A foreign passport holder’s 7-day Guangxi route is three bases: two nights in Guilin, two in Yangshuo, and three in Beihai (with a Weizhou Island day). High-speed rail and a flight/bus link them, and each base has licensed hotels that register foreigners — but the small riverside and island inns vary, so confirm the licence before booking each stay.
Why three bases
Guangxi’s draw is variety: karst city (Guilin), karst countryside (Yangshuo), and sea (Beihai and Weizhou Island). Sleeping in each means you wake inside the right landscape instead of commuting. The Guilin–Yangshuo leg is a short cruise or bus; the Yangshuo–Beihai leg is a long train or a flight via Guilin. All three bases have foreigner-licensed hotels, yet the inventory differs, so book each separately.
Hotels must register foreign guests with public security. Larger Guilin, Yangshuo, and Beihai hotels handle this at check-in; tiny riverside homestays and some island inns may not be licensed for foreign passports. Confirm before paying — see can foreigners stay in Chinese hotels.
Day 1 — Arrive Guilin, base near the river
Fly into Guilin Liangjiang (KWL) or take the high-speed train. Settle in a Xiufeng or Qixing hotel walkable to the Li River promenade. Evening lakeside stroll. Sleep in Guilin for two nights. For the river-bank context, see where to stay near the Guilin Li River.
Day 2 — City karsts
Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes. Sleep in Guilin.
Day 3 — Li River cruise to Yangshuo, change base
Cruise or bus to Yangshuo. Check in near West Street or the Yulong River. Registration resets; show your passport. Sleep in Yangshuo for two nights.
Day 4 — Yangshuo countryside
Yulong River, Moon Hill, rice-field villages by e-bike or driver. Sleep in Yangshuo.
Day 5 — Train or fly to Beihai, change base
Long high-speed train Yangshuo/Guilin–Beihai, or a flight via Guilin. Check in to a Beihai hotel near the Silver Beach or the old town. Sleep in Beihai for three nights.
Day 6 — Weizhou Island day
Ferry from Beihai to Weizhou Island (book with passport ID); volcanic coast, beaches, and a lighthouse. Return to Beihai for the night.
Day 7 — Beach and depart
A slow morning on Silver Beach, then your flight from Beihai (BHY). Seven nights, three bases.
Night-by-night base plan
| Night | Base area | Why here | Transfer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guilin (Xiufeng/Qixing) | River, caves | Taxi/bus from KWL |
| 2 | Same Guilin base | City karsts | On foot or taxi |
| 3 | Yangshuo (West St/Yulong) | Countryside base | Cruise or bus |
| 4 | Same Yangshuo base | Yulong, Moon Hill | E-bike or driver |
| 5 | Beihai (Silver Beach) | Sea base | Train/flight |
| 6 | Same Beihai base | Weizhou Island | Ferry, return |
| 7 | Same Beihai base | Beach, depart | Taxi to BHY |
Picking each base
Guilin’s Xiufeng is central and walkable; Yangshuo’s West Street is lively with the surest foreigner licence, while the Yulong shore is quieter; Beihai’s Silver Beach is the classic sea stay, and the old town is calmer and closer to food. Match each base to the landscape you came for.
Payment and booking notes
International cards work at bigger Guilin and Beihai hotels; Yangshuo and Weizhou inns often prefer cash or domestic apps. Book Yangshuo and Weizhou ahead in peak season. For card acceptance by tier, see foreign credit card hotels in China.
Frequently asked questions
Is seven days enough for Guangxi?
For Guilin, Yangshuo, and Beihai, yes. Add nights for Detian Waterfall or a slower Weizhou stay if you love the sea.
Do Weizhou Island inns take foreigners?
Licensed ones do; many small ones don’t. Confirm, or day-trip the island from a Beihai base.
Do Yangshuo hotels take foreigners?
The bigger West Street hotels do. Small rural lodges vary — confirm. This is the spot where booking blind backfires.
Will my card work in Beihai?
At international hotels, yes. At smaller spots, often no. Carry cash.
Is the ferry to Weizhou easy?
Yes, with passport-ID booking; crossings are frequent in season but sell out on holidays.
Is Beihai worth the trip?
If you want sea after the karsts, yes. The beach and island are a nice contrast to Guilin’s hills.
When is best to visit?
April–May and September–November for the karsts; summer for the beach but with heat and typhoon risk.
