Searching for the Most Beautiful Places in Yangshuo: 7-Day Family Photography Trip to Hidden Gems and Instagram-Worthy Spots (1080P HD Video)

This trip to Guilin and Yangshuo was arranged for 7 days. Since I had come here with a company group tour 10 years ago and had already visited Longji, I didn't want to make this trip too hectic. Most of the time was spent in Yangshuo. Speaking of the group tour 10 years ago, I didn't have a strong impression of Yangshuo; many attractions were just skimmed over. I only remember visiting the Big Banyan Tree, seeing Moon Hill, taking a bamboo raft from Xingping to Nine-Horse Painting Mountain, and watching Impression of Liu Sanjie. I only stayed in Yangshuo for 2 days and didn't find it particularly beautiful back then.

Before this trip, I did some research and removed the famous tourist attractions, focusing on lesser-known spots, trying to avoid commercialization and find the most authentic and simple Yangshuo. After the trip, I felt that my route was quite reasonable. I visited several classic routes in Yangshuo. If you also enjoy photography, you can brew a cup of coffee and listen to my travel stories slowly.

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If you have any questions, feel free to comment. I will reply one by one as long as I know. I'll try my best to help those in need.

During the pandemic, airfares are incredibly low. I recommend using Skyscanner to search for cheap tickets. For example, for this trip, I only needed to travel during the summer vacation, so when searching for flights, I chose the entire July and August. It tells you which day is cheapest. Then, based on my situation, I went back to Ctrip to purchase.

We basically used Didi Chuxing in Guilin and Yangshuo. It's cheap and convenient. A 3-kilometer ride costs around 8 yuan. If you don't have children, you can also ride a shared bike. There are many shared bikes and shared e-bikes in Guilin and Yangshuo. From Guilin to Yangshuo, I recommend using Didi Hitchhiking, which is super convenient and very cheap. The three of us took a ride from our hotel near Elephant Trunk Hill Park in Guilin to our homestay near Yulong River for only 90 yuan.

There's no need to buy local specialties when traveling in China; basically, you can find everything on Taobao. However, on this trip, we bought honey osmanthus tea made by Laogen Farmhouse in Jiuxian County. It's very good. I made a cup in the office when I returned, and it was very fragrant. It costs 25 yuan per bottle. Just scoop a spoonful into a cup and add water. Also, we bought homemade chili sauce from Jiang Xiaoyu Beer Fish Restaurant in Xingping, which is also very tasty. When I got back, I added some light soy sauce to make a dipping sauce.

Due to the pandemic, hotel prices in Yangshuo are very low now. I suggest you first look at hotel group deals on Ctrip; prices there are usually much cheaper than direct bookings.

The hotels we chose are as follows for your reference:

Guilin Chuanshe Tea Ju Apartment (Elephant Trunk Hill Park Branch): Recommendation score: 4 stars

This homestay is close to Elephant Trunk Hill Park, about a 10-minute walk away, and about a 5-minute walk from the Civil Aviation Building. It's convenient to take the airport bus directly to the Civil Aviation Building. The homestay is not big, but the decoration is warm and simple. The rooms are fully equipped, clean, and tidy. The hotel has two cats and a dog; my daughter spent the whole day petting the cats downstairs during our stay. During the pandemic, the hotel price is very cheap; a one-night online booking costs only 180 yuan, including breakfast for two.

Liangsu (Yangshuo Shili Gallery Yulong River Branch)

Recommendation score: 5 stars

The homestay is located by the Yulong River, not far from the Jiuxian County Pier. This location is in the middle of the Yulong River area. The most essential part of the Yulong River rafting is from Jinlong Bridge to Jiuxian County Pier. If you stay here, you can walk back to the hotel after rafting. The hotel's front desk is on the top floor, which also serves as a restaurant. From here, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery around the Yulong River. The rooms are also very good, with new facilities, spacious, and equipped with bathtubs and balconies. It's very clean. You can also have lunch and dinner directly at the hotel restaurant. There are group deals online; a 2-3 person meal costs 128 yuan.

Yangshuo Luoshe Hotel

Recommendation score: 5 stars

The hotel is located in Yitian West Street, the core area of West Street business district. As soon as you step out, there are various shops, Starbucks, McDonald's, supermarkets, etc., all at the doorstep. It's a 2-minute walk to West Street. It can be said that the hotel is in the most prime location of Yangshuo. The hotel opened in February 2020 (it feels unlucky, as it coincided with the pandemic). The hotel is designed in a Japanese style, very clean. All facilities in the room are smart. When you enter the bathroom, the toilet lid automatically lifts. When you turn off the lights, the curtains automatically close. After check-in, you receive a text message with a link to access the smart control system. You can operate all electronic devices in the room, including the door lock and lights, via your phone. This is the best place to enjoy peace and quiet in a bustling area. Moreover, the hotel is great for photography, with few people, and you can even rent kimonos.

Yangshuo Banshan Yunshui Boutique Hotel: Recommendation score: 3 stars

A very popular hotel online, definitely an internet sensation. The location is good, not far from Huangbu Daoying. The homestay has a large "Sky Mirror" photo spot on the rooftop, as well as a swimming pool. From a photography perspective, this hotel is great, with many places suitable for taking photos—the pink pool upstairs, the Sky Mirror, and the MO bar downstairs, all good for portraits. The hotel has its own photographer, and many guests book photo shoots. So the Sky Mirror is always fully booked. I recommend coming around 2-3 PM, as there are fewer people and the light is good.

