You're Going to Love Yangshuo
Yangshou is one of the most popular destinations in China due to its riverboat tours, unique hilly landscape and countryside charm.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Yangshuo
1. Yangdi-Xingping Scenic Area
Here you can take a leisurely raft trip along the Li River among bamboo tree groves, mammoth sized Karst cliffs and rice fields.
2. Silver Cave
These caves are popular for their unique limestone stalactites and stalagmites and are located 18km outside of the center.
3. Yulong River
Similar to the Li River, in this area you can either travel by the standard bamboo raft or cycle along the waterfront to pass through traditional farming villages.
4. Moon Hill
This hill with the natural moon-shaped cut-out is a perfect spot to view the city of Yangshou from above.
5. Tai Chi
Yangshou is the perfect place to learn martial arts from one of many good Tai Chi schools for foreigners in the region.
What to do in Yangshuo
1. Exceptional Views Of Yangshuo
Inside the city limits, Yangshuo has one of the region's most beautiful peaks, and climbing it shouldn't take much more than half an hour. Located next to the Li River, "green lotus peak", as the locals call it, is surrounded by pavilions and stone carvings, reflecting its sacred status. One of the finest photo-snapping spots in town, Bilian is also a natural destination after a river cruise on the Li, as most boats dock at the adjacent Shuidongmen Dock.
2. Scenery To Leave You Flabber-Karsted
Winding its way through the countryside of Guangxi, the Yulong River is much more than just a minor tributary of the larger Li River. When you take bamboo rafting trips or boat tours along this waterway, you'll come face to face with some of China's most dazzling landscapes. The country around Yangshuo is characterized by dramatic limestone karst hills and cliffs, with bamboo groves and rice paddies completing the scene, and the odd water buffalo by the shore as well. A world away from Shanghai or Beijing, this is a completely different, sublimely beautiful China.
3. Where The World Comes To Yangshuo
Literally translated as "West Street", Xi Jie is the place to head for a quick bite to eat, a beer, and some entertainment during your stay in Yangshuo. Over the past 20 years, it has become something of a backpacker magnet, with its ceramics stalls, Kung Fu teaching academies, laid-back cafes, and emporiums selling locally made shoes and silks. Although it's defiantly cosmopolitan in character (locals call it "foreigners street") Xi Jie is actually one of the city's oldest arteries, dating back 1,400 years. If you're in the area, check out the fish caught fresh from the Li for a healthy, quick fill-up between activities.
4. Go Fishing For Superb Views
Properly known as "Xinping Fishing Village", this picturesque little town is 15 miles outside Yangshuo and its people have been harvesting the River Li since 1506. Almost 50 of the town's houses have survived wars, famines, and revolution, and look very different to most Chinese residences. Locals are often happy to welcome visitors into their homes (including the Clintons in 1998), and fishing trips on the river can be arranged. But you can also take it easy and bask in the karst scenery. Either way, it's a relaxing place to be.
5. Plant The Seeds Of Love
It might seem strange recommending a tree, but in China banyans have special significance, and this particular banyan has more than most. Probably planted sometime in the 6th century, it has grown to 17 meters high and 7 meters wide, and has been a regular star in Chinese movie dramas. Above all, however, approaching the banyan from the river is a classically Chinese scene, and one that will grace anyone's mentions. Although venerated by some as a god, others regard it as a place to make romantic wishes come true.
When to Visit Yangshuo
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The best time to visit is during the spring after the rainy season, when the weather best accommodates bamboo rafts along the Yulong and Li Rivers.
How to Get to Yangshuo
Plane
The Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is the nearest airport, with connections from other big Chinese cities. One way tickets from London cost roughly CNY4,000.
Train
There are two train stations near Yangshou: Guilin and Xingping. Tickets from Shenzhen cost around CNY212 and the trip takes 3 hours.
Car
The G4, S15 and S55 highways will bring you from Shenzhen in just under 5 hours.
Bus
Long-distance overnight buses from Shenzhen cost between CNY100-CNY250 and terminate in nearby Guilin.
Airlines serving Yangshuo
Where to stay in popular areas of Yangshuo
Most booked hotels in Yangshuo
How to Get Around Yangshuo
Public Transportation
Local buses serve some destinations but are generally unreliable. To explore the region, it's suggested that you either rent a bike or take one of the many guided tours in Yangshou.
Taxi
Taxis in Yangshou are among some of the most expensive in the country, with a ride from 100 meters up to 2 miles costing around CYN25-CYN30.
Car
Motorbikes and cars can be rented from some guesthouses, with daily prices starting at CYN120.
Where to Eat in Yangshuo
MeiJie Restaurant serves fresh-caught Li River fish cooked in the popular beer batter fashion. Meal prices start at CNY100 per person.