Yangshuo's secret spots revealed! Drift into a landscape painting on a bamboo raft, unlocking all the local hidden experiences
🌅 When is the best time to go?
- April-May / September-October 🌸🍂: Temperatures above 20°C, the Li River is as green as jade, the rice fields along the Yulong River turn golden, perfect for photos with natural filters!
- June-August ☀️: The misty Li River is incredibly fairy-tale-like, but beware of high water levels that may stop rafting. Remember to bring sun protection clothing and mosquito repellent (mosquitoes are everywhere!)
- November-March ❄️: Fewer crowds and peaceful, the scenery has a cool freshness. Bamboo rafting on the Yulong River may be suspended, so cold-sensitive travelers should choose carefully~
🚗 How to get around?
- Plane: Guilin Liangjiang Airport → 1-hour shuttle bus to downtown 🚌, or take a taxi directly to Yangshuo in 1.5 hours (💰150+)
- High-speed train:
✅ Arrive at Guilin Station/North Station: closer to downtown, then transfer to a bus to Yangshuo for 1.5 hours (💰25)
✅ Arrive at Yangshuo Station: 40 minutes from the county town, carpooling recommended (💰20/person), avoid unlicensed taxis! 🚫
- Local fun:
Renting an electric scooter 🛵 in Yangshuo is super convenient! Ride freely along the Ten-Mile Gallery, 10 yuan/day, don’t forget your helmet~
🌟 Must-do list (no regrets version)
1. Li River Bamboo Rafting (classic section) 🚣♀️
- Highly recommend [Yangdi → Nine Horses Painting Hill → Xingping]: 1.5-hour drift, perfect for photos with the 20 yuan RMB background 📸, the reflection of Huangbu is breathtaking!
- Lazy option [Xingping round trip]: 40 minutes, easy to see the core scenery, suitable for kids and elders~
- Avoid pitfalls: Buy tickets in advance on the “Li River Scenic Area” official WeChat (real-name registration!), you can refuse to tip the raft workers 🙅
2. Yulong River Artificial Bamboo Raft 💦
- [Jinlong Bridge → Old County] 90 minutes: thrilling ride over 3 small dams! Rice fields and karst peaks on both sides, like drifting inside a painting~
- [Shuiedi → Wanjing] 50 minutes: gentle and family-friendly, watch fishermen casting nets (photo fee 💰20/time)
- Tips: Book tickets 3 days in advance during peak season! On-site queues can be 2+ hours, very frustrating 😭
3. Ten-Mile Gallery 🛵
- Free! Ride an electric scooter to see Moon Hill (natural crescent moon cave 🌙), the Big Banyan Tree (filming location of Liu Sanjie), every stop is a scenic spot~
- Hidden gem: Turn into the “Jima Village” path, have coffee ☕ by the rice fields, watch mountain shadows reflected in the water~
4. Yangshuo West Street 🌃
- Visit at night! Lanterns light up like time travel, enjoy snacks and folk music, but don’t buy overpriced souvenirs (like “Li River shrimp” at 10 yuan for 3 skewers, which might be fake 😅)
5. Xianggong Mountain Sunrise 🌄
- 20-minute climb to the summit to see the Li River’s big bend bathed in golden morning light, a must for photographers! (Wake up at 5 AM, totally worth it~)
🍜 What to eat without regrets?
- Guilin Rice Noodles 🍜: In downtown, try “Chongshan Rice Noodles,” in Yangshuo “Skinny Rice Noodles,” add braised pork and marinated egg, the soul is the sour bamboo shoots!
- Beer Fish 🐟: Choose swordfish (less bones), recommended “Xie Sanjie,” crispy outside and tender inside, perfect with Liquan beer~
- Stuffed Snails 🐚: Snail meat mixed with minced pork stuffed back into the shell, spicy and flavorful, a hidden gem in old West Street shops~
- Lipu Taro Braised Pork 🥩: Sticky taro absorbs oil well, braised pork is fatty but not greasy, a must-have at local weddings!
- Sweet Soup to finish 🍧: “Aunt Xu’s Sweet Soup Shop” offers Qingbuliang with taro balls and watermelon, cools down and relieves spiciness~
🛏️ Where to stay comfortably?
- Yangshuo West Street: Great for night owls, recommend “Huamengjian Homestay,” rooftop terrace with mountain views, 5-minute walk to West Street~
- By the Yulong River: For those who want to relax, choose “Zai Shui Yi Fang Homestay,” open the window to see bamboo rafts drifting, wake up to birdsong 🌿
- Xingping Ancient Town: Convenient for sunrise, “Old Place Inn” built by the river, balcony offers the same 20 yuan background photo spot~
⚠️ Pitfall warnings!
- Don’t trust roadside “100 yuan Li River tours”: most likely to a tributary with fake scenery!
- Be cautious in West Street bars: there may be a “minimum consumption” requirement, choose places with clear pricing if you want to drink~
- Don’t be cheap renting electric scooters: pick ones with license plates, or you risk having your scooter confiscated by traffic police and crying won’t help 😭
Guilin’s landscape is the kind of beauty you never forget after one glance~ Drifting on a bamboo raft on the Li River, watching mountain peaks reflected in the water, you’ll truly feel: life is worth it! 💖 Pack your bags and go now~