But from the perspective of room facilities, the experience was terrible. The lock on our room was broken; we tried several key cards but none worked. Eventually, we had to use a passcode to open the door. The room seemed to have been renovated a long time ago; some walls were damp and peeling. The provided bathrobes and towels were washed to the point of turning black. The bathroom glass door couldn't close, and one showerhead was broken. The facilities were worse than a three-star hotel.

Speaking of Yangshuo, I read many travel guides before departure. There are many attractions and various route arrangements that are quite confusing. Through this trip, I organized it. If you just want to relax and explore Yangshuo, you can follow my route. Basically, you can visit all the most beautiful photo spots.

For convenience, I divided Yangshuo's tourist attractions into three parts and arranged accommodation in these three places so that the trip won't be too tiring.

Area 1: Yulong River Basin

The Yulong River Basin has the least commercial atmosphere around Yangshuo and is the most worthwhile area to visit. Group tourists rarely come here except for rafting. The banks of the Yulong River are now well-built, with bike lanes. Rent an e-bike and shuttle among the green mountains and clear waters—this is the kind of travel you want.

The Yulong River rafting is divided into several sections. The most essential part is from Jinlong Bridge Pier to Jiuxian County Pier, taking about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The price is 255 yuan per bamboo raft, limited to 2 people. These are the most primitive manual bamboo rafts in Yangshuo, unlike the electric ones in Xingping. You must try it. The scenery on both sides of the Yulong River is beautiful; touring here feels like being in a painting.

Fuli Bridge was built in the Ming Dynasty and is one of the few undeveloped attractions in Yangshuo. It's completely free. There is a gravel beach under the bridge with shallow water where children can play.

An inconspicuous small bridge on the way to Fuli Bridge. The bridge is very low; you can sit on it for photos. The stream under the bridge is crystal clear.

A newly developed man-made attraction, with expensive tickets and highly promoted online. The peach blossoms here bloom all year round. If you ask the tour guide why, they'll say "see but don't tell." I have no interest in such attractions, so I didn't go.

Pastoral scenery: a rice paddy area along the Yulong River, accessible via the bike path. Under the unique Yangshuo mountain backdrop, it's extremely beautiful. Take the small path next to the photo base opposite Liangsu Hotel; it's a 2-minute ride.

Jiuxian Village is not far from Liangsu Hotel, about a 5-minute e-bike ride. Jiuxian Village was the county seat of Guiyi County in the Tang Dynasty (621 AD). The buildings here have a long history. Many people choose to stay here, but the village is small with limited places to explore. Staying here is quiet but not very convenient for getting around. There are several unique homestays in Jiuxian Village. Also, there is a restaurant called Laogen Farmhouse, which is famous online. The owner's cooking is good; they kill the local chicken fresh, and it tastes great. They also have special honey osmanthus tea. We bought two bottles, and it's very fragrant.

Shili Gallery is already famous in Yangshuo. This road has many attractions of various sizes on both sides. Personally, except for Butterfly Spring, which is worth a brief visit, other attractions are traps. The Big Banyan Tree is just a tree; Moon Hill doesn't require climbing—you can see it from below. Some other unknown small attractions are not worth spending money on. Moreover, Shili Gallery is now too commercialized. Various restaurants have been built on both sides of the road. When you pass by, people will constantly ask if you want to visit some attraction or eat. If time is limited, you don't need to come here; the banks of the Yulong River are much quieter.

There are many e-bike rental points near the Yulong River. You must rent an e-bike to explore here; riding a bicycle is too tiring. From Liangsu Hotel to Fuli Bridge is 10 kilometers, so an e-bike is convenient. Besides ordinary e-bikes, you can also rent electric tricycles. This kind of vehicle is perfect for families with children like ours. Besides providing shade, if it rains, the side curtains can be lowered. When we returned from Shili Gallery, it started pouring rain. Driving this electric tricycle, I got completely drenched at the front, but the two passengers in the back were fine.

I stayed in the Yulong River area for 2 days, so I wasn't in a hurry. On the first day, I rode the e-bike from Liangsu Hotel to Fuli Bridge. On the second day, I rode along the bike path from Liangsu Hotel to Shili Gallery. If you plan to go rafting at Jinlong Bridge Pier, you can go to Fuli Bridge first, then head to Jinlong Bridge Pier, and take a bamboo raft to Jiuxian County Pier. That way, you don't have to come back again. You can ask a local to drive your e-bike to Jiuxian County Pier for 30 yuan per bike as a service fee.

Area 2: Yangshuo County Town

Yangshuo County Town has West Street and bars, and some attractions are more convenient to access from here. I wasn't very interested in the county town, so I only stayed here for one day.

