YANGSHUO TRAVEL GUIDE

YANGSHUO TRAVEL GUIDE

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Overview

Follow the Li River down to Yangshuo, a hub of stalls, bars, boutique hotels and international restaurants surrounded by towering mountains.

The town of Yangshuo is small and condensed, you can walk around it within a day. But rent a bike an see the countryside outside of Yangshuo and enjoy the natural beauty of Southern China.

Typical costs

Accommodation

Budget: ¥30 – ¥50 for dorm beds with private rooms starting at ¥110.

Midrange: ¥150 – ¥400 – Decent 4-star hotels can be found at ¥300.

Luxury: ¥500+

Transport: Bike rentals start at ¥15 a day, didi’s from one side of town to the other costs around ¥10 and electric bike rentals cost ¥ 60 for the day. Yangshuo is very much a walkable town so don’t expect to pay much at all for transport.

The average cost of food:

Local foods cost around ¥20 – ¥40 per dish.

Yangshuo is a touristy area and food here is higher than other areas in Southern China, make sure you visit local restaurants with prices on the menu. 

International restaurants will cost around ¥150 per person whilst high-end restaurants start at ¥200.

Cost of Travel in China full guide

Best time to visit Yangshuo

Located in Southern China, Yangshuo has a warm, humid climate most of the year. Summer is tropical whilst Winter is cooler and damp. Spring and Autumn are short but offer pleasant weather. 

The best time to visit Yangshuo is April through to October. April, May and June are wet months, so you can experience the natural beauty through mist whilst July and August offer clearer, drier skies but are busy with local tourists due to the school holidays. 

Whilst planning your trip, you also need to avoid the Chinese national holidays – Golden Week runs during the first week of October and Chinese New Year lands around February, with a handful of long weekends throughout the year.

Where to stay in Yangshuo

Budget:

Xingping Old Place International Youth Hostel is on the outskirts of the city but offers gorgeous views of nature and dorm beds cost ¥40.

The Yangshuo 131 Youth Hostel is another popular place, with dorm beds costing as little as ¥17.

Midrange:

Yangshuo River View Hotel was our favourite – close enough to the markets and hustle of West Street but located on the river, offering balcony rooms with views of the Li River from ¥280 per night.

For a more atmospheric and quieter experience, look at the Farmhouse Hotel; prices start from around ¥260.

Top End:

The Yangshuo Mountain Nest Retreat is a popular and affordable but luxurious place to stay; costing ¥340 for private rooms.

The Yangshuo C Source West Street Resident is another popular hotel with fantastic amenities with rooms starting at ¥240.

Save money in Yangshuo

China is a relatively cheap place to visit in the world but there are still ways that you can save even more money in the country, allowing you to travel for longer.

1. Catch the train – You can catch a train from Guilin to Yangshuo Train Station or catch a bus; these are the cheaper options. 
2. Eat locally – Stick to the local food and avoid the international restaurants. This is a touristy city so western food is often overpriced and is rarely any good. 
3. Walk the city – Yangshuo is small s save cash on taxis and instead walk. 
4. Rent a bicycle – One of the best things to do in Yangshuo is to leave the town and head out to the mountains. Rent a bike to get around in your own time; hiring a driver or getting a did is doable but will cost more. 
5. Drink in the hostels or hotels – There are bars in the town centre but drink in the bars and restaurants at the hotels or hostels works out cheaper in Yangshuo. 

Best things to do in Yangshuo

How to get to Yangshuo

Like I said above, Yangshuo is a small town so you can walk everywhere in a short amount of time.

You can rent bikes or electric bikes to get around the town if you prefer; I would recommend renting a bike and exploring the countryside around Yangshuo.

There are also cycling tours available for those wanting to explore Yangshuo with an expert – there are many many travel agents around the town to inquire at.

You can use a taxi but local taxi’s don’t tend to use the meter so you are best off using the Didi app (like Uber).

How to get around Yangshuo

Like I said above, Yangshuo is a small town so you can walk everywhere in a short amount of time.

You can rent bikes or electric bikes to get around the town if you prefer; I would recommend renting on and exploring the countryside around Yangshuo.

There are also cycling tours available for those wanting to explore Yangshuo with an expert – there are many many travel agents around the town to inquire at.

You can use a taxi but local taxi’s don’t tend to use the meter so you are best off using the Didi app (like Uber).