West Street (Xi Jie) is Yangshuo's primary tourist magnet. Its cobbled streets, wooden shop fronts and laziness inducing restaurants are bursting with a quaint charm that attracts visitors from around the globe. Although recently renovated to cope with the ever-increasing tourist foot and bicycle traffic, the street still retains its original Sui Dynasty (581 – 618) characteristics.
At first glance West Street is a shopper's paradise, packed to overflowing with trinkets, Mao memorabilia, Tintin t-shirts whose collars expand further with every wash, fake CDs, bamboo majiang (mah jong) sets, old coins with or without square holes, and the list goes on. Look a little closer and real treasure of West Street is revealed—its laid-back restaurants and cafes are a great place to spend an idle afternoon basking in the warm sun. You'll find that most restaurateurs and wait-staff are English savvy and enjoy a friendly chat while chefs prepare some of the best Western food in Guangxi province.
Guestrooms and dorm beds can be found all along West Street. Many of the restaurants, bars and cafes offer upstairs rooms. Depending on the place and the price, toilets and showers may be communal.