Well, how to put it? From a performance perspective, this show is worth watching. But from a scenic spot perspective, it's too much of a rip-off—much smaller than imagined, and many things are gimmicky. It's basically full of shops, with few children's play areas. The so-called 3D "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" is just a projection. During the pandemic, the interactive flash mobs between performers and tourists were also canceled. The park opens at 3 PM, and performances start at 5 PM, each lasting less than 5 minutes. And the ticket price is a rip-off. Prices are the same on all websites. We bought 2 adult and 1 child tickets online for a total of 750 yuan. Our seats were in the VIP area, row 6. When we returned to the hotel by Didi, the driver told us that if we had bought the tickets from him, it would have cost only about 400 yuan, also VIP seats, and payment could be made after the show. Any Didi driver or hotel in Yangshuo can sell performance tickets. I felt I had lost out. Still, the performance was impressive and worth seeing.

Yinziyan Cave is a typical karst landform, spanning twelve peaks. It's much larger than Guilin's Seven Star Cave and Reed Flute Cave. If you want to see a cave, this is the better choice. When we went, there were almost no tourists; I estimate only about 10 people were visiting at the same time. The whole tour took about an hour. I've been to several caves in China, and they are all similar, relying on imagination and lighting. The stone pillars on the guardrails inside the cave are great for using as tripods. With these stone pillars, I could take many beautiful photos.

Originally, there was a scheduled shuttle bus from the entrance of Yangshuo Park to Yinziyan, but due to the pandemic, there are fewer tourists, so the bus was canceled. To go there, you have to take a taxi. A one-way Didi ride costs about 50 yuan. It's difficult to get a Didi on the way back. I was lucky to find a driver who had just dropped off a guest. If you really can't get a ride, you can ask the scenic area staff to help arrange a private car, which costs 100 yuan to Yangshuo.

Ruyi Peak is very close to Shili Gallery. It's a newly opened attraction. You can take a cable car to the top. The ticket price is also expensive, but if you buy through a driver, it's much cheaper. The cable car's spans between the towers are particularly large, and it shakes a lot when the wind blows, which feels a bit dangerous. Plus, I had decided to go to Xianggong Mountain for panoramic views, so I didn't go up.

I had seen this performance when I came to Yangshuo ten years ago. It was impressive, but sitting far in the back, I couldn't see clearly. The price isn't cheap; currently, it's over 300 yuan per ticket. If you want to see it, you must buy tickets in advance.

Once the liveliest place in Yangshuo, it's now much less crowded. Bars are almost empty. People are pulling customers at the entrances of every restaurant and bar. The pandemic has had a huge impact on tourism in Yangshuo.

Area 3: Xingping

Xingping is quite far from Yangshuo County Town. A Didi ride costs about 90 yuan, so if you want to explore the attractions here, it's best to stay near Xingping. Xingping is very close to the high-speed rail station. If you come to Yangshuo by high-speed rail, you can arrange Xingping either at the beginning or end of your trip.

Bamboo Raft Ride on the Li River

This is the earliest developed bamboo raft tour. From Xingping Ancient Town, you take an electric bamboo raft to Nine-Horse Painting Mountain and back, passing by Huangbu Daoying and other attractions.

Xingping Ancient Town is similar to most ancient towns in China. There's no need to visit it specifically, but it's suitable for eating or a walk at night. However, during the pandemic, about 70% of the shops in the ancient town have closed. The remaining ones are barely surviving. The evening scene is no longer lively; the streets are dimly lit, with only a few scattered shops open, empty of customers, and the shop owners playing on their phones alone in the corner.

The 20-yuan note photo spot: If you stay nearby, you can come by e-bike. But it's just a photo to prove you've been there.

From here, you can see the entire Xingping Ancient Town. It's one of the best places to watch the sunset. It's a free attraction; climbing up is free, but the path is not easy to walk. Since I had already taken panoramic photos at Xianggong Mountain, I didn't go to Laozhai Mountain.

Known as the best place for panoramic views of Yangshuo. If you want to photograph the sunrise, you must check the weather forecast in advance. There are sunrise tours online that depart from Yangshuo at 4 AM. The sunrise at Xianggong Mountain is beautiful. If you're not watching the sunrise, you don't need to go from Yangshuo; Xianggong Mountain is far from Yangshuo, so it's more convenient to go from Xingping. I rented an e-bike from Banshan Yunshui Homestay and took the small road to Lengshui Ferry. At the ferry, there are many drivers soliciting customers, charging 100 yuan per person to take you to the entrance of Xianggong Mountain. I parked the e-bike at the ferry, took the ferry across, then took a car. The round trip only took about an hour.

Longjing River is near the high-speed rail station. The rapids here are quite thrilling. Considering safety with the child, I didn't go. If you like rafting, don't miss it.

Rent an e-bike at the entrance of Banshan Yunshui Hotel. First, head towards Lengshui Ferry. After about 20 minutes, you arrive at the ferry. Take the ferry to Xianggong Mountain and back. Then, ride the e-bike to Xingping Ancient Town, passing by the 20-yuan note photo spot, and have lunch in Xingping Ancient Town.

It's been a long time since I arranged a domestic trip. Ten years ago, all my trips were within China. But after traveling to Thailand once, I've been going abroad every year. In the past decade, I've visited over a dozen countries and gotten used to traveling abroad. But I don't think China's landscapes are less beautiful; rather, I dislike the domestic tourism market. Tickets are too expensive, there are too many people, prices near scenic spots are high, and all the shops are identical without character.

