Yangshuo Itinerary: A Complete Guide for First-Time Visitors
Yangshuo is near Guilin, about 65 km (40 miles) from downtown Guilin. It has 16 rivers and more than 20,000 karst mountains. In fact, many of Guilin’s most famous landscapes are actually right here in Yangshuo.
by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Getting to Yangshuo
By Li River Cruise from Guilin
This is the best way to travel from Guilin to Yangshuo.
The Li River cruise is both a popular sightseeing trip and a convenient way to get to Yangshuo. The cruise is one-way only and runs from Guilin to Yangshuo. When leaving Yangshuo, most travelers take a taxi from their hotel to the railway station or the airport for their next destination. For more information about the Li River cruise, see our Guilin Guide.
From Your Hotel in Yangshuo to Yangshuo Railway Station
- Distance: about 35 km (22 miles)
- Travel time: about 50 minutes
- Taxi / Didi: about CNY 100
From Your Hotel in Yangshuo to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
- Distance: about 80 km (50 miles)
- Travel time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
- Taxi / Didi: about CNY 200
Where to Stay in Yangshuo
- Yangshuo has very few big chain hotels, but many local boutique hotels and guesthouses, with around 3,700 properties in total.
- Staying on West Street is not recommended because it is noisy and traffic is often heavy.
- A better option is to stay near the Yulong River, where it is quieter and the scenery is much better.
- When booking online, be careful with photos. Many hotel images show the best rooms at the best time of day. Entry-level rooms (usually on lower floors) often have limited views, so it is better to keep expectations realistic.
For good value
GuYu · Mountain View Hotel 谷语·见山民宿
- Rating: 9.8 (700+ reviews)
- Great location: halfway between West Street and the Yulong River bamboo rafting pier
- Although it is not expensive, many rooms still have good mountain views
For higher budget / better scenery
Yangshuo Xishi Jinshe Hotel 阳朔昔时今舍
- Rating: 9.8 (1000+ reviews)
- Some rooms overlook the Yulong River directly
- Free daily shuttle service to nearby attractions
Yangshuo Misty Wonderland 画山云社
- Rating: 9.5 (2000+ reviews)
- Located on a hillside with wide mountain views, known for its dramatic scenery
- Room quality is average, but service is very good
- Shuttle service available (free for short distances, extra fee for longer trips)
Yangshuo Itinerary & Getting Around
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 Explore Guilin
Day 2 Take a morning Li River cruise. Arrive in Yangshuo around 2:00 pm and reach your hotel around 3:00 pm. After check-in, you can:
- Visit Ruyi Peak Scenic Area (less crowded, but tickets are more expensive)
- Visit Xianggong Mountain and the “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” Viewpoint for sunset. Hire a private car for 3 hours (your hotel can arrange this).
- If the Golden Dragon Parade is running that evening (check with your hotel), it is worth watching.
Day 3
- Head to the pier early in the morning to buy tickets for the Yulong River bamboo rafting
- Free time in the afternoon depending on your interests
Day 4 Depart for your next destination
Map of Yangshuo Attractions:
Getting Around Yangshuo:
Rent an E-bike (Electric Scooter)
Renting an e-bike is the most convenient way to explore Yangshuo.- Rental prices are usually CNY 30–60 per day, depending on the season and battery range. Renting from your hotel is recommended. Most hotels require no deposit or only a CNY 100 deposit, while small shops often ask for CNY 200–300.
- If you plan to go further, such as the “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” Viewpoint, check with the rental shop first. The distance is long and includes steep uphill sections, and many standard scooters may not have enough power. Some shops offer upgraded scooters for around CNY 60 per day.
- Always check brakes and battery before departure. Charging is usually available at parking areas near attractions.
- Parking costs around CNY 2–5.
Ride-Hailing
Ride-hailing (such as Didi) is also a practical option.- On normal days, it is easy to get a ride anywhere in Yangshuo.
- During public holidays, demand is much higher. You may need to pay around 2× the normal fare to get a driver.
- At popular attractions during holidays, local private drivers, motorbikes, and unofficial taxis are also available. Prices are usually around 2× the normal fare, and can reach 3× during peak holidays. In other words, you are unlikely to be stranded—you will still get a ride, but at a higher price.
