Plan your trip to Yangshuo, China! Explore stunning karst mountains, bike along the winding Yulong River, visit Moon Hill, and immerse in rich local culture. Explore top things to do in this Yangshuo travel guide!
I’d been to China many times before, both for visiting family and tourism, but the Yangshuo landscape is one of the most quintessentially ‘China’ I can remember.
The dramatic slopes of the karst mountains give way to a serene and quiet beauty, and all in just a moment I felt months of stress simply drain away. The stress of my move out of London. The stress of finally leaving a job I’d been hamster-wheeling at for 8 years. What job? What move?
There was only the Li river and karst mountains before me — two great dragons, like ancient guardians interweaving through the misty morning.
Keep reading this post for a Yangshuo travel guide, including things to do, itinerary ideas, and other travel tips for your visit!
Top Things To Do In Yangshuo:
Explore the Iconic Karst Mountains & Scenic Spots
Yangshuo Sunrise
I’ll never forget my first morning waking up in Yangshuo, pulling apart the curtains and stepping out onto the balcony…
The stunning beauty of the Li River, winding through a misty landscape of rice paddies and orchard fields, against the backdrop of serene karst mountains and golden glow of the day’s first sun…it simply took my breath away.
I mean…take a look, have you ever seen a view quite like this?? (#nofilter!)
Bike Along the Yulong River
My best day out in Yangshuo would have to be the day I rented an e-bike and explored the rice paddies and villages along the Yulong River (in English translating to ‘Meeting Dragon River’). There is always the option to rent an ordinary bike of course, but you’ll see many visitors and locals whizzing about on e-bikes. For me, more fun, and an easier ride that also gives the opportunity to explore larger distances!
You’ll come across rice paddies and sleepy villages, stop along the banks to see tourists and locals alike enjoying themselves on the river, whether it be bamboo rafting or fishing with your buddies…
The particular path I rode down was a perfect and lucky find, paved for easy riding but too narrow for any car traffic! Not many people and full of interesting things to see along the way, with small bridges and rest stops along the river.
The path isn’t on Google maps. To find it go to ‘Yulonghe Scenic Area’, ride past the large groups of tourists and keep going along the road until you come to a large bamboo and cement bridge (photo to right). Cross the bridge and the path is just along the river bank. The path eventually connects to a slightly larger road, leading to ‘Yulongcun’ (or Yulong Village), where there is a beautiful old bridge to see. A very nice lady waved to me from her restaurant on the side of the road, where I stopped for a chat and a delicious local village lunch!
After lunch, I returned the way I came (though I could have continued onwards) – the whole loop, including lunch and rest stops, took me about 3-4 hours. If you wanted to avoid going back the way you came, you could start at Yulong Village and make your way to the bamboo bridge near ‘Yulonghe Scenic Area’ – but for me the stunning scenery was well worth seeing twice!
You’ll find that biking in Yangshuo is one of the best ways to explore the area!
Visit Moon Hill
After my e-bike explorations along the Yulong River, I continued on to see Moon Hill, around 30 minutes ride away. A great opportunity to get up close to the karst formations and see them for yourself. On first glance, it’s clear how Moon Hill got its name – the naturally formed arch under the summit of the hill looks just like a moon!
You can park your bike and buy tickets at the bottom of the hill. An information banner there also tells an interesting story in Chinese about a visit by US President Nixon with his wife in 1976. According to the banner, on seeing Moon Hill from afar, Nixon asked in surprise, ‘Did you shoot the moon into the top of that mountain with a missile?’ To which the Chinese escort replied, ‘No, it is a masterpiece of nature’. Nixon didn’t believe him, and wanted to see it for himself. And so, the bodyguards from both China and the US had to overcome all obstacles to accompany this curious president to climb the mountain. Nixon climbed the mountain and observed it carefully up close, and finally convinced that it was naturally formed, he could not help but praise it, ‘My wife and I have visited more than 80 countries in the world. I will say without reservation that none can compare to the beauty of Yangshuo’. Since then, people here have called the rugged mountain road where Nixon climbed to the moon hole, the Nixon Trail.
