Things to Do in Yangshuo, China: Best Attractions & Honest Tips

Eight in the morning, and I’m on an electric scooter crossing Gongnong Bridge, the mist still hanging low. Bamboo groves arch over the Yulong River like a tunnel, and a hand-paddled raft slips off a low dam just ahead — the raftman leans on his pole, and the nose kicks up a spray of white water. (That, if you’re wondering, is the sound of Yangshuo waking up.)

This is my third trip here. The other two were in October and December, both for the same reason: to stand on top of Xianggong Mountain and watch the sun come up over the first bend of the Li River. In Yangshuo the karst peaks don’t rise like normal mountains. They grow straight out of the rice paddies and the riverbanks — green, and close enough to touch.

If you’re searching for things to do in Yangshuo, this guide is for you. I’ve written down the places I went, the money I actually spent, and the mistakes I made. All three trips’ worth.

Where Yangshuo Is — and How to Actually Get There

Get one thing straight first. Yangshuo is a county under Guilin, in northeast Guangxi, about 60 km south of Guilin city. Don’t confuse the two. Guilin is the transit hub — the train station, the airport. The scenery you came for is almost all in the Guilin–Yangshuo countryside, not the city. If you want the full picture, start with our Guilin travel guide.

Three ways into Yangshuo, each with a trade-off:

• The high-speed train is fastest. From Guilin Station or Guilin North, it’s 20–30 minutes to Yangshuo Station, about CNY 20–25 (USD 3–4) for a second-class seat. Catch: Yangshuo Station is not in the county town. It sits next to Xingping ancient town, about 30 km from West Street. A shuttle bus runs another 40–50 minutes into town for CNY 20 (USD 3).
• The Li River cruise is the most scenic. It leaves Guilin’s Mopanshan or Zhujiang pier and takes 4–4.5 hours to reach Yangshuo’s Longtoushan pier. A three-star boat runs CNY 215–270 (USD 31–39), a four-star CNY 360–450 (USD 51–64), lunch included. You basically turn transport into sightseeing.
• The direct bus is the simplest. From Guilin South bus station, it’s about 1.5 hours to Yangshuo town or near West Street, CNY 25–35 (USD 4–5). No train-station transfer to juggle.

When to come: April–May and September–November. Spring gives you that misty “smoke over the Li River” look; autumn is clear and dry, ideal for cycling, climbing, and sunrise. Skip June–July (storm season — rafts sometimes stop running) and the July–August heat and crowds. For a month-by-month breakdown, see our guide to the best time to visit Guilin.

The Best Things to Do in Yangshuo, by Category

Here are the best Yangshuo attractions, sorted into three buckets — scenery, outdoors, and culture — so you can skim straight to what you like. I’ve grouped these things to do in Yangshuo the way I’d actually plan a trip, not the way a brochure would list them. (For the wider region, I have a separate things to do in Guilin list.)

Scenery & Rivers

Of everything on this list of things to do in Yangshuo, the bamboo raft is the one I’d do again first.

Yulong River bamboo raft — no motor, just a raftman with a pole, drifting between rice fields and karst peaks, then sliding over a few low dams with a splash. The classic stretch is Jinlong Bridge to Jiuxian: CNY 320 per raft (USD 46), two people max, about 1.5 hours. Short on time? Take the Shuie-di Pier to Zonghe Pier (near Gongnong Bridge) stretch — CNY 200 per raft (USD 28), 40–50 minutes.

Li River cruise — different beast from the Yulong rafts. This is the big-boat route down the Li River’s best section, the one printed on the back of the 20 RMB note. Three-star boats run CNY 215–270 (USD 31–39), four-star CNY 360–450 (USD 51–64), meals included, 4–4.5 hours. It doubles as the Guilin-to-Yangshuo transfer if you time it right.

Xianggong Mountain sunrise — pay CNY 60 (USD 8.5), climb stone steps for about 15 minutes, and you’re standing over the first bend of the Li River: a U-shaped turn of green water below karst peaks floating in morning mist. I went up at 5:30 a.m. in October. When the first light hit the river, it turned gold-red. Check sunrise time and the weather forecast before you go.

Ten-Mile Gallery — a free, open scenic road you ride through, peaks and rice paddies on both sides. Moon Hill and the Big Banyan Tree sit along this stretch. No ticket needed; just rent a scooter and drift.

Xingping ancient town + the 20 RMB view — Xingping is the prettiest stretch of the Li River, and the seven peaks on the back of the 20 yuan note reflect right into the water here, free to see. Yangshuo’s high-speed rail station is actually beside Xingping, so plenty of people make this their first stop straight off the train.

Outdoors & Active

The next three things to do in Yangshuo are for people who like to move.

