For a small city Yangshuo attracts a huge amount of visitors, all drawn by the stunning scenery of the local area. As in Guilin, the karst hills are often named for objects they supposedly resemble, but even if you can’t make out a man bowing to a woman, a bronze mirror or the moon, you will still be resting your eyes on some of the most breathtaking terrain on Earth.
Head to just about any spot on Yangshuo’s riverbanks and you’ll feel like you’re in a classic Chinese landscape painting, where perfectly-shaped hills recede ever paler into the distance. Hire a bamboo raft and explore the rice paddies, sub-tropical vegetation and sheer rocky peaks of the beautiful Yulong River valley for an incredible sightseeing experience.
Guilin is the nearest transport hub to Yangshuo; if you don’t arrive by boat, it is around 1.5 hour by car between the two cities. Once in Yangshuo a river cruise will ensure you see the best vistas. The famed beauty spot Yangdi-Xingping is north of Yangshuo along the River Li towards Guilin.