Any interesting story…perhaps you too will have to come and see for yourself!
There is a winding path of 800 steps, which allows visitors to climb up to the arch. Though it didn’t look like it, perhaps due to the heat and humidity that day, this was a challenging climb, but well worth it! Don’t forget to bring plenty of water with you, even though the climb only takes around 30 minutes. From the top, you can admire the ‘moon hole’, along with beautiful views of Yangshuo and the surrounding landscapes.
The entry ticket to Moon Hill also includes entry to the nearby old Banyan Tree, said to be more than 1400 years old! The tree was really very beautiful and worth the visit. It is lucky to walk a complete circle around the Banyan Tree!
Bamboo Rafting
As you bike along the river, you’ll see a constant stream of bamboo rafts going past. I’d been on more bamboo rafts than I can count, and I was going to be late for dinner with my host family, so I skipped the bamboo rafting this time. But I would recommend it, it’s a great way to admire the views, especially if you haven’t tried bamboo rafting before! I saw many bamboo rafts close to the Banyan Tree, so this would be a good place to get one. Another option would be from Yangshuo Town, of course.
*About the Karst Mountains
Yangshuo is famous for its karst mountains, a very distinctive landscape with over 70,000 peaks formed over millions of years. And with my background in geophysics,
I’d be remiss not to go into the underlying geology (just a bit 🤓!)
About 200 million years ago, crustal movements of the Earth caused limestone sediments to be thrust out from the sea floor, from more than 200 meters below the surface of the sea. Through this process a large expanse of land was formed, and the limestone was eroded by wind and rain over millions of years, to form the strange and wonderful shapes that can be seen today. Underneath the surface, complex underground cavern and drainage networks exist, and karst rivers may seemingly disappear only to reappear elsewhere. These unique and geologically fascinating karst formations are found in various regions of Southern China, and it’s no wonder they are included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site list!
As I found out when I arrived there, many travelers had come to see the karst mountains after they were featured in the movie Avatar. Those particular karst mountains however (to avoid confusion), are located in Zhangjiajie, about 8 hours away by bullet train (a fairly small distance for China!). I didn’t visit myself, but if you are an avid Avatar fan this may be the thing for you!
Immersing in Local Culture: Yangshuo Town and Beyond
Take a Stroll Through Yangshuo Town
Spend a day strolling through Yangshuo town, and explore the walking streets, winding canals and local sites. The town has a unique charm, and there’s no better way to better understand local life, today and in the past.
And be sure to treat yourself at the end of the day to a traditional Chinese medical massage – it should make you squirm in pain and nearly wish you’d never been born, but feel light as a feather afterwards – that’s how you know you’ve gotten a Chinese massage from a true master. If you happen to come across a little old lady masseuse, it is truly your lucky day and do not(!!!) miss this golden opportunity!
Cormorant Fishermen
There are not many places left in the world where you can see Cormorant fishermen. Take a walk along the banks of the Li River in Yangshuo and you’ll see them. Though I saw a few taking in the day’s catch, it seemed that these days they mostly make a living taking photos with tourists dressed up in various kinds of traditional clothing. It was surprisingly interesting to see this rather bizarre meeting of past and present!
It’s worth also taking a stroll through the local vegetable market to see the locals going about their day, the veggie seller taking a nap waiting for his next customer – and wherever you are, you look up and there are those surreal misty hills…
Visit a Tea Plantation
Even though I drink tea nearly every day, and my auntie in China is a bit of a tea expert, I had never actually visited a tea plantation before. Tea is has had a profound and immeasurable part to play in global culture and history, and I’d definitely recommend the experience to see first hand how tea is grown and made. I visited the Qixianfeng Ecological Tea Garden just outside Yangshuo, and for 99 RMB you can experience picking the tea leaves yourself, and learn to prepare the tea to make green tea which you can take home with you!
*Longer stays: Tai Chi and/or Chinese Language School
If you have the time, I would highly recommend taking some classes to immerse yourself in Chinese culture – whether that be a week, a month, or more! Even if you are short on time, you can also sign up for a short taichi taster class.
