How do I get from Guilin to Yangshuo?

By bus: 1 hour, ¥20-30, every 20 minutes from Guilin South Bus Station. By HSR: 30 min to Yangshuo Station, ¥40-60 (but station is 7 km outside town, taxi +¥30-50). By Li River cruise: 4-5 hours, ¥215-450, the most scenic option. Most foreign travelers take the bus one way and the Li River cruise the other.

Is Yangshuo worth a 2-day stop on a Guilin trip?

Yes, even 1 night is worth it. The Li River cruise is best done as a slow boat from Guilin to Yangshuo, not a round-trip. Most travelers do 2 nights: Day 1 West Street + bike ride in the countryside, Day 2 morning Yulong River bamboo raft + afternoon Li River cruise back to Guilin. 3 nights lets you add a cooking class or a Xingping countryside walk.

Do I need a visa for Guilin or Yangshuo?

Same as mainland China. The 240-hour visa-free transit applies to Guilin via Nanning or Beijing. Yangshuo is not on a 240-hour transit route directly — you'll need either a regular Chinese visa or to enter via another city first.

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阳朔 · Travel Guide

Yangshuo for foreigners

Li River, Xingping's 20-RMB mountain, West Street, and the karst peaks of southern China.

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Yangshuo is a small county town 65 km south of Guilin, population 300,000, set in the heart of the karst landscape that draws 20+ million visitors a year. The Li River (漓江) and Yulong River (遇龙河) wind between nearly 100 cone-shaped limestone peaks, the UNESCO-listed South China Karst. Most foreign travelers do Yangshuo as a 2-3 day stop on a longer Guilin trip, with one day for the Li River cruise or Yulong River bamboo rafting and one day for the West Street + Xingping countryside. The town is set up for tourism: English menus, bike rentals, and the famous beer fish (啤酒鱼) on every restaurant menu.

Top things to do in Yangshuo

The must-see places locals will tell you are unmissable, with photos and a direct link to the in-depth guide for each.

Li River cruise (漓江) — China's most iconic river cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, passing the 20-RMB-back-view karst peak and the 100-peak karst landscape (UNESCO South China Karst).

Li River cruise to Yangshuo (漓江)

A 4-5 hour boat cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo along the Li River, passing the Elephant Trunk Hill, Crown Cave, and the 20-RMB-back-view karst peak. The most iconic Chinese river cruise, ¥215-450 per person.

Read full guide →

Yulong River bamboo rafting (遇龙河)

A 1.5-2 hour bamboo raft ride down the Yulong River with 8 small weirs and a karst-peak backdrop. ¥160-260 per raft. Quieter and more intimate than the Li River cruise.

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Xingping Ancient Town (兴坪) — a 1,700-year-old Li River fishing town with the karst peak featured on the back of the ¥20 banknote, the most-photographed karst view in China.

Xingping Ancient Town + 20 RMB mountain (兴坪)

A 1,700-year-old fishing town on the Li River, with the karst peak featured on the back of the ¥20 banknote. Free to walk. The most-photographed karst view in China.

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West Street (西街)

Yangshuo's 1,400-year-old pedestrian street, 800m long, with traditional stone paving, food stalls, and English-friendly cafes and bars. The nightlife and food center of the town.

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Moon Hill (月亮山)

A 380m karst peak with a natural full-circle arch, 8 km south of town. The arch is visible from afar; the climb up is 20 minutes via 800 steps. ¥15 entry.

Read full guide →

Where to stay in Yangshuo

We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.

Trip.com

Hotels in Yangshuo on Trip.com

From $25/night family-run inns near West Street to $300+/night luxury at the Yangshuo Banyan Tree and Alila Yangshuo — plus 600+ more across West Street, Xingping, and the Yulong River. Filter by district and tier on Trip.com.

$25 – $300+/night

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Book your Yangshuo trip

Plan your Yangshuo trip on Trip.com — the only platform we've verified for mainland China. Prices update in real time; no hidden fees.

Trip.com — Recommended

Hotels, trains, flights & experiences

Yangshuo on Trip.com — 1.4M mainland-China hotels (¥35/night and up), real-time English HSR booking, plus skip-the-line tickets and guided tours in one cart. Accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard. Filter by tier on Trip.com once you land.

Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7 · Tours from $5

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When to visit Yangshuo

April-May and September-October for warm weather and clear karst views. June-August is hot and humid (30-35°C). Winter (December-February) is grey and damp (5-12°C) but the fewest crowds. **Avoid Chinese New Year (late Jan / mid Feb)** when Yangshuo is overrun.

FAQ

How do I get from Guilin to Yangshuo?

By bus: 1 hour, ¥20-30, every 20 minutes from Guilin South Bus Station. By HSR: 30 min to Yangshuo Station, ¥40-60 (but station is 7 km outside town, taxi +¥30-50). By Li River cruise: 4-5 hours, ¥215-450, the most scenic option. Most foreign travelers take the bus one way and the Li River cruise the other.
Is Yangshuo worth a 2-day stop on a Guilin trip?

Yes, even 1 night is worth it. The Li River cruise is best done as a slow boat from Guilin to Yangshuo, not a round-trip. Most travelers do 2 nights: Day 1 West Street + bike ride in the countryside, Day 2 morning Yulong River bamboo raft + afternoon Li River cruise back to Guilin. 3 nights lets you add a cooking class or a Xingping countryside walk.
Do I need a visa for Guilin or Yangshuo?

Same as mainland China. The 240-hour visa-free transit applies to Guilin via Nanning or Beijing. Yangshuo is not on a 240-hour transit route directly — you'll need either a regular Chinese visa or to enter via another city first.

Need help in China?

12 bilingual phrase cards for emergencies. Show the Chinese to locals, read the English for context.

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Get our Yangshuo itinerary

A day-by-day plan, the metro lines you need, and the one restaurant locals love.