Northeast Guangxi
Yangshuo 阳朔
Karst peaks, bamboo rafts and the slowest pace in China.
- Region
- Northeast Guangxi
- How long
- 2 to 3 days
- Best time
- April to October
- Climate
- Same subtropical band as Guilin, 14-28°C; spring and autumn are best for cycling and rafting
What is there to see in Yangshuo?
- -Yulong River bamboo raft
- -Ten-Mile Gallery cycling
- -Moon Hill
- -Xingping Ancient Town
- -Rock climbing on limestone crags
What it was like on the ground
We rented an e-bike for CNY 60 and spent the best day of the trip riding the Ten-Mile Gallery with no plan: stopping for sugarcane juice at a roadside stall, detouring down a lane that dead-ended at a duck pond, and ending at Moon Hill for sunset. The Yulong River raft was the quieter highlight: forty minutes of a boatman poling us upstream while kingfishers darted over the water. West Street at night was, frankly, a bit much, but a ten-minute walk inland put us in a village where an old woman sold us pomelos from her courtyard. Yangshuo rewards you for leaving the main street.
How do you get to Yangshuo?
Yangshuo sits 65km south of Guilin, reached by rail, bus or the Li River cruise itself.
By train: Yangshuo station is a 30-minute shuttle from town; trains from Guilin run in 30 minutes (CNY 25).
By air: No airport; fly into Guilin Liangjiang (KWL) then transfer by train, bus or private car.
What should you eat in Yangshuo?
Beer fish (啤酒鱼) CNY 70-120
The signature Yangshuo dish. Order it at a riverside restaurant outside West Street for a better price and a view of the peaks.
Yangshuo stuffed river snails (螺蛳酿) CNY 40-60
Snail shells stuffed with pork and water chestnut, a local specialty you will not find elsewhere.
A sample day in Yangshuo
Day 1
- Morning: Yulong River bamboo raft
- Afternoon: Ten-Mile Gallery e-bike loop to Moon Hill
- Evening: dinner, then a quiet village lane away from West Street
Where should you stay in Yangshuo?
West Street guesthouses (CNY 100-300) — Hostels and small inns in the pedestrian core, close to everything but loud after dark.
Yulong River retreats (CNY 400-900) — Countryside hotels with mountain views, pools and free bikes for the Ten-Mile Gallery loop.
Is Yangshuo right for you?
Worth it for
Cyclists, climbers, slow travelers, anyone who wants scenery without a tour bus
Skip it if
Travelers who dislike small-town tourist crowds on West Street after dark
Know before you go
West Street is not the real Yangshuo
It is a pedestrian mall of souvenir shops and bars. Use it for dinner, then explore the lanes and villages around town.
Raft prices vary
Yulong River rafts run CNY 250-350 depending on the section. Agree the price and the exact stretch before boarding.
Yangshuo FAQ
2 to 3 days. Best suited to: Cyclists, climbers, slow travelers, anyone who wants scenery without a tour bus.
April to October. Same subtropical band as Guilin, 14-28°C; spring and autumn are best for cycling and rafting.
Yangshuo station is a 30-minute shuttle from town; trains from Guilin run in 30 minutes (CNY 25).
Beer fish (啤酒鱼) — CNY 70-120; Yangshuo stuffed river snails (螺蛳酿) — CNY 40-60.
West Street guesthouses: CNY 100-300; Yulong River retreats: CNY 400-900.
Other places in Guangxi
- Guilin 桂林 The karst landscape that put China on the postcard
- Longji Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田 Zhuang and Yao villages carved into the steepest terraces on earth
- Beihai & Weizhou Island 北海涠洲岛 China's youngest volcanic island and a beach break without the crowds
- Chongzuo & Detian Waterfall 崇左德天瀑布 Asia's largest transnational waterfall on the Vietnam border
- Liuzhou 柳州 The birthplace of luosifen, the noodle soup that took over the world
- Huangyao Ancient Town 黄姚古镇 A 1,000-year-old town of stone lanes and karst, still lived in
- Bama & Hechi 巴马河池 The 'longevity village' and Guangxi's karst secret world
Planning the whole region? See all Guangxi destinations, the ready-made itineraries, the food guide and the best time to visit.