This trip to Guilin and Yangshuo, due to the pandemic, gave me a different travel experience. Ten years ago, I had visited Guilin and Yangshuo with a company group tour. It was just a check-in trip; I didn't really appreciate the beauty of Yangshuo. Coming this time, I finally realized how beautiful Yangshuo is. My advice is to stay by the Yulong River for a few days to experience the original Yangshuo.

During the pandemic, the airport was much less crowded than usual. Security checks that used to have long lines now only had a few people. It was quick to pass through. In June, Yangshuo had experienced floods, and the entire county town was submerged until June 20th. I was worried it might affect our trip. Before departing, I kept checking the weather forecasts for Guilin and Yangshuo, which showed rain every day during this period. So I was prepared to just stay in the hotel.

When the plane arrived at Guilin Liangjiang Airport, it wasn't raining. We took the airport bus directly to the Civil Aviation Building in the city. Our hotel was not far from the Civil Aviation Building. After getting off, we easily found the hotel with navigation. The hotel entrance was inconspicuous, but inside it was a different world. The lobby downstairs was decorated with natural wood, clean and tidy. I accidentally found this hotel online; it was on sale. Our double room cost only 180 yuan per night, including three breakfasts, great value for money. Later, I asked the hotel owner. She said their hotel mainly targets the foreign market, but due to the pandemic, their customer base was almost zero, so they had to start welcoming domestic tourists. Since they are not highly ranked on sites like Ctrip, they still have few guests.

After checking in, it was already 10 PM and we were hungry. There was a Luosifen (snail noodles) chain store next to the hotel. The Luosifen there was quite authentic. It tasted good and was super cheap. A bowl of signature Luosifen was only 9 yuan via group deal. In Shanghai, the price is around 20 yuan.

I must mention that due to the pandemic, almost all restaurants have group deals online, which are much cheaper than the in-store price. Whether we were eating or buying milk tea, we always checked if there was a group deal.

We only arranged one day in Guilin. Originally, we planned to stay two days, but considering there isn't much to see in Guilin city proper, and Reed Flute Cave is similar to Yinziyan, it's better to save the cave visit for Yangshuo.

We woke up naturally in the morning and left around 10 AM. We took Kelly to Elephant Trunk Hill Park. If not for the fact that there's a text in the fourth-grade curriculum titled "Guilin's Landscape Is the Best Under Heaven" that mentions Elephant Trunk Hill, I wanted her to see the real scene before studying it. Apart from its fame, this attraction can be skipped. The ticket is 55 yuan, and the park is very small; you can finish in about 30 minutes.

Guilin in July is very hot. It was supposed to rain, but by noon the sun came out. I recommend entering through Gate 2, which directly leads to the viewing platform of Elephant Trunk Hill. After a stroll, exit through Gate 1. If you bought tickets online, you can only enter through Gate 1, as it's the only gate that validates online tickets.

There were so many mosquitoes in the park that we got bitten several times in no time. After coming out, we immediately went to the pharmacy across the street to buy mosquito repellent spray. Whether in Guilin or Yangshuo, always carry mosquito repellent spray. There are too many mosquitoes here. We took a Didi from the pharmacy to Miaowang Street Food Culture Plaza. There are many places to eat there. We headed straight for Laobiaoji. Their duck feet with screw pot was very authentic, and they also have barbecue. The group deal for 2-3 people was 160 yuan.

We basically used Didi in Guilin, with a starting fare of 8-9 yuan. If not traveling with children, you can also use shared bikes. There are many shared bikes and shared e-bikes on the streets of Guilin.

After leaving Laobiaoji, we took a taxi to Mulong Lake Scenic Area. Mulong Lake is a relatively off-the-beaten-path attraction. Usually, when touring the Two Rivers and Four Lakes at night, the boats pass through here. During the day, this area has few tourists, making it very suitable for photography. When we went that day, there were probably no more than five tourists in the entire scenic area. The listed ticket price is 60 yuan per person, but we found a price of 20 yuan per person online. After purchase, a travel agency staff called us. After waiting about 5 minutes, someone came to sign the order for us.

Just as we entered the park, a heavy rainstorm hit. Fortunately, it stopped soon. The Mulong Lake after the rain looked even more beautiful. The scenic area is built in imitation of the Song Dynasty painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." With the antique architecture and the blooming lotuses in July, the scenery was stunning. Most importantly, there were very few people!

After leaving the scenic area, we took a Didi to the area around Zhongshan Road and Jiefang Road. This feels like the center of Guilin and should be livelier. We didn't go to Jingjiang Prince's Mansion, but it seems there are many places to visit nearby. Since the weather was too hot to stay outdoors for long, we planned to find a shopping mall.

Weixingtang Department Store is at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Jiefang Road. I thought it would be like shopping malls in Shanghai, with food, drinks, and entertainment. But this mall still operates like it did a decade ago, with nothing but shopping. Finally, we could only sit in the Starbucks downstairs to rest. Guilin's famous Xiaonan Guo restaurant is also nearby. They have group deals, but the dishes on the deal weren't what we wanted. We ordered separately and paid less than 200 yuan, which is cheap. But the taste wasn't as good as expected; the beer-braised sword bone fish had a strong muddy smell. Later, when we ate sword bone fish at Jiang Xiaoyu Restaurant in Xingping, it tasted much fresher.

