Yangshuo Travel Guide

Yangshuo Travel Guide has all you need to know about Yangshuo and Guilin. Some people call it: Limestone Paradise. Find here all the travel secrets for enjoying this beautiful part of South China at its most. As a tourist destination, there are only few places in Asia more popular then Yangshuo.

Even if you have never heard of Yangshuo (or it's neighboring big city Guilin), you may have seen the photos of the spectacular limestone mountains (karst). Later more about Guilin and the transport facilities. Guilin is 65 km north of Yangshuo.

So, where is Yangshuo? Yangshuo is located in south China, around 800 km north west from Hong Kong. The nearest big city is Guilin, which is the main transport hub for this area in China.

It is an easy place to reach these days and the Yangshuo Travel Guide will give you all the detailed information you need how to reach the little town by bus, airplane, car or taxi.

The Typical karst limestone mountains of Guilin - Yangshuo

The Yangshuo Travel Guide will inform you about all different aspects of Yangshuo, what to do, what to visit, where to stay, the local guides, cafes, what to buy and, of course the local specialties, food and souvenirs. You will find all kinds of activities in Yangshuo: bicycling, swimming and rock climbing amongst others.

We have a great travel map you can print out and use while going around. Take a bicycle and go! Within 5 minutes you are away from the buzz and enjoy the scenery. Travel Yangshuo can not be complete with a bike ride to Moonhill, the legendary rock a few kilometers south of Yangshuo.

Other small villages in the area are worth a visit, while the bigger towns like Lipu, Pingle and for example Zhongshan are not worth a visit at all unless you have to pass it. Check for example Longsheng, Sanjiang and Zhaoxing with the rice terraces and Dong minority villages.

Oil painting of scenery in Yangshuo, we have 30 all unique paintings signed available for sale, here is more about these painting and how you can obtain them

Over the years, in fact since the early 80's Yangshuo was a popular travel destination for mostly backpackers. One could say the backpackers paved the way for the organized tour groups that visit Yangshuo nowadays too.

But even though Yangshuo has developed and West Street is no longer a dirt street but a buzzing street with cafe's, bars and souvenir shops, it is still surprisingly local in feel.

As a start you may want to have a look at the map of Yangshuo. I find this always a big help as it tells me where I am and what there is. There is even a map of Xingping available.

Rafting at the Yulong river

Accommodation and food

Yangshuo is mostly famous for it's limestone mountains. However, if you travel you would want a good hotel and an exploration of the local cuisine. Some travelers are happy with a cheap hotel and western food, others prefer something more exclusive. Both are possible.

The Yangshuo Bus station in 1985, a photo by Wayne Stinson. You have a photo to share? We'd love to see them! Click here to add yours

Our Yangshuo Hotels pages offer a range of hotels available. For those who love to stay in the Yangshuo town center, the Magnolia Hotel and the Sovereign Hotel are the best choices.

However, staying at the countryside is even more pleasant. There are 3 hotels which belong for several reasons to our favorites:

• Yangshuo Village Retreat
• Snow Lion Riverside Resort
• Yangshuo Secret Garden

West Street with restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops

Food is as easy. West Street has many western styled cafe's but if you really want to eat local, Cloud 9 is your best and in fact your only choice and they offer excellent cooking classes. Get in for a good coffee at Cafe China, 7th Heaven or the Orange Tree Cafe.

An unusual view over the southern part of Yangshuo town

Local guides, let me introduce Jessie and Ping

Some people find it easy to use a local guide. Yangshuo has an abundance of local guides but as it goes, many only offer very few tours , some hardly speak English or  provide services which personally I don't like.

With Jessie Lu I found a guide who does know the area from A to Z, speaks (and writes) good English, is good company and is able to organize for you so you will have a pleasant journey.

More about Jessie here

Since 2010 we have our second guide: Ping working with us. Ping is good fun, seems never to stop laughing, speaks good English and knows Yangshuo inside out.

More about Ping here

Jessie and Ping operate our tours, check them out here

So, let's use the Yangshuo travel guide to explore Yangshuo, Guilin and all those other little villages in the area where even today few people come.

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