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Trip length

7 days / 6 nights

Sleep program

Assessment + TCM & acupuncture

Best time to go

April–June and September–November

Best for

Insomnia + TCM interest; travellers who want nature and quiet

Overview

Sleep care in Guangzhou, then river days among the karst peaks.

The karst landscape around Guilin and Yangshuo is one of the most restful in China: slow rivers, rice fields and limestone peaks. Days on the water and cycling between villages bring daylight, gentle exercise and very little to think about.

Guangzhou comes first for the sleep care. Its brain hospital has a centre for sleep and circadian medicine, and the provincial TCM hospital has a sleep medicine centre, which makes this a good route if you want acupuncture or TCM alongside CBT-I.

This route suits

  • People who want TCM or acupuncture alongside CBT-I
  • Travellers who want a mostly outdoor, low-effort trip
  • Couples and friends travelling together
  • Visitors from Southeast Asia and Australia (smaller time difference)

Sleep program · Assessment + TCM & acupuncture

What the sleep care covers

Sleep assessment

Finds out what is driving your poor sleep before anything is treated.

  • Consultation with a sleep physician (English interpreting)
  • Questionnaires: Insomnia Severity Index, PSQI, Epworth sleepiness, STOP-BANG
  • Review of your two-week sleep diary and medicines
  • Blood tests if indicated (e.g. thyroid, iron)
  • Home sleep test or overnight polysomnography only if apnoea or another sleep disorder is suspected

CBT-I start

The first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, started face to face.

  • 1–2 in-person CBT-I sessions after you've adjusted to local time
  • Your first sleep window (sleep restriction) and stimulus-control plan
  • Relaxation training
  • Continuation by video or a digital CBT-I programme at home

TCM & acupuncture (optional)

An add-on for travellers who want to try it, alongside first-line care.

  • TCM physician consultation
  • Several acupuncture or electroacupuncture sessions during the trip
  • Written note of what was given, for your doctor at home

Report & handover

So treatment continues after the trip, not just during it.

  • Written summary in English: diagnosis, test results, plan
  • Medication advice coordinated with your home prescriber
  • Follow-up video call 2–4 weeks after you return

The sleep physician confirms which tests you need after reviewing your history. Background on each treatment is in our insomnia treatment guide and sleep medicine guide.

Not sure what's behind your poor sleep?

Send us a two-week sleep diary or a short description of your sleep. A sleep physician suggests what to assess on your Guilin & Yangshuo trip — free, with no obligation.

Get my sleep plan Get a free quote

Built around sleep

How this trip protects your nights

  • Clinic and TCM days in Guangzhou first, on days 2–3
  • Countryside lodge outside Yangshuo, away from the noise of West Street at night
  • Days on the river and cycling give daylight and gentle exercise
  • No sunrise starts; activities from mid-morning

Assessment day

What happens at the clinic

09:30Meet your coordinator at the hotel; transfer to the hospital (bring your passport and medicines list).
10:00Questionnaires and sleep-diary review with a nurse or psychologist.
10:30Consultation with the sleep physician: history, examination, screening for apnoea, restless legs and mood.
11:30Blood tests if needed; home sleep test kit fitted, or an overnight study booked.
EveningOnly if an overnight study is needed: arrive at the sleep centre around 20:00, leave the next morning.

Itinerary · 7 days / 6 nights

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Guangzhou

    • Airport pick-up and hotel check-in
    • Light dinner, early night

    Overnight: Guangzhou

  2. Day 2

    Sleep assessment

    • Morning: sleep physician consultation and questionnaires
    • Afternoon: rest, or a stroll in a riverside park

    Overnight: Guangzhou

  3. Day 3

    TCM & CBT-I start

    • Morning: first CBT-I session
    • Afternoon: TCM consultation and first acupuncture session

    Overnight: Guangzhou

  4. Day 4

    To Guilin

    • High-speed train to Guilin (about 2.5–3 hours)
    • Evening: walk around Guilin's lakes

    Overnight: Guilin

  5. Day 5

    Li River

    • Li River cruise to Yangshuo
    • Transfer to a countryside lodge

    Overnight: Yangshuo countryside

  6. Day 6

    Yulong River

    • Morning: countryside cycling
    • Afternoon: bamboo raft on the Yulong River
    • Video follow-up with your CBT-I therapist

    Overnight: Yangshuo countryside

  7. Day 7

    Depart

    • Transfer to Guilin airport, or train back to Guangzhou

Make this itinerary yours

Change the dates, add rest days, upgrade hotels or combine it with another route. Your coordinator sends a revised plan and itemised quote.