Also, Guilin has a night cruise on the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, which is worth seeing. We went ten years ago, so we didn't choose it this time. The Two Rivers and Four Lakes have day and night cruises. The daytime view is not worth it; it's only impressive at night when all the lights are on.

There are several ways to get from Guilin to Yangshuo. If you want to see the Li River, you can take a cruise ship or a long-distance bus from Guilin's South Bus Station. We chose Didi Hitchhiking. Since there were three of us, it was easy to get a ride. The driver came to pick us up at the hotel on time. They were heading to Lipu and could drop us at Yangshuo, delivering us to the door of our homestay on the Yulong River.

It took about an hour and a half to reach the homestay on Yulong River. The Liangsu Hotel we booked is highly recommended, especially compared to the Banshan Yunshui Hotel where we stayed later. The facilities were much better. Moreover, it was very user-friendly. The hotel's top floor is a viewing restaurant, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yulong River. The restaurant is open from morning to evening, offering free luohanguo tea and fruits. At night, there are group deals for dining. A 2-3 person set meal costs 128 yuan, and it tasted good. The hotel has a swimming pool and its own dedicated photo base by the Yulong River, with many props. Hotel guests can use it for free.

After checking into Liangsu Hotel, we went directly to the top-floor restaurant for lunch. The group deal was tasty. Originally, I wanted to take a taxi to Fuli Bridge, but the hotel staff suggested it would be better to rent an e-bike. Fuli Bridge is in a remote area, and it might be hard to get a taxi back. At first, considering safety, my wife had never driven an e-bike, so I was worried about risks. I went downstairs to the rental shop and found that there was a three-wheeled motorcycle. It was perfect for us. Immediately rented it. During the pandemic, rental prices have dropped. In peak season, this bike would cost 150 yuan, but now they asked for only 60 yuan. I didn't haggle and rented it.

From the hotel, we rode towards Fuli Bridge. As long as we followed the Yulong River, we wouldn't get lost. The afternoon sun in Yangshuo was very strong, but once you start riding, it's very cool, not like the muggy heat in Shanghai. Driving the three-wheeler among green mountains and clear waters, with almost no people or cars on the road, it was very pleasant. After a short ride, we passed a small stream with a stone bridge (Xiangui Bridge), surrounded by beautiful scenery. It was a great place for photos. We parked by the roadside, took pictures, and had fun.

Continuing on, after a while, we saw a mountain road. The winding path was also a good spot for photos, so we took more pictures.

Further ahead, the road started to get farther from the Yulong River. Afraid of getting lost, I used navigation. With the navigation's guidance, after another 20 minutes, we passed through a village and finally arrived at Fuli Bridge.

Fuli Bridge is about 14 kilometers from Yangshuo County Town. It's the source of the Yulong River. Standing on the bridge, you see green mountains, clear waters, murmuring streams, and crisscrossing fields, a natural pastoral scenery. Previously, you could take a bamboo raft here, run by locals. As long as you paid, you could take photos freely on the raft. But after the pandemic, there are fewer tourists, and the government is cracking down on private rafts more strictly. If caught, they are confiscated. Now, there are no bamboo rafts at Fuli Bridge.

Fortunately, the water under the bridge is shallow, so you can play there.

The sun was about to set. I originally planned to go to Jinlong Bridge for rafting, but we accidentally drove past it. I decided to skip it and go to Jiuxian Village for dinner. The next day, we would take a Didi to the bamboo raft.

Jiuxian Village is a village. Only part of it is designated as a scenic area, and only the roads in that area are renovated asphalt roads, very clean. The rest of the roads are like village dirt roads, full of animal manure. Fortunately, we drove, so we didn't have to walk. Otherwise, it would have been hard to step.

Many old houses in Jiuxian Village have been converted into homestays. It's about a 10-minute e-bike ride from the Yulong River. If you stay here, it's not convenient for getting around, but it's very quiet. If you're looking for a peaceful place, it's a good choice.

We came to Jiuxian Village mainly for Laogen Farmhouse Restaurant. It has good online reviews, especially their chicken, which is very tender. During the pandemic, there were almost no tourists. When we arrived, aside from a few villagers cooling off under trees, we saw no one else. The owner went out to buy groceries specifically because we came to eat. We ordered the dishes first, then went out for a walk. We returned 45 minutes later for dinner.

After dinner, we drove back to the hotel, returned the bike, and took Kelly to the rooftop swimming pool. The pool was small, and there were no other guests. She swam alone for half an hour and got bored without any playmates.

We woke up at 9 AM and went upstairs for breakfast. Breakfast in Yangshuo is uniformly rice noodles, but the rice noodles at Liangsu were very good. Besides rice noodles, there were also porridge, fruit, bread, and buns.

After breakfast, we took a Didi to Jinlong Bridge Pier for the bamboo raft. Don't forget to bring your ID to buy tickets. I forgot mine. Since one raft only holds two people, and there were three of us, we needed to share with someone. We happened to meet a local guide's group with an extra person, who helped me buy the ticket.

Travel guides suggest going early in the morning to avoid the sun. Fortunately, the bamboo rafts have umbrellas. We started rafting around 10 AM, and the sun was strong, but under the umbrella it wasn't hot; it was quite cool. The umbrella only covers part of the area, so your legs can still get sunburned. If you mind, you can bring your own umbrella to hold by your feet.