Cycling — the most comfortable way to see Yangshuo. A regular bicycle runs CNY 15–20 a day (USD 2–3), an electric scooter CNY 40–60 a day (USD 6–9), deposit usually CNY 100–200. There’s a dedicated greenway along the Yulong River that keeps you off the trucks — rice paddies, old bridges, and bamboo groves the whole way.

Moon Hill — CNY 14 (USD 2). You can see the big round arch for free from Moon-Viewing Road; to walk up to the hole itself, you’ll climb about 800 steps, around an hour.

Rock climbing — Yangshuo is one of China’s original climbing towns, with natural limestone walls and endless routes. A beginner half-day course runs CNY 200–350 (USD 29–50), gear and coach included, usually at Bottle Hill or Swiss Cheese. Expect 2–3 routes in a session.

Culture, Food & Nightlife

West Street — Yangshuo’s nightlife heart. Stone lanes, old buildings mixing Chinese and Western styles, lanterns everywhere, and after dark it fills with street food, bars, and craft stalls. Meh by day, alive at night.

Impression Liu Sanjie — a Zhang Yimou light-and-sound show staged right on the Li River, with the karst peaks as the backdrop and 600 performers. Standard seats CNY 238 (USD 34), VIP CNY 328–480 (USD 47–69), about 70 minutes, shows at 19:30 and 21:00 (extra shows in peak season). Note it closes for maintenance around Chinese New Year — roughly late January to mid-February, reopening around the second or third day of the new year.

Beer Fish — Yangshuo’s signature dish: river fish braised with beer, tomatoes, and chili. Count CNY 70–110 per person (USD 10–16). Fish is priced by weight — hairy-bone fish or sword-bone fish runs about CNY 68–88 per jin (500 g). Stick to places with printed prices. For more on the region’s food, see our what to eat in Guilin guide.

Cormorant fishing — the “cormorant grandpa” photo spots along the Xingping riverbank are pure performance now. You pay CNY 20–30 (USD 3–4) for a posed shot with birds that usually have their wings bound. Fine for a souvenir photo, but don’t expect real traditional fishing.

How to Choose: Match Your Interests and Time

Now that you’ve seen the main things to do in Yangshuo, here’s how to pick. Match your style first:

Then match your time:

• 1 day: short raft at Shuie-di Pier in the morning → cycle the Ten-Mile Gallery → afternoon in Xingping for the 20 RMB view → back to West Street for dinner. (Budget 45–60 minutes for the ride from Xingping back to West Street — they’re 30 km apart.)
• 2 days: day one — Xianggong sunrise → Xingping + 20 RMB view → West Street at night; day two — Yulong raft at Jinlong Bridge → Ten-Mile Gallery → Impression Liu Sanjie in the evening.
• 3 days: add a Li River cruise or a climbing day to the above, and the pace gets genuinely easy.

For a fuller trip plan, see our Guilin itinerary guide.

Mistakes I Made — So You Don’t Have To

Raft tips. A Yulong raftman might ask for a CNY 20–50 “tip” mid-ride, claiming he’ll go slower or take photos. Officially this is banned. Say no politely, or report it at the pier. If he genuinely helps and takes good photos, a small thank-you tip is fair.

Touts and rip-offs. Around West Street, bus stations, and cycling routes, “Yangshuo moms” pitch discount tickets and cheap Beer Fish. Some unlicensed joints run a “two-scale” trick or swap dead fish for live. Eat at places with printed prices (the Master Chef, Liu Jie, and Xie Sanjie chains are safe bets) and ask whether fish is priced by the jin or by the dish. Buy tickets through official apps.

Peak-season lines. During Golden Week, May Day, and summer, the Jima and Shuie-di piers can hit 2–3 hour waits. Book a timed ticket in advance on the official “Yulong River” WeChat account, and get to the pier before 8 a.m.

Cormorant shows are fake now. Covered above — it’s a paid photo op, not an authentic experience.

Meterless taxis. From Yangshuo Station to town, drivers quote CNY 80–100; the fair price is 50–70. Use Didi, or agree the price before you get in.

The Ten-Mile Gallery is free. Don’t fall for anyone selling a “ticket” or a sightseeing-bus pass (CNY 20–60). Rent a scooter instead. For more ways to avoid getting burned, see our Guilin travel tips.

Yangshuo FAQ: Quick Answers

Spend CNY 200 (USD 28, or USD 14 per person) on a bamboo raft, and CNY 60 (USD 8.5) to climb Xianggong Mountain, and you’ve got the two most valuable things to do in Yangshuo. The rest — the green, the mist, the quiet between the peaks — well, that one’s on the landscape.

Ke Ping — Founder, Insider China Travel

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