West Street (西街 Xī Jiē) is Yangshuo's primary tourist magnet. This cobbled street of wooden shop fronts and laziness-inducing restaurants is 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-st... more >>

Impression of Liu Sanjie (印象刘三姐 Yìnxiàng Liú Sānjiě) is a large-scale musical production with the Li River as a stage and the limestone peaks of Shutong Mountain as the backdrop. Featuring a cast of more than 500 — primarily locals — the show tells the tale of the life of Liu Sanjie, a legendary Yangshuo heroine of the Zhuang people. Story has it Liu Sanjie, already well known about town for her good looks and beautiful singing voice, turned her talents to ridiculing a greedy landlord with tricky riddles in the form of melodious songs, thereby causing him to lose face and dashing his evil plans to further raise already inflated taxes, all the while managing to garner the affections of local heartthrob A-Niuge. The hour long show is the result of more than 2 years of direction and preparation by renowned film-maker Zhang Yimo, who is responsib... more >>

The Yulong River (遇龙河 Yùlóng Hé) is a tributary of the Li River that winds through rice paddies, between farmhouses, fishing ponds and, most impressively, hundreds upon hundreds of limestone peaks. Until recently, the only way to see some of the best scenery on the Yulong is via small bamboo gondolas or slightly larger bamboo rafts. Today, you can also rent kayaks and really get away from the crowds by heading south rather than floating the more popular northern stretch of the river. The clean water (it's okay to swim in), scattered ancient bridges and procession of karst peaks along the way make it a favorite choice among photographers and artists visiting the area, not to mention seasonal throngs of Chinese tourists who love to float downstream for a stretch taking pictures and having their pictures taken. A great option for exploring the Yulong is the hum... more >>

Yuèliang Shān, or Moon Hill, (月亮山) is one of the geographical oddities unique to Guilin prefecture—mountains with holes through the middle. The hill is located about 15 minutes' drive from Yangshuo, but biking there should take less than an hour as roads are mostly flat. Photos of the hill taken from a high vantage point tend to do it more justice than the view from the road. If you stop for a photo at the foot before entering the gate, be prepared to be approached by brash locals demanding money for the picture you took of "their mountain". A climb to the top of Yueliang Shan involves about 800 steps and should take the average climber 1 to 2 hours. There is an alternative route to the summit plotted by local rock climbing companies. Those wishing to climb the aptly named "Moonwalker" route should book in Yangshuo before heading to the hill. As w... more >>

Between Guilin and Yangshuo in the Yanshan area of Guangxi is China's gateway to contemporary art and sculpture—Yuzi Paradise. The park consists mainly of large-scale landscape art and sculpture. There are displays from around the world, more than 200 artists from 47 different countries have contributed their works to park. Stone carvings, metal sculptures, pottery, bronze work, prints, glass and wood carvings can be seen scattered about the park's beautifully maintained grounds. There are also seven major studios with artists at work drawing inspiration from surrounding karst formations and the unique scenery of Guilin. Yuzi Paradise is the initiative of Taiwanese entrepreneur Mr. Rhy-Chang Tsao, whose grand vision for the park have only just begun to be realized. Construction on Yuzi Paradise began in 1996, and although it has been open to the public for several year... more >>

Over the years since its first mention in popular guide books, Yangshuo has grown increasingly more popular with tourists from both China and around the globe. This popularity is evident in the constant stream of holidaymakers arriving into town via the bus station or Li River Cruise. If you find yourself annoyed by the crowds, inflated prices or banana/Buddha peddlers, head to Xingping Village (兴坪古镇 Xīngpíng Gǔ Zhèn). Xingping is similar to Yangshuo in many respects—karst pinnacles, old brick houses, the Li River, hotels and most everything you can see in Yangshuo—without the crowds. The Old Bridge, Ancient Ferries, Guting, the ancient stage, an 18th century temple, gnarled old trees and ancient buildings can all be found hidden around Xingping in alleys and long narrow roads. It is an excellent place to spend an afternoon exploring before enjoying local... more >>

Best approached by boat from the Li River, Liugong Village (留公村 Liúgōng Cūn) is a quaint, if somewhat weatherbeaten, remnant of Qing-era China that at first glance doesn't seem to have changed much in the past century or so. Standing tall by the river, the Deyue Tower (得月楼 Déyuè Lóu) is all that remains of four famous pavilions that once marked the village. The old lanes make for a pleasant stroll, and a village guide will gladly take you to the nearby Three Pools (三潭 Sān Tán), which are three deep ponds of different color. Decent food, ice cream and cold beer are to be had in the rough-and-ready but entirely pleasant open-air restaurant overlooking the river and a small flotilla of rafts and houseboats. Guangxi guide | Yangshuo guide | Yangshuo attractions | Yangshuo flights Yangshuo hotels | Yangshuo tours & activities Yangshuo on t... more >>

A small village situated along the Li River between Yangshuo and Guilin, Yangdi Village (杨堤 Yáng Dī) is known for a nearby peak said to resemble a sheep with its hooves up in the air. Legend has it, a daughter of the Jade Emperor, the highest of China's traditional pantheon of deities, went looking for her sheep but fell in love with a young flute player of the village. She settled down and her sheep became one with the land. Views of the karst peaks and Li River between Yangdi Village and nearby Xingping Village are supposed to be some of the best in the region, including the Nine Horse Mural Peak (九马画山), a cliffside said to depict nine horses. They say only the smartest of individuals can spot them all—reportedly, former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai spotted all nine as did former US president Bill Clinton when he visited the region in 1998. Guangxi guide | Yangs... more >>

Jutting from the middle of Yangshuo just behind West Street, Bilian Peak (碧莲峰 Bìlián Fēng) owes its name to its resemblance to a stylized green lotus, though you'll be forgiven if you can't quite make it out. What you will see is an impressive karst hill densly covered with trees rising above the Li River. As far as karst peaks go, it's not the most spectacular in the area but it's the easiest climb to hit right off the bus if you're staying in or around West Street. Yingjiang Pavilion, Jianshan Tower (鉴山楼 Jiànshān Lóu) and a number of other scenic and historical sites scattered about the hill can be reached by trail. Guangxi guide | Yangshuo guide | Yangshuo attractions | Yangshuo flights Yangshuo hotels | Yangshuo tours & activities Yangshuo on the China Travel Blog more >>

Muddy fun is the name of the game in this Yangshuo cave. The garish billboard outside entrance to the Black Buddha Cave (黑佛洞 Hēifó Dòng) promises the spectacle of groups of happy Chinese tourists splashing in underground pools, slathered in clay-like mud and chances are that's just what you're in store for. There's no way to avoid the mud, so you might as well be prepared to join in the good-natured fun as you wade and boat and splash and slide through underground pools. Obviously, you'll want to dress for the occasion. We recommend an old swimming suit and a pair of sneakers with a decent grip sole. The caves are lit and a long way from their original state, but the "Black Buddha" rock formation and other impressive shapes add a lot of beauty and a touch of the sublime to the splashing and slipping. If you'd prefer to simply see the caves and avoid getti... more >>