The whole rafting trip took 90 minutes, passing through 3-4 rapids with drops of about 3 meters. When going over them, the raft suddenly rushes down with the current. It was fun and safe, no danger.

The weather was good, with blue skies and white clouds. The only downside was that the Yulong River had just receded from floods, so the water was very yellow, not clear as before. The photos didn't look good.

Some travel guides mentioned that the bamboo rafts are now uniformly managed by companies, leading to rafters asking for tips. But on the day I went, I didn't see any rafters asking for tips. Each raft moved forward one after another at similar speeds. Later, I talked to locals about this. Initially, many private rafts charged arbitrarily, so the local government intervened to regulate the market. Although the prices are now uniform, it lacks human touch. You have to wear life jackets on the raft, and you are not allowed to stand up for photos. The rafters are paid per trip, and their income has decreased compared to before. Their enthusiasm has also diminished, and they tend to ignore tourists.

We disembarked at Jiuxian County Pier and walked back to the hotel. We had lunch directly at the hotel, rested for a while in the room, and went out again around 3 PM. First, we went to the photo base opposite Liangsu Hotel, which is by the Yulong River. There are many props for photography.

Then we rented an e-bike again and rode along the bike path beside the Yulong River. This path winds along the rice fields. It would be tiring to walk, so biking is best. We rode along the rice paddies, surrounded by lush greenery, feeling refreshed.

In the middle of the bike path, there is a small dam. You can wade across the dam. The current is not very fast, but looking back, I still feel a bit scared. At that time, for the sake of a photo, I let my daughter walk across alone. The current, though not strong, still had some resistance. She wobbled when coming back. If she had slipped and fallen, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Fortunately, she was safe. I must learn from this lesson.

Exiting the bike path and continuing forward leads to Shili Gallery. At Shili Gallery, the number of people increased. Middle-aged women on bikes would come up to ask if you want to visit attractions, saying they can take you in. Shili Gallery wasn't as beautiful as I imagined. It felt chaotic, with various vehicles shuttling. There are many attractions here, but since I had visited them all on my last trip to Guilin, I didn't choose to go in again. After driving around Shili Gallery, I noticed the sky darkening. A heavy rain seemed imminent, so we hurried back.

Soon after we started back, it began to rain. The rain grew heavier and eventually turned into a downpour. I pulled up the side curtains on the bike. The windshield was so covered with rain that I couldn't see the road ahead. The ground was flooded, and I was afraid the bike would stall. We drove in the heavy rain for 15 minutes and finally returned to the hotel.

After returning the bike, we went to the room. I was completely drenched, but the back seat, protected by the curtains, wasn't too wet. After showering, we went upstairs for dinner. Standing on the top-floor terrace, I looked out. In the distance, the sun was still shining brightly, but where we were, a heavy rain was falling. Rain in Yangshuo comes suddenly and stops soon. The Yulong River, washed by the heavy rain, looked even more beautiful under the sunset.

The next morning, we had breakfast and let Kelly have her English online class on the top-floor restaurant. After checking out at noon, the hotel arranged a car to take us to the next hotel. Since the attractions for the next two days are more conveniently accessed from Yangshuo County Town, and we also wanted to stroll around West Street, we booked a hotel near West Street.

The hotel opened in February of this year, so it's very new. The full Japanese-style decoration was one of the reasons I booked it. The hotel had very few guests. To facilitate our photography, the front desk even turned on all the lights in the lobby for us. The service was excellent.

The hotel's rooftop terrace has a Sky Mirror photo spot, but compared to the one at Banshan Yunshui, it's much smaller.

At 3 PM, we had a quick bite at the McDonald's at the entrance and then took a Didi to the Guilin UPRISING Scenic Area. The scenic area is not far from Yangshuo County Town, so it took less than 10 minutes by taxi. At first, we didn't know the park opened at 3 PM. When we arrived, we realized how lucky we were.

I originally thought the scenic area would be as large as Disneyland and take a long time to explore. But when we arrived, I realized it was very, very small. Walking around the park took less than 10 minutes. It was mostly shops, with things priced much higher than outside. There was no need to come so early. If you want to watch the performance, just come before it starts.

Our tickets for three cost 750 yuan, comparable to Disneyland, but the value for money was much lower. Before the performance started, there were fewer than 20 tourists in the entire park. After the show started, many people arrived gradually. It was strange. If you bought tickets like we did, arriving this early was such a loss. Later, I found out that these later arrivals were locals from Guangxi, who only needed to pay 99 yuan for their tickets. Additionally, buying tickets through locals in Yangshuo is much cheaper than online prices. So the real price of this attraction is about 160 yuan per person, while we paid nearly 280 yuan per person online. Too much of a rip-off. If I had to choose again, I wouldn't go to this attraction. The performance was good, but compared to the price, it wasn't worth it.

The whole performance lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The actors' performances were commendable and worth watching.

The performance ended at 8:30 PM. We took a taxi from the scenic area entrance back to West Street. I originally planned to stroll around West Street, but I found it had no special features. The shops sold identical items. The streets were full of "gold medal beer fish" restaurants. In the bars, singers' voices rose and fell, but the places were empty, with few customers. The former lively atmosphere was nowhere to be found.

