Too many posts about mishaps in Yangshuo, but with a well-prepared guide, you won’t encounter any pitfalls. Based on my firsthand experience, let me show you how to make the most of your trip (make sure to read the precautions at the end ⚠️).
Itinerary:
- Day 1: Guilin City
- Day 2: Yangshuo High-Speed Rail Station (Take an early high-speed train to Yangshuo, one hour journey) – Xingping Ancient Town – ¥20 Viewing Platform – Jiuma Mountain – Xianggong Mountain – West Street – Impression Liu Sanjie
- Day 3: Yulong River Bamboo Rafting – Ten-Mile Gallery – Gongnong Bridge – Moon Hill – Laozhai Mountain
Upon arrival at Yangshuo Station, turn left and take a bus 🚌 to Xingping Ancient Town, a 20-minute journey. Upon arrival, find a place to store your luggage (negotiate the price, typically no more than ¥5), walk through the ancient town (navigate to the ¥20 viewing platform), and rent an electric scooter from a local shop (I rented for ¥20; I told the owner my friend had just returned the scooter).
First, head to the ¥20 viewing platform (there is only one official viewing platform; avoid private ones, and don’t be deceived), ride the scooter, and explore for about half an hour.
Navigate to Masha Wharf, take the ferry ⛴️ across the river (round trip ¥15), and you’ll see Jiuma Mountain. Take a sightseeing car to Xianggong Mountain (another private car, negotiate a round trip for about ¥35, and agree on the time to come down; exchange phone numbers with the driver).
Xianggong Mountain is relatively easy to climb. The sightseeing car takes you halfway up the mountain. It’s only a ten-minute walk from there. The entrance fee is ¥60. There are three platforms at the top; the two higher ones offer better views. Plan for about one hour to enjoy the entire experience.
After descending, return the same way, take a bus back to West Street from Xingping Bus Station (¥20), a one-hour journey.
Upon arrival at West Street, check in, and head straight to dinner. As I am not a fan of the infamous beer fish, I opted for Chunji Roast Goose 🦢, a delicacy I missed in Guilin. From then on, all three of my meals in Yangshuo were at Chunji Roast Goose. I must share my thoughts on this place. Allegedly, it’s known for long queues in Guilin, but I never had to queue once in Yangshuo, and the service was superb. [Right Arrow R] Highly recommended: Roast goose! It’s truly delicious, with a different taste from Hong Kong-style roast goose. Stir-fried eggs with bamboo shoots! It seems to be a Hunan-style dish with added chili. Goose intestines stir-fried until crispy, topped with goose eggs. [Fist R] Not recommended: Goose burger! Extremely salty, and besides the saltiness, I couldn’t taste anything else. Stir-fried shellfish with bamboo shoots. The shellfish is frozen, completely mismatched with bamboo shoots, and it’s expensive; I don’t understand why this dish is on the menu.
In the evening, watch Impression Liu Sanjie. It’s only a 20-minute walk from West Street to the theater, perfect for digesting your meal. Just make sure to check the starting time.
Attention‼️ When departing, choose Guilin Station; the other two train stations are far from the city center. Yangshuo High-Speed Rail Station is far from West Street but close to Xingping Ancient Town, so you can visit Xingping first and then head to West Street. Xianggong Mountain offers a great sunrise view, but you need to wake up at 4:00 AM, so it’s advisable to join a tour. For Liu Sanjie, the big scene can be watched for the spectacle, and for the storyline, it’s recommended to inquire about prices from multiple sources; some may offer tickets for as low as ¥160.