Customise this trip Request a quote

Travel

What you’ll see

About 4 hours

Li River cruise

The classic cruise from Guilin downstream to Yangshuo, past karst peaks, bamboo groves and fishing villages.

Tip: Sit on the upper deck in the morning for the best light.

2–3 hours

Yulong River bamboo rafting

Quieter than the Li River: a slow, poled bamboo raft drifting past rice fields and old stone bridges.

Tip: Late afternoon is cooler and softer for photos.

Half day

Countryside cycling

Flat lanes between villages, paddy fields and karst peaks around Yangshuo.

Tip: E-bikes are available if you want an easier ride.

2 hours

Xianggong Hill viewpoint

A hilltop pavilion overlooking a bend of the Li River framed by karst peaks.

Tip: A short but steep climb; afternoon light is gentler than the popular sunrise.

Hospitals

Where the sleep assessment happens

Guangzhou

Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University 广州医科大学附属脑科医院

Public psychiatric hospital · Guangzhou Medical University

Has a Center for Sleep and Circadian Medicine.

We use it for

  • Sleep assessment
  • Insomnia with anxiety or depression
  • CBT-I
Guangzhou

Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine 广东省中医院

Public TCM hospital · Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

Has a sleep medicine centre and runs insomnia trials using polysomnography.

We use it for

  • TCM consultation
  • Acupuncture
  • Sleep assessment

The hospital is confirmed based on your sleep history, dates and availability. An English-speaking coordinator accompanies you to every appointment.

Snoring, gasping or very sleepy by day?

Those can point to sleep apnoea rather than insomnia. Tell us your symptoms and we'll book the right test — a home sleep test or a full overnight study.

Check what I need Sleep apnoea care

Practical tips

Before you go

  • Spring can be rainy; the karst looks beautiful in mist, but pack a rain jacket.
  • Summer (July–August) is hot and busy.
  • Yangshuo's West Street is lively until late. Our lodges are in the countryside for that reason.
  • Keep a sleep diary for two weeks before you travel (bedtime, time to fall asleep, awakenings, wake-up time, naps, caffeine and alcohol). We send you a template.
  • Bring a list of all medicines and supplements, with doses. Don't stop sleeping pills abruptly before or during the trip.
  • Bring any previous sleep-study reports or CPAP data.
  • Plan your arrival using our jet lag guide. The first two days are deliberately light.

FAQ

Guilin & Yangshuo sleep tour — answered.

How many acupuncture sessions will I get?
Usually two or three during the trip. Trials have used several sessions a week for 4–8 weeks, so treat the trip as a chance to see whether it helps you, then continue at home if it does.
Why start in Guangzhou instead of Guilin?
Guangzhou has the specialist sleep and TCM centres. Guilin is about 2.5–3 hours away by high-speed train.
Will a sleep holiday cure my insomnia?
Not on its own. Sleep often improves on a good holiday and slips back at home. What the trip does is get you a proper assessment and start CBT-I, the first-line treatment, in person. CBT-I usually runs over several weeks, so it continues by video or a digital programme after you return.
What if jet lag makes my sleep worse at first?
That's expected, and the routes are designed around it. The first two days are light, with daylight at the right times, and the clinic visits and your first CBT-I sleep window come after you've begun to adjust.
Do I need an overnight sleep study?
Most people with straightforward insomnia don't. The physician adds a home sleep test or overnight polysomnography if they suspect sleep apnoea or another sleep disorder. Loud snoring, gasping or heavy daytime sleepiness are reasons to test.
I take sleeping pills. Is that a problem?
No, but bring the exact name and dose and don't stop them suddenly. Any change is planned with the physician and coordinated with your prescriber at home.
How much does a sleep wellness tour cost?
It depends on the route, the hotels and which sleep program and tests you need. Send us your dates and a short description of your sleep, and we'll reply with an itemised quote.
Can my partner come?
Yes. Many people travel with a partner, which also helps, because partners often notice snoring or breathing pauses. Your partner can join the sightseeing and, if they want, have their own assessment.

Related guides

Acupuncture for insomnia — the evidence

Read

TCM formulas for insomnia

Read

Insomnia treatment guide

Read

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Guilin & Yangshuo, sleep care included.
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Share your dates, who’s travelling and a short description of your sleep. We’ll confirm the clinic, sleep program and hotels, and adjust the pace to suit you.

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