We went back to the Yitian commercial area at the hotel entrance and randomly found a restaurant for dinner.

After breakfast, we checked out and stored our luggage at the hotel front desk. We took a Didi to Yinziyan. Yinziyan is in Lipu County, about 20 kilometers from Yangshuo County Town. When we arrived at Yinziyan, the scenic area felt empty. Only a few cars were parked in the lot. Most shops on both sides of the main road were closed. Only a few local farmers carrying shoulder poles were hawking some fruits. After exchanging the tickets at the ticket office, we picked up a free audio guide and entered the cave along layer after layer of railings. It was easy to see how long the lines must have been here during peak season.

Inside the cave, it was very cool, and the ground was wet. Every step had anti-slip treatment to ensure visitor safety. Each time we passed a scenic spot, the earphones provided corresponding explanations. This cave passes through twelve peaks. The entire tour took about an hour, making you feel like you were climbing over mountains inside. The colorful lights in the cave, with their illumination, highlighted the shapes of stalactites, sparking endless imagination.

With very few tourists, you could hardly see anyone ahead or behind you in the cave, making it perfect for photography. On both sides of the cave path, there were square stone pillars on the guardrails. You could place your camera on these pillars to take timed shots, ensuring sharp images without shaking.

After exiting the cave hole of Yinziyan, we walked along the paths set up by the scenic area for a long time before reaching the exit parking lot. These places were once for vendors to set up stalls. To force tourists to pass by all the stalls, the exit path was designed in a serpentine shape, making a one-minute walk take five minutes—a uniquely Chinese tourist attraction feature. Now, the vendors no longer come, leaving empty stalls.

On the way back, I tried Didi and waited nearly 15 minutes before a driver accepted the ride. Back in Yangshuo County Town, we stopped at Chunji Roasted Goose. Chunji Roasted Goose is very famous in Guilin. Usually, this restaurant is packed, and you have to queue up early. But now, 70% of the restaurant's seats were empty, with only a section by the window serving diners. They have group deals, but the group deal dishes didn't include roasted goose, so we didn't take them. We ordered roasted goose and stir-fried goose liver. The roast goose was good, but the goose liver was a bit tough.

We returned to the hotel to pick up our luggage. The front desk was very polite and gifted us a box of tea as a souvenir. Although we only stayed here for one day, the hotel service was excellent. Both hardware and software deserve a five-star rating. Highly recommended.

We took a Didi to Xingping. Just as we got into the car, a terrifying rainstorm hit. I can't recall ever seeing such heavy rain. Outside, strong winds and torrential rain raged. E-bikes on the roadside hurriedly parked under eaves to wait out the storm. Our car was moving at the slowest speed, with the wipers at maximum speed, but visibility was still very low. The rain lasted for a full hour. When we arrived in Xingping, the rain had just stopped.

After checking in at the hotel, I first went upstairs to see the famous Sky Mirror. Because of the recent rain, the Sky Mirror was covered with water. The hotel photographer was cleaning the mirror surface with a window squeegee. Several girls in ancient costumes were standing nearby. It seems that photography here is still very popular. I decided to come back the next day.

I took Kelly for a swim in the rooftop pool, found a restaurant near the hotel for dinner, and ended the tense day.

At 9:30, we had breakfast in the lobby. But somehow, it took a full 40 minutes for a bowl of rice noodles to arrive. I originally planned to shoot the Sky Mirror in the morning. After changing clothes and running upstairs, people were already shooting there. I asked how long it would take and was told it would be a while. I saw it was cloudy in the morning, with no blue sky and poor lighting. I decided to go out first and come back later.

Banshan Yunshui Homestay is located in the middle section between Xingping and Nine-Horse Painting Mountain. Online guides say you can hike from here to Nine-Horse Painting Mountain in about an hour. But considering the distance, we rented an e-bike at the hotel entrance. The price was 30 yuan per day, which seemed very cheap. I didn't haggle and rented two bikes, heading towards Nine-Horse Painting Mountain.

It was a good thing we rented e-bikes. If we had hiked, the road would have been very long, and it doesn't run along the Li River; it goes through farmland, so the scenery is ordinary.

Following the road to the end leads to Lengshui Ferry. There are no forks. By the ferry, there is a walking path along the Li River for sightseeing. You can also take a bamboo raft from here to Xingping. Many locals there solicit customers to take them to Xianggong Mountain. I had already planned to go to Xianggong Mountain. They charged 100 yuan, including the round-trip ferry ticket.

The Li River is very narrow; it took less than 5 minutes to cross to the other side. After getting into the guide's car, we drove along a winding mountain road to Xianggong Mountain. Xianggong Mountain looks high, but the entrance to the scenic area is almost at the top, so the actual climbing is not much. The car dropped us directly at the entrance. We bought tickets ourselves; there is no discount at 60 yuan per person.

Traveling in Yangshuo really depends on luck. Earlier it was cloudy, but now the clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun reappeared. Worried that the sun would hide again, I quickly ran up to the summit alone. It takes about 15-20 minutes from the entrance to the top via a mountain trail. There are three platforms at the top, which look similar, but after testing, the upper platform offers a better view.

As the saying goes, "If you have the sun in your heart, it shines everywhere." Heaven really favored us. After taking photos for 20 minutes at the top, the sun hid behind the clouds again, and the sky gradually darkened. Another heavy rain was coming.

