Yangshuo, located 66km down southeast from Guilin, is the end of the famous Li River Cruise. As the saying goes, ¡Scenery of Yangshuo is the best around Guilin¡, Yangshuo attracts millions of travelers a year with its leisurely atmosphere and great views. At this small town you cannot find the hectic pace of life in the cities. You can either read a book at one of the many bars along the stone-cobbled West Street, or hire a bike and head for the farmland set between the limestone pinnacles, or go for a leisurely rafting trip down the Best of Rivers, the Yulong River. If you are interested in Chinese culture, you may go for a few hours of Chinese cooking lesson, or Taiji lessons, or painting class. And the various types of accommodation can never let you down.

The unique shape of hole up the hill gives it the name. Moving along the village path, you will see the size of the hole changes, just like the wane and wax of the moon. After climbing up the hill all the way to the ¡moon¡, a stunning view is presented before you eyes. And you wish to stay there forever.




Fuli

A quiet town 20min drive from Yangshuo, Fuli has a history of 500yrs. Here you can find nice small factories making painted paper fans. The barber shop, a small local Chinese pharmacy all have some special stories to tell. You can also get there by a bike (around 40min).

Cormorant Fishing

A common practice of fishing in South China but is dying out elsewhere. In the evening you can join a group and head for the River. The Fuli town is the best place for the tour but it is all subject to decision of the organizers. Then you board a local wood sampan and start for the smaller rafts, the fishermen¡¯s boat. You will marvel at the dexterity of the birds. And you may even have a picture taken with the bird that catches the biggest fish of the night.

A major tributary of Li River, Yulong River flows through some of the most beautiful Karst (limestone) scenery near Yangshuo. Local people use rafts as daily transportation up and down the river between house, markets, and rice paddies. Some villagers made bigger rafts and started to woo the travelers and soon it became a highlight of tour around Yangshuo. Sitting on the reclining chair on the raft, you can enjoy an all around view of the nature and rural peaceful life down the river.

Perhaps the best biking experience in China, biking in Yangshuo gives an unforgettable experience, featuring

1. Best mountain bikes in China with different gears and low rental;

2. Different paths to choose for different bikers, from cement road to tough and slippery rice field trials;

3. Hills, rivers, rice paddies and villages will never tire you out.

4. Fresh air and temperate climate make it available all year around.

Limestone areas are always rich in caves. You may look for the cave-exploration guides along the West Street or ask us to recommend. A Buddha Cave offers, in addition to exploration, an interesting experience of a mud bath inside. If you are a cave enthusiast or a specialist, then head for the Lotus Cave in Xingping(45min from Yangshuo) where you may find many lotus-shaped limestone stalagmites on the ground, which makes it quite famous among the world limestone researchers.

Some of the hills around Yangshuo have been well prepared for rock climbing, including the famous Moon Hill. You may go to www.chinaclimb.com for more information of this.

38km up northwest from Yangshuo, Xingping boasts the best view along the Li River. Some of national award-winning photos and paintings originate from here. You can walk up to Yangdi along the River from here (around 5hrs). Or you may ferry across the river and trek to the Stone City. Or you may simply hire a local boat and go up and down the river a bit to appreciate natural wonder.

A walled up mountain valley has been hiding this community for hundreds of year. The origin of the people is still unknown. But studies show that they could be the Ming army descendents fleeing the war with the Manchurian soldier at the beginning of the Qing dynasty. Houses are mostly made of stone slabs. And locals are nice.