Things to Do in Yangshuo

West Street is the center and heart of Yangshuo town, known throughout China as the"Foreign Street" and "global town." It indeed blends Eastern and Western cultures.

Most travelers stay on this street for its comfortable accommodations. There are a lot of hostels and guesthouses to choose from. And many restaurants serve both Western and Chinese food. It is also a good place to do some comparative shopping. There are many shops selling local handicrafts and traditional arts and crafts. It gets busier from the afternoon until 11 to 12 at night. Yangshuo is an ideal place for moderate hiking or cycling excursions. Around the countryside, you will pass rice paddies and limestone peaks.

Cycling Excursion

Yangshuo is regarded as the most beautiful town in China. Exploring the countryside outside of Yangshuo town center is one of the great highlights of any visit to this region. There are various lovely rivers and streams, numerous fertile rice fields, and a plentitude of old-fashioned villages in the area. 

The perfect way to appreciate the beauty of Yangshuo is to do a village tour by bicycle. Rent a bicycle and head out to the surrounding countryside. This is a must if you wish to see the countryside up close. You'll come across some lovely untouched spots. Be sure to spend some time exploring the tiny local villages: Fuli, Jinbao, and Liugong. If you are interested, you can pay a visit to one of the local farmers' houses and get a glimpse of rustic Chinese village life.

Yangshuo Countryside

Bamboo Rafting

Another way to check out the beauty of Yangshuo is on a bamboo raft! It's relaxing and nostalgic. Exploring the Yulong River by bamboo raft is a great experience and one that visitors should not miss. You can sit in a chair, float down the Yulong River on a simple bamboo raft and get back to nature. It takes about one to two hours.

The water is so clear you can clearly see the underwater plants and fish. The scenery along the river is dramatic. Along the way, you can see mountains, farmers, water buffalo, birds flying, and even hear farmers singing and playing the flute. It is a relaxing and idyllic retreat.

Climbing Moon Hill

After climbing over 800 marble steps, you will arrive at Moon Cave and get a panoramic view of the surrounding karst area.

There are many hills to climb in Yangshuo. Moon Hill is the most famous among them. It is a great limestone pinnacle with a naturally-created moon-shaped passage going through just below its summit. If you climb all the way to the top of Moon Hill, you will be rewarded with a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding peaks and countryside!

Moon Hill in Yangshuo

Tai Chi / Cooking Classes

In China, people like practicing the ancient martial art of tai chi as their morning exercise.
If you are interested in Chinese culture, Tai Chi classes and Chinese cooking classes can be arranged in Yangshuo.

Tai Chi, or "shadow boxing," is a graceful exercise developed from an ancient Chinese martial art that combines thought and action. You can learn how Chinese philosophy is realized in daily life. 

You've no doubt come to China to feast on the local cuisine. So wouldn't it be great while you're in China to learn how to cook some Chinese food on your own? Fortunately, it's possible to enroll in a cooking class that will teach you the basics of this culinary art.

Impression Liu SanJie

Impression Liu SanJie is an outdoor performance on the natural stage setting formed by the Li River and 12 peaks.

Impression Liu SanJie is an evening spectacular. It's from the famous director - Mr. Zhang Yimou, who is also in charge of the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The performance is staged in a natural setting, where the stage is the Li River, and the backdrop is the mountains.

Your seats are in an amphitheater overlooking the bay. The performance lasts for 70 minutes. More than 600 local actors and actresses are involved and present this incredible tableau on the water. If you stay overnight in Yangshuo, do not miss it!!

Find out more about things to do in Guilin.

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