Actually, the most beautiful scenery in Yangshuo is after a heavy rain. The rain causes fog in the valley, and the sunlight shining through the misty mountains is the most stunning. If I had been alone, I would have stayed on the mountaintop to wait out the rain and then shoot again, as the scenery then would be truly magnificent.

Back at Lengshui Ferry, it started raining again. We ate some ice jelly at a stall opposite the ferry while taking shelter from the rain. The rain soon eased, so we drove directly to the nearby 20-yuan note photo spot to take a quick picture, then returned to the hotel to rest.

The 20-yuan note photo spot is called Huangbu Daoying. It's just a small viewing platform, and there were many people. We didn't stay long. There are two viewing platforms; the one closer to Xingping Ancient Town has a better view. It's also a good place to watch the sunset. In summer, you can come here after 6:30 PM to see the sunset.

Back at the hotel, the sky cleared again. At this time, I guessed the Sky Mirror should be free. I ran to the rooftop and sure enough, it was empty. However, the mirror surface was covered with raindrops. I wanted to clean the mirror myself like the hotel photographer, but I couldn't find a squeegee. Later, I asked the hotel staff, and they helped clean the mirror surface.

After the rain, the mirror surface hadn't been exposed to the sun for long, so it wasn't hot. The light at this time was perfect. The sun wasn't directly shining on the mirror, so the reflection was optimal. Experience tells me that 2-4 PM is the best time for shooting the Sky Mirror. Most people schedule shoots in the morning or evening, and in the afternoon they are out sightseeing. For us, this was the perfect time—we could take as many photos as we wanted.

The Sky Mirror is made of several mirrors put together. Since there are seams between the mirrors, you must place the camera lens directly on the mirror surface to avoid capturing the seams. I tried a few lenses and found that even a 35mm portrait lens wasn't wide enough to capture both the person and the reflection. You must use a wide-angle lens. I ended up using a 16-35mm f2.8 wide-angle lens, which worked fine.

Also, it's best for the model to wear a bright, colorful dress or a white dress with a large hem to better complement the background. There are many clothes available for rent downstairs at the hotel, costing 50 yuan per use.

Since the camera lens is flush with the ground, you can't use the viewfinder. You need to activate live view mode and observe the model's position through the LCD screen. Turn on continuous shooting mode, have the model sway the hem, and keep shooting. Among them, there will always be one that looks the most natural.

For a perfect result, you can later use Photoshop's content-aware fill to erase the table in the background, making the background cleaner.

In the afternoon, the sun is to the right of the mirror, so when shooting, the model's face should face right to ensure adequate light on the face.

There were limited restaurant options near the hotel. I planned to go to Xingping Ancient Town for dinner in the evening. I thought Xingping Ancient Town would be as lively as Xitang or Lijiang, but when we arrived, the ancient town was already dark. Due to the scarcity of tourists, almost all the shops were closed. Only a few restaurants were open, but they were empty. Only one restaurant, Jiang Xiaoyu Beer Fish, had quite a number of diners. I checked the reviews, and it was good, so we ate there. Unexpectedly, the last dinner of the trip was the best meal we had in Guilin. We ordered 2 jin (about 1 kg) of sword bone fish. The fish was very tender, with no fishy taste at all. This made us decide to come back here for lunch the next day.

The next day, we took a Didi specifically to this restaurant for bamboo tube chicken and mugwort cake, both very delicious. Highly recommended. Also, I'd like to recommend their chili sauce. We bought a bottle and tried it. It's very tasty. Now I use this chili sauce every day as a dipping sauce.

On the last day, we didn't plan anything. We stayed in the hotel until after 12 PM, then checked out. We went to Jiang Xiaoyu Restaurant in Xingping for lunch, then took a Didi to the high-speed rail station and took the train back to Guilin. From Guilin Station, we took a taxi to the airport.

Originally, I planned to take a Didi directly from the hotel to the airport, but after several drivers accepted the order, they canceled it for no reason. The uncertainty was too great, so I felt taking the high-speed rail was more reliable.

The 7-day trip to Guilin gave me a new understanding of Yangshuo. Yangshuo is truly a place to embrace nature, especially staying by the Yulong River. Here, you can forget the hustle and bustle of the city. Although the pandemic has caused a significant downturn in Yangshuo's tourism, it has also brought us a peaceful travel environment. Yangshuo without the crowds is the most beautiful Yangshuo.

This period can be said to be the golden time for travel. Cheap airfares, cheap hotels, and few tourists make it very worthwhile to go out. If you're sitting in front of your computer, why not consider it?

Travelogue Table of Contents: 1. Itinerary 2. Preface 3. Pre-departure Preparation 4. Yangshuo Tour Route (Highlights) 5. July 1: Shanghai-Guilin 6. July 2: Guilin 7. July 3: Guilin-Yangshuo 8. July 4: Yangshuo Yulong River Area 9. July 5: Yangshuo-Guilin UPRISING 10. July 6: Yangshuo-Yinziyan-Xingping 11. July 7: Xingping-Xianggong Mountain-Xingping Ancient Town 12. Sky Mirror Photography Experience Summary 13. July 8: Yangshuo-Guilin-Shanghai

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