Travelling to Yangshuo will set you down the trail to rural China. Beyond the contrasts of Beijing and the grandeur of the Great Wall, Yangshuo offers you a new and lesser-known perspective on this great country. Here you will find beautiful and mysterious landscapes, and mountains carpeted in green that seem to rise up from the river's waters

How to get to Yangshuo?

If you are travelling from outside China, it's best to find a flight that will take you to Guilin; specifically, to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. Once there, you can take a bus to Yangshuo and, on the way, start savouring a landscape that becomes steadily greener, quieter and probably quite unlike anything you are used to. 

What is there to do if you decide to travel to Yangshuo?

Both the town of Yangshuo and its surroundings offer a host of activities. This applies especially to travellers interested in outdoor tourism and who like to explore. Here you can take endless walks, ride a bike and reach spots that will seem completely other-worldly. A feeling that is increasingly difficult to experience.

Fancy going shopping? West Street is your destination

The Li river is the backbone of Yangshuo and the life of the town unfolds along its banks. If you want to take a stroll through the more urban area before losing yourself in the surrounding countryside, start by visiting West Street. Here you will find a host of souvenir shops, traditional Chinese crafts, lanterns and, of course, like everywhere else in the country, clothing made in imitation of the top brands. 

Walk down West Street stall by stall until you reach the riverbank. You will cross bridges decorated with flowers if you decide to walk, or you can choose go on a bamboo raft trip. 

Eating in West Street

In this same street, besides souvenir shops, you will find a large number of bars and restaurants. It may seem redundant to recommend Chinese food, but don't leave town without tucking into peking orange duck. 

If you want to check out the nightlife in Yangshuo, you need only be on this same street. At night, music from various bars floods the streets. As in any European capital. If you're looking for something a little quieter, take a walk just a short distance away from West Street. 

Travel to Yangshuo and immerse yourself in its depths

The first thing that grabs your attention in Yangshuo is its limestone landscape, the jagged mountains that make up the typical picture of rural China. Of course, where there are rock formations there are caves, and Yangshuo is no exception. We recommend that you take an excursion to any of the most famous caves: the Dragon Cave, the Silver Cave, the Buddha Cave or the Water Cave. 

The latter is the most famous, though not necessarily the most beautiful. Inside you won't find the typical stalactites and stalagmites, but some mud pools where you can bathe and rinse off in the water pools and finish the tour with a thermal spring bath. A fully-fledged natural spa. 

The Dragon Cave is more suitable for looking for rock formations or if you have decided to travel to Yangshuo in winter. 

Go on a bike ride

When you decide to travel to Yangshuo, do so with the idea that once there you will rent a bicycle. This is the best way to get to know the surroundings of the town and get closer to China at its most rural. Make sure you choose a mountain bike and not a road bike, doing so will be more comfortable and help to avoid mechanical problems while off-road.

Unless you are an expert, opt for a medium or short route; such as riding along the banks of the Yuong and climb the famous hill with a hole in the middle: Moon Hill. The journey will take you through traditional villages, bamboo groves and areas of lush vegetation, redolent of legends. 

Bamboo boat ride on the Li river

As already pointed out, the Li river is the backbone of Yangshuo and for this reason alone it is worth paying some attention to during your trip. Although you can walk or ride along its banks, the experience of sailing a bamboo raft is unique. Exoticca recommends that you do so in the area between Xinping and Yangdi

For this you'll have to move on to Xinping. The journey there can be done by bus. The trip takes about 45 minutes. From there, all you have to do is go to the pier and get on your raft. Be prepared to paddle in very calm waters and see a landscape that is, once again, stunning.