Travel companion for southern China in October

Hello World. I’m a retired globetrotter, and I’ve just returned from a wonderful trip: Beijing, Pingyao, Chengde, Xi’an—nothing but beauty, goodness, and happiness. This time, I’d like to "do" the South in October (autumn = beauty, or so I’ve heard): { Shanghai - Guilin - Yangshuo - Chengdu - Chongqing - Zhangjiajie - Shanghai } in about 18–20 days. This is just a rough draft—everything’s flexible. I usually travel solo, staying in 1- or 2-star hotels and eating at local restaurants. But I’m thinking, with one (or more) travel companion(s)—nice and open-minded—it might be even more enjoyable? Plus, it’d let us split the cost of any guides, share our thoughts and photos, and avoid silly mistakes. What do you think?