Private Driver
For the most reliable option, you can ask your hotel to arrange a private driver. Prices are usually CNY 350–600 per day, depending on season and vehicle type.
Note: Roads around Yangshuo are often reported by domestic travelers as crowded and slow during holidays, especially around major scenic areas. Plan extra time for travel.
Top Attractions in Yangshuo
Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
This is Yangshuo’s most popular activity and a must-do for first-time visitors.
The Yulong River is a 43.5 km (27 miles) tributary of the Li River. Several rafting routes are available, but the 2-person bamboo raft is the most enjoyable and passes through the most scenic section of the river.
Recommended Route: The best route is from Jima Pier 骥马码头 to Comprehensive Pier 综合码头. The trip is about 6 km (3.7 miles) long and takes around 90 minutes, passing over nine small dams (water drops) along the way. The price is CNY 320 per raft. Before boarding, all passengers are weighed, and the combined weight of two people must not exceed 160 kg (353 lb).
Hours: 7:00 am – 5:30 pm
How to Book:
Use the WeChat Mini Program “遇龙河景区竹筏漂游票”. Tickets are released at 8:00 pm one day in advance. During the peak season, they usually sell out within just 3 minutes.
If you do not read Chinese, you can ask your hotel to help. However, the booking process requires passport information, personal details, WeChat Pay, and booking exactly when tickets are released, so many hotels may not offer this service.
You can also buy tickets directly at the pier in the morning. A limited number of same-day tickets are reserved for on-site sales, although availability is not guaranteed.
Note: Rafting may be suspended due to bad weather.
Getting there
- Search for the Chinese characters “遇龙河景区骥马码头漂流售票处” in your map app.
- The rafting route is one-way. If you arrive by scooter or e-bike, shuttle buses are available to take you back to the starting pier for CNY 10 per person. It is also usually easy to get a ride-hailing taxi from the end of the route.
Watch: 桂林遇龙河·十里画廊
Watch: Floating Through Yulong River
Ruyi Peak Scenic Area
Ruyi Peak Scenic Area is Yangshuo’s only major attraction built around a cable car and panoramic mountain views. Since the ticket price is relatively high, it is less crowded and offers a much better experience.
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Admission: CNY 220 for adults; CNY 110 for children (6–18), students, and visitors aged 65+. Tickets can be booked on Trip.com.
Visit Time: 1.5–2 hours
What to Expect:
The walking route is a loop. First, take the 2,012-meter cable car to the top (about 15 minutes). Then, walk along the elevated walkway to Ruyi Suspension Bridge, a 142-meter bridge connecting two mountain peaks. Continue to the circular viewing platform at the top of Ruyi Peak (580 meters above sea level), then walk along the elevated walkway, including a 138-meter glass skywalk, before returning to the cable car station for the ride back down.
Getting there
- Search for the Chinese characters “桂林阳朔如意峰索道景区” in your map app.
- After sunset, it can be difficult to get a ride-hailing taxi, and drivers who accept your request may ask for 2–3 times the fare shown in the app.
- When booking on Trip.com, you can choose the “Ticket + Shuttle Bus” option, which includes round-trip transport from West Street and is usually better value.
Watch: Ruyi Peak in Yangshuo, Guilin China
Watch: Exploring Ruyi Peak | Hidden Gem of Guilin
Xianggong Mountain
Xianggong Mountain is one of the most famous viewpoints in Yangshuo. The hike from the entrance to the top is only a 10–15 minute walk up the stairs.
Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
Admission: CNY 60 for adults; half price for children (6–18), students, and visitors aged 65+. You can book tickets on Trip.com.
Visit Time: About 30 minutes
Getting there: Search for the Chinese characters “相公山观景台” or “Xianggong Mountain” in your map app.
Watch: From Yangshuo to Xingping ancient town by bus
Watch: 4 Days of Exploring in Guilin
A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains Viewpoint
This popular viewpoint offers a spectacular panorama of Yangshuo’s karst mountains and is especially beautiful at sunset. The name comes from a famous ancient Chinese masterpiece. The mountain landscape here looks just like the scenery in that painting.
Hours: 24 hours
Admission: Free
Visit Time: About 30 minutes
Tips:
During the low season, you can usually ride or drive all the way to the top.
