Yangshuo
Attractions Yangshuo 5 min read
Li River raft & karst cycling
Bamboo-raft the Li River from Xingping, then rent a bike and disappear into the karst for an afternoon.
The raft
The Li River drift from Xingping to Yangdi is the prettiest stretch in all of Guilin — it's the exact scene printed on the ¥20 note. Bamboo rafts seat two; the ride is about 90 minutes.
- Buy tickets at the official Xingping dock, not from hotel 'packages'
- Mornings are misty and quiet; afternoons are bright and busy
The ride
Rent a bike in Yangshuo town (¥20/day) and head up the Yulong River lane — karst peaks on both sides, water buffalo in the fields, no traffic. The route to the Yulong Bridge and back is about 25 km of pure scroll-painting scenery.
When
Go at golden hour. West Street is for evenings, not days.
Locals' Tip
The Xingping-to-Yangdi drift is the prettiest stretch — it's the exact scene on the ¥20 note.
Locals' Crowd