I myself studied taichi for 2 weeks while I was in Yangshuo. As is the traditional way, I stayed at the school and lived with the teacher and his family. It was a fantastic way to get to know the locals and learn about their life. There were evenings we spent chatting and sharing about life in China and in the West, eating tasty food and playing pool (yes the School has pool and ping pong tables!).
I stayed and studied at the Yangshuo Traditional Taichi School. I would really, really (!!!) recommend this school – Master Kim is a very experienced and amazing teacher, his family is incredibly kind, warm and hospitable, and the school is in an old traditional Qing dynasty house with beautiful views of the mountains.
While I was at the School, I made friends from around the world who were also exploring China. Many of them were studying Chinese language in Yangshuo Town in the mornings, and heading over to Master Kim’s in the afternoon to learn Taichi, and from what I hear it’s a great way to immerse yourself in Chinese culture while picking up some new skills!
The Taichi school is located in a small village called Jimacun just outside of Yangshuo, a great place to experience local village life (how Yangshuo might have looked decades ago, before it grew into a tourist spot), while being perfectly located for visits to Yangshuo town, the Yulong River Scenic Area, and Moon Hill, each about 15 mins by e-scooter (which you can rent in the village, or the taichi school has some bikes you can use for free). There are a few restaurants just around the corner, and a beautiful cafe that serves the cutest iced coffees!
(By the way, I have no financial interests in this taichi school, they are just GREAT!)
Getting To and Around Yangshuo
How To Get To Yangshuo
- From Guilin: Most people get to Yangshuo by taking either a train or flight to Guilin. From Guilin, you can either take a car or boat to Yangshuo. I took a car as I arrived later in the evening, but many people I met had opted for the Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, and they enjoyed it!
- By car: You can get a taxi at the train station/airport, or ask your hotel to send a car to fetch you, which takes around 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo.
- By boat: Going by boat takes longer (around 4.5h), but there are beautiful views and you even pass through Xingping, where you’ll see the view printed on the back of the 20 RMB banknote! Here’s a picture a friend from the Taichi school shared with me…
- From Yangshuo train station: You can also take a train from Yangshuo train station, about a 30 minute drive (without traffic, which I heard can be quite bad!) from Yangshuo town. The train will likely stop in Guilin, for a transfer to another train for flight onwards.
Getting Around Yangshuo
- E-bike / bicycle: For excursions around the river and local villages, I’d highly recommend renting an e-bike or bicycle for a fun experience and the freedom!
- Car / taxi: For going up into the mountains (to the tea plantation for example), I’d recommend either hiring a car/taxi (your hotel can help you to arrange), or ordering a taxi. The Chinese order Didi taxi, which is like Uber, through the WeChat app. There were times though that I had a hard time getting a Didi, so this may not be the most reliable option.
- Tuk-tuk: There is also the option to take local electric tuk-tuks which you’ll see around town, I actually took one from Yangshuo to the Taichi school when I first arrived and couldn’t get a taxi – and it was great!
FAQs About Traveling to Yangshuo, China
Q: When is the best time to visit Yangshuo?
A: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) for the best weather and scenery. I visited in August though, and it wasn’t too hot, and there were some raining days which actually added a certain mystique to the scenery! Winters are cooler, but still enjoyable
Q: How many days do you need in Yangshuo?
A: A 3-4 day itinerary is ideal to explore the karst mountains, bike along the Yulong river, visit Moon Hill, explore Yangshuo Town and experience some local culture (like visiting a tea plantation). If you want to take taichi classes, or a Chinese language course, consider staying longer, and at least 1-2 weeks.
Q: How do I get to Yangshuo from Guilin?
A: You can take a Li River cruise (4–5 hours), taxi (1.5 hours), high-speed train (30 minutes + taxi), or bus (1.5–2 hours).
Q: How do I get around Yangshuo?
A: Rent a bicycle or e-bike for flexibility. Tuk-tuks, taxis, and Didi (China’s Uber) are also available.
Planning a trip to Yangshuo? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions! And please don’t forget to share this guide with fellow travelers… 🙂