHOWER, PACK UP AND CHECK OUT
6:00 AM TO 8:00 AM – WALK TO THE BUS STATION , BOOK BUS TICKETS TO FENGHUANG ANCIENT CITY AND EAT QUICK BREAKFAST 220Y
8:30 AM TO 1:00 PM – TRAVEL TO FENGHUANG ANCIENT CITY
1:00 PM TO 1:30 PM – LUNCH 120Y
1:30 PM TO 2:00 PM – TAXI TO HOTEL 10Y
FARE: 200 PHP/4 = 50 PHP EACH
2:00 PM TO 2:30 PM – CHECK IN AND LEAVE THINGS
HOTEL FOR 1 NIGHT W/ BFAST: 130Y w/ free Breakfast
2:30 PM TO 3:00 PM – HEAD TO THE ANCIENT TOWN
3:00 PM TO 6:00 PM – EXPLORE THE ANCIENT TOWN AND GET STUNNING PHOTOS
6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM – DINNER AT A LOCAL FOOD PLACE IN THE ANCIENT TOWN 108Y
7:00 PM TO 8:30 PM – STROLL AROUND THE TOWN AT NIGHT, GET SHOTS ETC
8:30 – 9:00 PM – HEAD BACK TO THE HOTEL ( WALKING DISTANCE )
9:00 PM TO 10:00 PM PREPARE TO SLEEP
10:00 PM – LIGHTS OUT
Day 6 Total Expenses = 588Y
DAY 7
FENGHUANG -GUILIN
4:40 AM TO 5:10 AM – WAKE UP FOR SUNRISE MISSION
5:10 AM TO 5:30 AM – HEAD BACK TO FENGHUANG ANCIENT TOWN
5:30 AM – 8:00 AM – SUNRISE MISSION/ SHOOT
8:00 AM TO 8:40 AM – BREAKFAST AT HOTEL (FREE)
8:40 AM TO 9:00 AM – CHECK OUT
9:00 AM TO 9:25 AM – TAXI TO FENGHUANG GENERAL STATION 5Y
9:25 AM TO 10:00 AM – PURCHASE TICKET TO GUILIN (11:00 AM SCHED BUS DEPARTS EVERY HOUR )
320Y
11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM – TRAVEL TO GUILIN NORTH
5:00 PM TO 5:20 PM – FIND A TAXI TO GUILIN HOTEL 50Y
5:30 PM TO 6:00 PM – CHECK IN at HOSTEL 128Y
6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM – ROAM AROUND AND EAT DINNER
DINNER: 65Y
8:00 PM TO 9:30 PM – FIX AND REST
9:30 PM – LIGHTS OUT
Day 7 Total Expenses = 568Y
DAY 8
GUILIN – GUANGZHOU
5:30 AM TO 6:20 AM – FIX AND CHECK OUT
6:20 AM TO 6:30 AM – TAXI TO GUILIN NORTH STATION 22Y
6:30 AM TO 8:00 AM – BREAKFAST AT A NEARBY FOOD PLACE
BFAST: 20Y
7:35 AM TO 10:33 AM – WAIT FOR THE TRAIN TO GUANGZHOU
TRAIN TO GUANGZHOU VIA KLOOK: 394Y
7:35 AM TO 10:33 AM – TRAVEL TO GUANGZHOU
10:33 AM TO 11:00 AM – LEAVE LUGGAGE AT THE STATION
FEE:60Y
LUNCH 80 Y
FOOD: 200 PHP
12:00 PM ONWARDS – ROAM AROUND AND EXPLORE THE CITY OF GUANGZHOU FROM CANTON TOWER
METRO FARE: 16Y
7:00 PMTO 10:00 PM – DINNER AND STROLL AROUND THE CITY 82Y
11:30 PM 12:30 AM – HEAD TO THE AIRPORT
TRAIN TO AIRPORT 18Y
12:30 AM TO 3:00 AM – CHECK IN, SNACKS AND WAIT FOR THE FLIGHT
SNACKS: 30Y
3:10 AM TO 5:30 AM – FLIGHT BACK TO MANILA VIA CEBU PACIFIC
Day 8 Total Expenses = 722Y
TENTATIVE TOTAL : 23, 458 PHP
Total Expenses = 5517Y / 39,998 PHP for two people
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO YOU NEED A VISA?
Yes. For me getting a visa to china was almost the same as getting one for Canada. It takes two weeks processing time and I had to provide my:
- Bank statement
- Bank Certificate
- Income tax receipt
- Business Permit,
- and my old Passport.
*For students, you need to have your Certificate of Enrollment as well as your Bank Statement.
IS CHINA A SAFE PLACE TO TRAVEL TO?
I cannot speak for Beijing and Shanghai but Guilin, Guangzhou and Hunan was okay for me. I never experienced getting scammed. The local train and bus stations were efficient and easy to navigate and people were helpful. I’d say it’s as safe as travelling to Japan.
IS THERE A LANGUAGE BARRIER?
There definitely is which is why I recommend downloading apps like Pleco and Google Translate. It also helps a lot to learn basic Mandarin phrases so you don’t have to pull out your phone every time.
Overall, China was a magical experience! I already knew that the landscapes would be out of this world but seeing them firsthand stirred something in my soul. Budget-wise, I would say that it’s pretty worth it considering that we stayed there for over a week. Getting around was pretty convenient, too, because their public transportation was tourist-friendly and super modernized! And the best part? The FOOD was everything I dreamed it would be. I could literally have a full-course meal at a convenience store and I’d be happy!
So what are you waiting for? Book a direct flight with Cebu Pacific through here. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on seat sales!
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