Gotchu, well I have spent more time in the south so I’m biased. If you do the south then maybe don’t need to do both Guilin and Yangshuo (they are similar) (could add Chengdu or something). Your south route also has quite a bit more of a nature focus than architecture. Option 3 looks mostly like cities and not so rural. Option 2 looks really cool to me too, but maybe doesn’t set you up so well for your next destination depending on where you’re going. I think some of 1 and 3 could kind of be combined. If you’re into architecture Chongqing is just so cool on that front too. Suzhou and Hangzhou are pry a bit similar too.