Yangshuo Travel Guide
Yangshuo, located in the northeastern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is part of Guilin City, situated 65 kilometers from downtown Guilin. While Guilin’s landscape is renowned as “the best under heaven,” Yangshuo’s breathtaking scenery has earned it the title of “the best of Guilin’s mountains and waters.”
Yangshuo features unique natural landscapes that capture the essence of Guilin’s beauty. The most famous route begins along the Li River, passing through picturesque towns like Xingping. Notably, the “Nine Horses Paint Hill” near Xingping and the scenic view depicted on the 20 yuan banknote, taken from the nearby Fozishan, are highlights.
In the town of Yangshuo, you’ll find “West Street,” known as “Foreigner Street,” alongside historical sites such as the Xu Beihong Former Residence and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The area also hosts the large-scale outdoor performance “Impression Liu Sanjie,” directed by Zhang Yimou.
South of Yangshuo town lies the “Ten-Mile Gallery,” featuring attractions like Moon Hill, Julongtan, and Butterfly Spring. A trip along the Yulong River offers an exquisite rafting experience, showcasing ancient architecture in the old village of Jiu County, along with the famous Yulong Bridge and scenic spots that evoke the feeling of a “paradise on earth.”
After arriving at noon, we headed straight to the rafting. I had booked tickets online in advance, but you can also buy them on-site. However, the on-site ticket purchase has a small entrance and a long line. Even with an online reservation, you still have to wait in line. The bamboo raft rafting is particularly not friendly for people who weigh a lot; if you weigh over 160 kg, you must make your own raft.
My first visit to Yangshuo was a great experience. Although the weather in December isn’t ideal, I am quite satisfied. The temperature difference between day and night is significant, making it easy to catch a cold.
The beauty of the scenery in Guilin is quite different from that of Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan. The continuous small mountains here align more with my understanding of traditional landscape painting. Riding a bamboo raft through the rapids is really fun!