Town
First-timersAround West Street.
Yangshuo town guide
Things To Do In Yangshuo
Karst peaks rising from rice fields along the Li and Yulong rivers, bamboo rafts, cycling through villages, world-class climbing, and the view on the 20 yuan note.
16
Hostels in the city
9.0
Average, from 2,469 reviews
20 yuan
The view on the note
Hundreds
Of climbing routes
1 h
From Guilin
The karst country
Yangshuo is a small town in Guangxi, surrounded by one of the most famous landscapes in China: hundreds of limestone karst peaks rising out of flat rice fields and rivers. The view of the Li River near Xingping appears on the back of the 20 yuan note.
Most visitors arrive through Guilin, the city about an hour north, which has the airport and is where Li River cruises begin. Yangshuo itself is the base: small, relaxed and surrounded by countryside you can explore by bicycle.
Three or four days is right.
Where to stay
Yangshuo town, around West Street, has the hostels, bars and restaurants, but is busy and touristy. The countryside, along the Yulong River and among the karst peaks a few kilometres out, has guesthouses with views and is far more peaceful; bicycles and scooters link it to town.
Countryside
ViewsAlong the Yulong River.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Yangshuo
Yangshuo, in Guangxi, sits among the karst peaks that rise straight out of the rice fields along the Li and Yulong rivers, one of the most famous landscapes in China.
Cycle or ride a scooter through the countryside along the Yulong River, past villages, paddies and water buffalo, to the old Yulong Bridge, a Ming dynasty stone bridge. Bamboo rafts drift down the river, poled by boatmen.
Take a boat on the Li River: the classic stretch is between Yangdi and Xingping, where the view on the back of the 20-yuan note can be seen. Xingping, an old town on the river, is a quieter base. Climb Xianggong Hill for sunrise over the river.
Yangshuo is one of Asia's top rock-climbing destinations, with hundreds of bolted routes on the limestone; Moon Hill, a peak with a crescent-shaped hole, is a short climb up steps for everyone.
Take a cooking class, and see Impression Liu Sanjie, a light show on the river directed by Zhang Yimou, with the karst peaks as the backdrop.
The Longji rice terraces, the Dragon's Backbone, are about three hours away.
Free things
Free things to do in Yangshuo
Cycling the countryside along the Yulong River is free, apart from bike hire, and so is walking West Street and the riverside in town.
The views of the karst peaks are free everywhere, and the hike up some smaller peaks costs nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Yangshuo
Beer fish, pijiu yu, is Yangshuo's signature dish: river fish cooked with Li River beer, tomatoes and chillies. Guilin rice noodles, mifen, in broth with pickles and peanuts, are the local breakfast.
Stuffed vegetables and snails are other local dishes, and the cooking schools teach them. A meal is €3 to €10.
Nightlife
Going out in Yangshuo
West Street is the centre of the nightlife, with bars, live music and clubs aimed at both Chinese and international visitors, busy and loud until late.
A beer is €2 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Yangshuo
Yangshuo is about an hour from Guilin by bus, or from Yangshuo high-speed rail station, which is about 30 minutes from town by shuttle bus. Guilin has an airport with domestic and some international flights.
Rent a bicycle or e-scooter to explore the countryside; Didi works in town.
Li River boats run between Yangdi and Xingping; book through hostels.
Costs
What Yangshuo costs
Yangshuo is cheap. Dorms start around €7 and a careful day is €20 to €35.
A bamboo raft on the Yulong River is €15 to €25, a Li River boat trip a similar amount, and a climbing day with a guide €40 to €70. Bicycle hire is a few euros.
The currency is the yuan (CNY), at roughly 8 yuan to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Almost everyone pays by phone: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive, and carry some cash as a backup.
Safety
Staying safe in Yangshuo
Yangshuo is very safe. On bicycles and scooters, take care on country roads.
Climb only with a reputable guide or school. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked; use an eSIM with international roaming, and Amap or Baidu Maps for directions. Carry your passport: it is needed for trains, hotels and many sights, which are booked by real name.
Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, under a scheme extended to the end of 2026, and 240-hour visa-free transit covers many more; check the rules for your passport before you travel.
Emergency: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire.
Day trips from Yangshuo
The Li River, the 20-yuan view and the rice terraces.
Li River cruise
The famous karst river, Yangdi to Xingping.
Xingping
The 20-yuan view and an old town.
Longji rice terraces
The Dragon's Backbone.
Guilin
The gateway city.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The rice harvest turns the valleys gold in autumn.
Autumn
Rice harvest
Yangshuo valleys
Golden fields.
1–7 October
Golden Week
Yangshuo
Very crowded.
Hostels
Where to stay in Yangshuo
The top-rated places to stay in Yangshuo right now, live from Hostelworld.
Yangshuo Xingping This Old Place Li-River Inn
See dates and book
Sustainable
Laojia - Langshi Village
Dorms from €16 a night
See dates and book
Yangshuo Loong Old House
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Sustainable
Yangshuo Village Inn
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Guilin Yangshuo Emoji Youth Hostel-West Street
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Climbers Inn
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Yangshuo Sudder Street Guesthouse
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
YangShuo Backpacker Hostel West Street Branch
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Yangshuo Eden Inn YHA
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
How Flowers Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Yangshuo Culture House
Dorms from €32 a night
See dates and book
Zen Box House
See dates and bookWhen to go
April to October, with the rice fields green. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year if you can, when the whole country travels.
Jan
Cool
Feb
New Year
Mar
Spring
Apr
Green
May
Excellent
Jun
Rainy
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot
Sep
Good
Oct
Harvest, Golden Week
Nov
Good
Dec
Cool
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Summers are hot and rainy.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in yuan locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes the Li River cruise.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Yangshuo travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Where is the 20-yuan view?
On the Li River near Xingping; climb Xianggong Hill or take a boat.
Should I stay in town or the countryside?
Town for nightlife; the countryside for peace and views.
Can beginners climb?
Yes, with a climbing school.
How do I get there?
By bus from Guilin, about an hour, or via Yangshuo high-speed rail station.
How many days do you need?
Three.
When is the best time to visit?
April to October; summer is hot and wet.
What should I eat?
Beer fish.
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