Stand on West Street in the evening and you will hear English spoken at the next table, see signs written in two scripts, and watch the karst peaks go blue behind the rooftops. Yangshuo has drawn foreign travellers since the 1970s, and that long familiarity shows in how easy the town is to navigate without Chinese.
This guide suits anyone who wants limestone hills, river water and a bicycle more than a checklist of monuments. It covers the landscapes and experiences the sources describe, with the practical details you need to string them into a day.
Top things to do in Yangshuo
1. Yangdi-Xingping scenic area
This stretch along the Li River is the most renowned and popular of the karst viewing areas, and the one most people picture when they think of Yangshuo. Traditional bamboo rafts here have been replaced by rafts made of plastic pipe with two-stroke motors, and hundreds of them cruise the route once the big tour boats have passed. The rafts are safe, and the better operators provide life jackets.
Reach Yangdi by minibus from the Yangshuo bus terminal, or cycle out and then take a boat or raft into the scenic area. There is also a 24 km track for easy hiking along the Li River, which takes five to six hours.
2. Yulong River valley
The pretty valley is said to rival the Yangdi-Xingping stretch in beauty. Besides rafting down the river on bamboo rafts, the popular way to see it is by cycling the riverside tracks, which bring you through farming villages and past stone bridges such as Yulong Qiao and Fuli Qiao.
Turn west into a small road from the main Yangshuo bypass just south of the Sinopec petrol station at the junction of Pantao Rd, or use the road to Jinbao from Baisha. The track is complicated and it is easy to get lost, so a local guide will keep you on route.
3. Moon Hill
The main attraction south of town is a hill with a huge hole in the shape of a moon, and the hills here can be climbed for views from the top. It was temporarily closed as of May 2025, so check before you set out. The trek to the top is not incredibly long, but the gradient and the strange angle of the steps can do something odd to your legs on the way down.
Take a Gaotian minibus from the Yangshuo bus terminal, or cycle the road toward Wuzhou. Hawkers sell cool drinks and may follow you up the mountain on a slow day; ¥5 is a fair price for two bottles of cold water.
4. Big Banyan Tree
On the road back to Yangshuo, not far from Moon Hill, this popular park by the Yulong River features a 1,400-year-old banyan tree. Use the official entrance with the ticket offices at the front, as hawkers will try to lure you into an alternative entrance lined with souvenir stalls.
5. Assembling Dragon Cave
This karst cave was named because the grotesque peaks outside look like dragons among the clouds. Inside are varied formations of stalactites and stalagmites lit by colourful neon lights with music in the background. The Magical Stone Palace, a large exhibition hall selling stones, sits next to the exit.
It lies between the Big Banyan Tree and Moon Hill, so it combines naturally with either on the same ride or bus trip south.
6. Impression Liu Sanjie Theater
Every evening from 8 to 9:10pm a live performance is held here in which the surrounding karst mountains are part of the show. It is the one fixed evening appointment in the area, and it pairs well with a day spent on the river or on the bike.
7. West Street
West Street is the major local focal point for tourism, lined with tourist-oriented shops and restaurants, and it has served as the hub for foreign visitors for decades. Because it is popular with locals and foreigners alike, signs are written in both Chinese and English.
Walk it in the evening, when the shops and restaurants are at their liveliest, and use it as your base for finding guides, bikes and climbing information.
8. Yangshuo Park
Also known as People's Park, this is a good place to observe locals playing cards, along with groups of women sitting and talking while they knit. It is free and open all day, and it sits on Diecui Road, reachable by bus nos. 803, 805 and 806.
9. Yangshuo Cultural Relics Landscape Garden
This garden on Binjiang Road is open 08:30-17:00, with an entry fee of ¥22. Take bus no. 803 or 808 to Binjiang Road, then walk about 250 metres south to the main entrance.
10. Rock climbing
The region has numerous climbing locations accessible by bicycle, public bus or taxi van, with routes from 5.6 to 5.13. The most famous crag is Moon Hill, which has several lines graded 5.13 on the Yosemite scale; other crags of note include Low Mountain, Twin Gates, Baby Frog, the Egg, Bamboo Grove and Wine Bottle Cliff.
There is a lively climbing scene in town, so experienced climbers can find a partner by asking at the climbing shops, with The Climbers Inn the most common place to find beta or partners. Beginners and travellers without equipment can rent gear or join one- or multi-day trips through operators such as Insight Adventures, Karst Climber, Blackrock, Rock Abond Inn, Spiderman, Sunny Sky, Terratribes and Yangshuo Basecamp. The Yangshuo Climbing Guide, showing route topos and grades, can be bought from any of the climbing companies.
11. Bike riding
Wandering the countryside on a bike and getting lost is one of the best things about Yangshuo. The villages often have dramatic mountain backdrops and the people are generally friendly, and a popular trip is to take a boat ride with a bike and then pedal back to town.
Bike hire starts at around ¥15-20 per day, with tandems a little more, but the bikes tend to be poorly maintained, so check brakes and gears before setting out. Bike Asia on Guihua Rd has well-maintained mountain bikes for ¥70 a day including a map, lock, helmet and route advice, and can help arrange a reliable guide.
12. Cormorant fishing
Local tourism companies offer evening boat trips to watch fishermen using a traditional night fishing technique that employs cormorants. It is an easy way to spend an evening on the water after a day of cycling or walking.
If you only have one day
Morning: Head out early to the Yangdi-Xingping scenic area, either by minibus from the Yangshuo bus terminal or by cycling out and taking a raft into the stretch. If you prefer to stay closer to town, cycle the Yulong River valley tracks instead, passing farming villages and the stone bridges at Yulong Qiao and Fuli Qiao.
Afternoon: Continue south to Moon Hill and climb for the views if it is open, then stop at the Big Banyan Tree and Assembling Dragon Cave on the road back toward Yangshuo. Check your brakes and gears before setting out if you are on a hired bike.
Evening: Return to town, walk West Street for dinner and shops, then take in the 8 to 9:10pm performance at the Impression Liu Sanjie Theater, where the karst mountains form part of the show.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the karst landscape from the water?
The rafts on the Yangdi-Xingping stretch cruise most heavily once the big tour boats have passed, so plan your river time around that rhythm. Cormorant fishing trips run in the evening.
Can I see the countryside without joining a tour?
Yes. Cycling is one of the best ways to explore, with hire starting at around ¥15-20 per day, and a boat ride with a bike followed by a pedal back to town is a popular combination. The Yulong River valley track is complicated, though, so a local guide helps you stay on route.
Do I need my own climbing equipment?
No. Several climbing companies in Yangshuo offer equipment rental, one- or multi-day trips and places to meet potential partners, and the Yangshuo Climbing Guide can be bought from any of them.
Is Moon Hill open?
It was temporarily closed as of May 2025, so confirm the current situation before travelling out. If it is open, take a Gaotian minibus from the Yangshuo bus terminal or cycle the road toward Wuzhou.
Decide which stretch of river you want to wake up beside, then start planning your days around it.