During the peak season, if the parking lot at the top is full, you will be asked to park halfway up the mountain. From there, you can either walk about 15 minutes to the top or take a shuttle bus (CNY 10 per person).
Getting there:
- Search for the Chinese characters “千里江山图大型水墨画打卡地” in your map app.
- Getting here by ride-hailing taxi is easy, but it can be difficult to find one for the return trip. Consider asking your hotel to arrange a private driver before you leave. A 3-hour charter costs about CNY 200, which allows you to visit Xianggong Mountain first and then come here for sunset.
Watch: 阳朔夕阳赏千里江山图
Watch: 千里江山图还得是阳朔的壮观
Golden Dragon Parade
The Golden Dragon Parade is one of Yangshuo’s most unique night attractions.
The “dragon” is made up of 77 bamboo rafts connected together, with lights, music, fireworks, and the surrounding karst mountains creating a beautiful atmosphere. It is well worth making a special trip to see.
Time:
The schedule is not fixed. It is usually held around 6:30 pm on Saturdays and public holidays, and lasts about 1 hour. After arriving in Yangshuo, ask your hotel staff to confirm the latest schedule.
Best Places to Watch:
Yulong Bridge This is the best viewing location. Tickets cost CNY 108, but only 80 tickets are available for each show, so they are usually very difficult to get.
Along Both Sides of the Bridge You can watch the show for free from either side of the bridge. No reservation is required, but expect large crowds.
Floating Taste Restaurant 悬浮味蕾餐厅 The restaurant’s 5th floor offers a great elevated view, much better than standing in the crowd by the bridge. A buffet dinner is required, which costs about CNY 150 per person.
Ride One of the Dragon Rafts You can also experience the show by riding one of the bamboo rafts. The dragon head costs CNY 1,688 for two people, while the dragon body costs CNY 358 for two people. Advance booking is required.
How to Book:
To book bridge tickets or a raft experience, search for the Chinese characters “金龙巡游前台小姐姐” on Xiaohongshu (RED) and send a direct message (DM). You can also ask your hotel to help make the reservation.
Getting there:
- Search for the Chinese characters “遇龙桥码头” or “Yulong Bridge Pier” in your map app.
- After the show, it may be difficult to get a ride-hailing taxi because it is a busy time. If so, walk about 2 minutes to the Yangshuo Yulong Village Golden Dragon Parade Ticket Office “阳朔遇龙村金龙巡游售票处” — look for the “Visitor Center” sign). Shared taxis to West Street are available there for CNY 20–30 per person. From West Street, you can easily take another taxi back to your hotel.
Watch: 桂林两日游vlog千里江山图➕竹筏游江➕金龙巡游
Watch: 满船清梦压星河在阳朔具像化了
Popular Attractions You Might Consider Skipping
West Street
West Street itself is an 800-meter (0.5-mile) pedestrian street. However, when local people talk about West Street, they usually mean the busy shopping and dining area around it. This area has many restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, local food stores, cafés, and hotels.
It is a typical commercial area like those found in many Chinese cities. While it is lively, there is nothing particularly unique about it, so there is no need to make a special trip just to visit it.
Getting there: Search for the Chinese characters “阳朔西街” (West Street) or use “必胜客(阳朔店)” (Pizza Hut) as a drop-off location in your map app.
Watch: 桂林阳朔·西街
Watch: Guangxi @ Yangshuo - West Street
Laozhai Hill
Laozhai Hill is not an official scenic area, but it is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Yangshuo.
Admission: Free
Visit Time: About 1 hour (around 30 minutes to climb up)
Things to know:
- The trail is steep and poorly maintained. Some steps are covered with moss and can be very slippery. Wear shoes with good grip.
- There are graves and some litter along the trail. The summit can also get very crowded at sunset, so the experience may not be as good as you expect.
Getting there: Laozhai Hill is next to Xingping Ancient Town. Search for the Chinese characters “屋企咖啡” (Wuji Coffee) in your map app. The trail starts on the small path right next to the café.
Note: Xingping Ancient Town is very small and highly commercialized. It has received many negative reviews on Chinese social media, so it is not worth a special trip on its own. However, if you are climbing Laozhai Hill, it is a convenient place to stop for lunch.
Watch: 去了阳朔不去老寨山，我只能说你错过太多
Thank you for reading. Hope you have a wonderful journey! ヽ(´▽`)/