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阳朔Southern China24.78° N · 110.49° E
Limestone peaks, slow rivers and village lanes made for cycling. Here is what to see, how to get there and what to expect from the crowds.
Yangshuo sits on the Li River in northern Guangxi, about 65 km south of Guilin, in the middle of the karst landscape that Chinese painters and poets have celebrated for centuries. Hundreds of steep limestone peaks rise straight out of rice fields and orange groves, and two rivers, the Li and the smaller Yulong, wind between them. The scenery is the reason to come, and it is best enjoyed slowly.
The town itself is lively and busy, centred on West Street with its souvenir shops and evening crowds. The real Yangshuo lies just outside: farm tracks to cycle, villages of old brick houses, bamboo rafts drifting past water buffalo and viewpoints over the river at sunset. Most travellers arrive by boat or road from Guilin and stay two or three nights, using the town as a base for the countryside around it.
Our Yangshuo journeys are private and tailor-made, usually pairing the Li River with Guilin and the Longji rice terraces.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
The classic way to arrive: about four hours drifting past karst peaks, bamboo groves and fishing villages. Our private car meets you at the pier and takes your luggage on ahead to the hotel.
A quieter tributary where a boatman poles you gently past rice fields, small weirs and old stone bridges. It is slow, relaxing and far less busy than the main river.
The old riverside town of Xingping looks onto the stretch of river shown on a Chinese banknote. Come early, walk the lanes, then take a short boat ride upstream.
Flat farm tracks link villages, orchards and riverbanks, so even occasional cyclists can manage a half day. Your guide plans a route that avoids the busiest roads.
A steady climb of roughly 800 steps leads to a natural stone arch with wide views over the peaks. Go in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.
Brick houses, ancestral halls and the arched Yulong Bridge, centuries old, show how life looked before tourism. A walk here is the best way to meet the countryside.
Short but steep climbs, such as the path up Xianggong Hill above the Li River, reward you with layered peaks fading into the evening light.
Fishermen on bamboo rafts with trained cormorants still appear on the river in the evenings, now largely for visitors and photographers. Enjoy it as a living tradition rather than a working one.
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Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Yangshuo also has its own high-speed rail station on the line between Guiyang and Guangzhou, about 30 to 40 minutes from town by road. Many travellers arrive by boat on the Li River from Guilin, with a private car taking the luggage.
The best way to see the villages and rice fields on flat, quiet farm tracks.
Best for: CountrysideGentle and slow on the Yulong River, or by motorised raft on parts of the Li River.
Best for: River viewsIncluded on our journeys, for Xingping, viewpoints and transfers to Guilin.
Best for: Longer hopsPlaces that pair well with Yangshuo, with approximate travel times.
April to May and September to October are the most comfortable months, with mild weather and good river levels. June to August is hot, humid and wet, but the landscape is at its greenest. Winter is cool and often misty, and the Li River can run low. Avoid the national holidays in early May and early October if you can.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppFor scenery, yes. Guilin is a busy city with some lovely parks and caves, while Yangshuo sits right among the karst peaks and rivers, with countryside to cycle and walk. Most travellers spend a night in Guilin and two or three in Yangshuo, linked by the Li River cruise.
Two full days is enough for a Yulong River raft, a cycle through the villages, Xingping and a sunset viewpoint. A third day lets you slow down, add Moon Hill or a cooking class, and enjoy the peaks in the early morning.
The most scenic way is a Li River cruise of about four hours from a pier south of Guilin. By road the drive takes about 1.5 hours. There is also a high-speed train to Yangshuo station, about 30 to 40 minutes outside town.
Yes, especially in spring and autumn when the water is high and the peaks are clear. It is a relaxed half day with constant views. In winter low water can shorten the route, and on holidays the boats are busy, so a shorter raft section from Xingping is a good alternative.
Generally yes. The bamboo rafts are slow and stable, poled by a boatman, and the small weirs are gentle. Children should wear the life jackets provided. Rafting may pause after heavy rain when the river is high, so we keep some flexibility in the plan.
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