Yangshuo Travel Guide logo

Xingping to Guilin, the back road by bicycle


Few people ever take this road. Xingping to Guilin is however a good experience. It gives you the possibility to experience to go back in time. That was at least what I felt both times I took this road.

View to the mountains east of Xingping
View to the mountains east of Xingping

True, the main road, road 321 to Guilin is a better quality and an even shorter road. But if you have not a lot of time and you still want to do some more serious cycling, why not make a loop from Yangshuo to Xingping and Guilin. From Guilin you could cycle to Longsheng and Sanjiang and then cycle to Rong An and Luizhou before cycling back to Yangshuo. This trip would take you about 2 weeks including days to explore the areas in Guilin, Longsheng and Sanjiang.

This Old Place

By far the nicest and coziest place to stay, This Old Place is not so old but has excellent rooms and a pleasant atmosphere. If you want to stay in Xingping, this is your single best option

This Old Place

Let's focus here on the road from Xingping to Guilin. Of course you first have to go to Xingping and stay here a night. It is quite a long way to cycle Yangshuo to Guilin through Xingping as this road is not as well paved as the main road and there are a few hills to climb.

I cycled out of Xingping and took the road north. There's plenty of beautiful sceneries to see. In the first few kilometers you will see for example the Nine Fresco Hill and Fish Tail Peak though they are a bit away from the road.

At kilometer 7 after Xingping you will cross a little bridge with a junction. This is a good moment to cool down a bit in the river. There's few people here except some working in the country side. The peace will only be disturbed by a tractor every once in a while of by the wind.

The further north you come now, the less the limestone mountains seem to be spectacular shaped. This doesn't mean it is therefore less interesting. By now the road is no longer a nice asphalt road but a local gravel road and only in use by local Chinese farmers. A few tourist do come here to visit Crown Cave but usually head back from here to Yangdi by ferry from Caoping. You will pass Embroidery Hill and then come in the village of Caoping.

Scenery around Xingping
Scenery around Xingping

Caoping is almost half way and now some more serious climbing starts. Other fantasy named rocks will pass: Frog Crossing The River and Happy Marriage At Biya Hill.

Washing the vegetables at the riverside
Washing the vegetables at the riverside

Again most of the road is now flat and in better condition. Some mini busses with tourists come here to visit The Wakening Frog and some caves. There's also a few more trucks driving on and off but in general this is a pleasant road.

Only the last 10km to Guilin, from Daxu on is on a busier road. Here's substantial more traffic but it's not a big problem as the road is now upgraded. While you come closer to Guilin, the scenery is here and there more spectacular.

Xingping main street
Xingping main street

If you want to take this road starting from Guilin, go to the railway station and go east on Shanghai Lu, which changes into Lijiang Road and then Guilin Plaza. Once at the circle, go right and follow the direction to Ying An. You are on the Qixing Road. From here it's about 8 km to Daxu. In Daxu, take the junction south following the signs for different caves.

Road leading into Xingping

The question of course is if this road is worth traveling. I think it is more then worth. If you travel by bicycle, this is the preferred road above the main road. Highly recommended, worth the experience.

Back to the top of Xingping to Guilin

Back to the main Xingping page

Back to the Yangshuo Travel Guide homepage


Custom Search



Custom Search


More stories on the road

With two years in China, partly on bicycle there are plenty of stories to tell. Unfortunately I don't have the time to put them all on the website.

However, there are some available here:

Yangshuo travel stories


Yangdi Xingping rivercruise

No it's not the same as the more popular Guilin-Yangshuo cruise. We offer an early morning cruise just when the sun comes up with spectacular views over the serene countryside. This is truly amazing.

Yangdi Xingping rivercruise


Meeting other travelers

One of the nicest things that can happen to a traveler in a strange land, meeting another traveler.

Sure, there's plenty in Yangshuo. But in other parts of China...

Here's a story about a meeting I had in south Yunnan, a meeting with a Chinese cyclist

A meeting outside Simao


To and from Hong Kong

Few roads in my life I hated so much as the road to Hong Kong. Never will I cycle that road to Guangzhou and Shenzhen again. Here's why:

Yangshuo - Hong Kong


Chinese Chess

What do a Chinese Military University and Chinese Chess have in common? Read more here:

Chinese Chess


***google-160-image.shtml.shtml***




[?] Subscribe To
This Site
XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Newsgator
Subscribe with Bloglines

Facebook Twitter

Stumble Upon RSS


Home | What's New | Jessie's Tours | Linda's Cooking Class | Contact Us | Privacy Policy

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

footer for yangshuo travel guide page