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GUANGXI · LI RIVER COUNTRYSIDE
Yangshuo Travel Guide
Karst peaks, bamboo rafts and China's most photogenic countryside — turn Guilin's famous scenery into an immersive outdoor experience.
Cycle between villages, float down the Yulong River, hike among limestone peaks and stay close enough to the landscape to enjoy it before the day-trip crowds arrive.
Why Yangshuo
Why Visit Yangshuo?
Unlike a quick sightseeing stop, Yangshuo lets you wake up among fields, rivers
and limestone peaks. Cycle between villages, float down the Yulong River, hike among
karst formations and stay close enough to the scenery to enjoy it before the day-trip
crowds arrive.
Live Inside the Landscape
Unlike a quick sightseeing stop, Yangshuo lets you wake up among fields, rivers and limestone peaks.
Easy Outdoor Adventures
Cycling, hiking, climbing and rafting are accessible even if you are not planning an extreme adventure trip.
A Slower Side of China
Stay outside the town center to experience villages, farms and quieter riverside scenery.
Find Your Yangshuo
How Do You Want to Experience Yangshuo?
Cycling & Countryside
Ride between rice fields, bridges and karst peaks along the Yulong River and Ten-Mile Gallery area.
Yulong River · Ten-Mile Gallery · E-Bikes
Bamboo Rafting
Float down the Yulong River on a hand-poled bamboo raft through quieter, more intimate scenery.
Yulong River · Rural Routes · No Motors
River Viewpoints
Chase the Li River's most photogenic views from Xingping, Xianggong Mountain and surrounding areas.
Xingping · Xianggong Mountain · RMB 20 View
Village & Culture
Explore ancient towns, outdoor performances and local village life beyond the main tourist streets.
Impression Liu Sanjie · Old Towns · West Street
Top Experiences
What to Do in Yangshuo
Yangshuo's essential experiences combine bamboo rafting, countryside cycling,
river viewpoints and cultural performances.

Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
A hand-poled bamboo raft journey through quieter countryside, with no motor and a slower pace than the main Li River cruise.
Routes, operating conditions and passenger restrictions can change with water levels and weather.
- ⏱ Route-dependent
- 📍Yulong River

Countryside Cycling
Ride between rice fields, villages, bridges and karst peaks along well-established countryside routes.
An e-bike is easier in hot or humid weather.
- ⏱ Half day or full day
- 📍Yangshuo countryside

Xingping Ancient Town
A small riverside town close to the Li River's most recognizable views, including the landscape on the RMB 20 banknote.
- ⏱ Half day or overnight
- 📍Northeast of Yangshuo

Xianggong Mountain
A popular elevated viewpoint over a dramatic bend in the Li River, especially atmospheric around sunrise.
Visibility depends heavily on weather.
- ⏱ Half day including transfers
- 📍Li River area

Moon Hill
A limestone peak with a large natural arch and a short but steep climb to elevated countryside views.
- ⏱ 1–2 hours
- 📍South of Yangshuo

Impression Liu Sanjie
A large outdoor evening performance staged against the river and karst landscape, directed by Zhang Yimou.
Performances may be affected by weather or seasonal schedules.
- ⏱ Evening
- 📍Yangshuo riverside
Compare
Li River Cruise vs Yulong Rafting
They are different experiences and work well together. The Li River cruise is the
scenic journey into Yangshuo; Yulong rafting is a closer, quieter countryside activity.
Li River Cruise
Classic journey
- Larger sightseeing boat
- Guilin → Yangshuo route
- Broad, dramatic river scenery
- Best for first-time visitors
- Half-day transport and sightseeing
Yulong Rafting
Quieter experience
- Small hand-poled bamboo raft
- Selected Yulong River sections
- Intimate countryside scenery
- Best while staying in Yangshuo
- Shorter outdoor activity
Accommodation
Where to Stay in Yangshuo
Yulong River Area
Best overall choice for scenery, cycling and a quieter resort-style stay. Transport is needed for evenings in town.
Best for: Scenery lovers · Cyclists · Quiet stays
Recommended: 2–3 nights
Yangshuo Town & West Street
Liziba → Hillside Neighborhoods → Longmenhao Old Street
Experience the transportation, architecture and vertical streets that define Chongqing.
Xingping
Best for Li River photography, sunrise viewpoints and travelers arriving through Yangshuo Railway Station.
Best for: Photographers · Early arrivals
Recommended: Overnight
Ten-Mile Gallery
Convenient for Moon Hill, cycling routes and countryside attractions, with a mix of hotels and guesthouses.
Best for: Cyclists · Outdoor activities
Recommended: 1–2 nights
Compare
Li River Cruise vs Yulong Rafting
One Day
• Express Day Trip • Best for: Transit · Quick countryside taste
Morning
River Rafting
Yulong River Bamboo Raft
Begin with the most iconic Yangshuo experience on the water.
Afternoon
Countryside Cycling
Yulong River → Ten-Mile Gallery
Explore rice fields and villages on two wheels.
Evening
Town & Performance
West Street or Impression Liu Sanjie
Choose between local nightlife or the outdoor river show.
Two Days
• Classic Yangshuo • Best for: First-time visitors · Outdoor focus
Day 1
River & Cycling
Yulong Rafting → Countryside Cycling
Combine water and land for a full day of outdoor scenery.
Day 2
Viewpoints & Xingping
Xingping Town → Xianggong Mountain
Chase the Li River's most recognizable landscapes.
Three Days
• Full Yangshuo • Best for: Photographers · Relaxed pace
Day 1
Arrival & Countryside
Settle in → Local Villages
Arrive and ease into the rural atmosphere.
Day 2
River & Villages
Yulong River → Moon Hill → Cycling
A full outdoor day on the river and in the countryside.
Day 3
Xingping & Viewpoints
Xingping → Xianggong Mountain
Explore ancient streets and Li River panoramas.
Know Before You Go
Planning Your Yangshuo Visit
Getting to Yangshuo
Take the Li River cruise from Guilin (half day), or travel by bus or private transfer. Yangshuo Railway Station is near Xingping, not central Yangshuo — allow additional transfer time to your hotel.
Getting Around
E-bikes and bicycles are the best way to explore the countryside. Taxis and DiDi are available but less common on rural roads. Rural hotels may require arranged transfers.
Rafting Conditions
Check weather and river conditions before rafting. Routes, operating hours and passenger restrictions can change with water levels and weather.
Cycling Preparation
Wear sun protection, carry drinking water, confirm e-bike battery range and return time, and use a helmet. Avoid narrow rural roads after dark.
Accommodation Tips
The Yulong River area offers the best scenery. Do not assume a countryside hotel is walkable from West Street — check the exact location and ask about transfers before booking. Avoid building the entire trip around West Street.
Essential Tips
Keep your passport available for ticketed activities. Book sunrise transportation in advance. Check weather and river conditions before rafting.
Where Next
Continue Exploring China
Guilin
Start in Guilin for city sights, caves and the Li River cruise — the perfect arrival point for Guangxi.
- Recommended stay: 1–2 nights
Longji Rice Terraces
Continue north into the mountains for spectacular layered rice terraces and minority villages.
- Recommended stay: 1–2 nights
Hong Kong
Combine Yangshuo's rural beauty with Hong Kong's skyline, food and harbor energy.
- Recommended stay: 3–4 nights

Find Your Yangshuo Rhythm
Tell us your pace — cycling, rafting, hiking or simply waking up to karst views — and we'll design a Yangshuo stay that matches your travel style.
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