Yangshuo
China · Greater China
A riverside town in Guangxi at the centre of China’s classic karst landscape, with villages, rivers and rice fields all around.
Why visit
Why visit Yangshuo
Yangshuo sits on the Li River south of Guilin, in the landscape of green limestone peaks that appears on China’s 20 yuan note. The scenery has drawn painters and travellers for generations, and the countryside around the town is as rewarding as the river itself.
It is at its best slowly: on a bicycle between villages, among flooded paddy fields in spring and golden ones in autumn, or on the water at dawn.
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What to see
The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, about four hours through the karst peaks, is the signature journey. In and around Yangshuo, the villages of Xingping and Chaolong and the area around Moon Hill reward walking and cycling. The Longji rice terraces lie two to two and a half hours north of Guilin, and the outdoor show Impression Sanjie Liu is a large-scale evening spectacle.
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Where to stay in Yangshuo
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Experiences in Yangshuo
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Before you go
Practical information
Best time to visit
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are the best windows for comfortable temperatures and photogenic fields. Mist during rainy periods gives the hills the look of a traditional ink painting.
Getting around
Guilin is the gateway, with an airport and high-speed rail from Guangzhou in about two and a half to three hours, from Nanning in about one and a half to two, and from Hong Kong West Kowloon in around three and a half. Yangshuo is a short onward transfer; bicycles are the natural way to cover the countryside.
Practical notes
The currency is the Chinese renminbi. Local specialities include Guilin rice noodles, beer fish and stuffed Li River snails. Check train timetables and ticketing before travel, as they change.
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