Why Yangshuo, China, Should Be On Your Travel List
Sunset - Laozhai Peak
I may be someone who generally avoids revisiting places, as I am always curious to visit new places and desire different experiences. Yangshuo, however, is one of those destinations which draws me back, time and again. This is a short blog post on why you must visit Yangshuo if you decide to travel to China. I will include some highlights of this fascinating part of the world, as well as some practical tips.
Why you should visit Yangshuo
I lived in southern China for nearly 8 years, first visiting the region of this vast country shortly after settling in. After planning our first trip around China, I read a lot about how incredible Yangshuo was, so I knew we had to visit. Arriving by high speed train from our new home, Guangzhou, we were mesmerised by the mystical karst mountains which covered hundreds of miles. I’d never seen scenery like this before. Whilst the town of Yangshuo has caught up with modern China in many ways over the past few years, once you step foot into the countryside, you will be in awe of jaw dropping mountains, nestled around the Lijiang river.
If you want to travel here and get a taste of rural China, then you won’t be disappointed. There are tons of hiking trails which vary from meandering around the mountains, hiking up the steep peaks themselves and hiking through ancient villages which are fascinating. You can of course also rent bicycles and cycle around paths for miles and miles if you wish. Like I said, it’s a huge area with breath-taking scenery so you won’t struggle to find adventure here. If you’re looking to immerse yourself into the local culture, then you can find various tour guides to take you around ancient villages, experiencing the simple life of rural China which many people still lead.
Karst mountains in Guangxi province
Side note – I’m always fascinated when I travel and see people living a more simplistic lifestyle. I appreciate that a lot of the time this is out of poverty; however, like many of us, I do believe the modern world has become far too fast for us humans to navigate. I wrote about this in more detail here.
Yangshuo also boasts some of the best rock climbing Asia has to offer. So, if this is your thing, then it’s another reason to travel here. I’ve tried rock climbing myself in Laos when I first started backpacking in 2014, and it absolutely terrified me. It’s something I’m still keen to try one day again, so watch this space!
Additionally, between May and September, you can swim in the Lijiang or Yulong River if you wish to cool off from the heat/ humidity and find that extra connection with nature.
Slow life in rural China
My Recommendations For Visiting Yangshuo
Firstly, I’d definitely recommend spending at least 3 days, ideally 4-6 days. This would give you a nice chunk of time to really immerse yourself in the beauty of this unique place and simply enjoy the peace and tranquility this part of the world offers.
I would definitely climb at least one of the peaks to watch the sunset. Even if you get a disappointing sunset, it won’t make much difference to your experience. The views are simply incredible regardless. For dramatic raw natural beauty, these views have got to be some of the best in the world, and I don’t say that lightly.
I’ve done three hikes up peaks here which offer incredible views and only once have I been lucky with the weather. But that didn’t matter. My favourite is probably Laozhai Mountain. You will be blown away by the jaw-dropping scenery. It’s around a 45-minute hike up and down again. The path is narrow, with a bit of scrambling to add to the adventure. Definitely make sure you have a head torch for coming down; otherwise you could be in trouble.
You must include a long walk along either the Yulong or Lijiang rivers. Either in the morning or afternoon is fine. This is a great opportunity to soak in the special atmosphere of the mountains, wander through small quaint villages and watch the water flow gently down the river. We ended up walking around 25km which took up a large chunk of the day, but we certainly didn’t regret it. The most fun/memorable way to get back to your hotel is by paying for a local to paddle you back downstream on one of the many bamboo rafts. You’ll see many locals advertising to ride a raft, dotted all along the river where there are lots of villages nearby. Be careful if you have a camera though, especially when going down the series of mini rapids. I just held mine up in the sky, praying it didn’t get wet. It seemed to work!
A few hours cycling should be added to your list also; even if you’re not an avid cyclist, the winding roads and paths along the river provide a great way to enjoy the views and experience this place from a different angle. You could do a 30km leisurely ride or much longer if you’re a keen cyclist. This mountain range spans for a few hundred miles, so there are lots of amazing roads to explore! Ask your hotel staff to find you a local guide if you fancy a cycle tour around some of the villages to immerse yourself in local culture and traditions.
The first time I came to Yangshuo, I cycled with a guide from Bike Asia to find some villages and eat some unbelievable local cuisine away from the tourist spots. This was a private guide for just my partner and me. I’m not usually someone who enjoys hiring guides, but sometimes they can find you places which are difficult to find on your own.
How I Recommend Getting Around Yangshuo
I would suggest getting yourself a scooter if you can. I recently did an epic ride from my hotel, south of Yangshuo town and drove to Xingping and back to climb the Laozhai Peak. Most hotels will rent them out for around 50 – 100 RMB per day. If you have WeChat, there is a mini program (unfortunately I can’t remember the name) which maps out where you can swap your battery for a fully charged one. The battery seemed to last 40-odd kilometres, which is decent going, especially when you can replace them in no more than a few minutes. Ask your hotel staff for help locating the mini program if you can’t find it, and they can explain how to change the battery when you’re on the road. The scooters are very simple to drive and, of course, make the adventure visiting this region even more thrilling and memorable!
If you don’t feel confident enough to ride one, then you could either rent a driver through your hotel or get around using Didi, a taxi-sharing app. Didi, like pretty much everything online in China, can be used through WeChat.
Exploring a village near Yangshuo
Wandering down the Yulong River
Where to Stay in Yangshuo
Yangshuo has lots of hotel options. If you’re someone like me who prefers staying away from the busy tourist areas, closer to where the locals live, then you have some great options surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
I always book hotels through booking.com (no, this is not sponsored). Then, I filter out what I’m looking for and find great deals. Previously, I have stayed at Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, which boasts incredible views of the karst mountains, tucked away down the Yulong River, around a 15-minute drive from the town of Yangshuo. Most recently, I stayed at Yangshuo Hidden Dragon Villa. Both are fantastic hotels, offering very comfy, clean rooms with top-class views, for very reasonable prices. What more can you need?
I’d suggest Yangshuo or the small, quaint city of Guilin (around 40km north of Yangshuo) as your base. This region of the karst mountains in Guangxi is quite large and well-connected, so there is a lot to explore and experience.
What Time Of The Year Should You Visit Yangshuo?
You can have a great time throughout the year here, since it’s just a beautiful place to be. However, if you have a choice, I’d suggest visiting between September and November or April and May. The challenge of visiting in the summer months is that it’s incredibly hot and humid, so you will be limited to what activities you can do. I’ve visited in the winter, and it was of course very cold. The beauty of seeing these mountains at this time of the year is that it’s cosy, with some hotels providing log fires, and there are fewer tourists. However, it does tend to be quite overcast, so perhaps the views aren’t quite as spectacular.
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Yulong River, southern China
