Guilin Yangshuo / May Day Holiday / Family Trip

📍 Guilin · 👁 3 reads · ❤️ 149 likes

Travel dates: April 30 - May 4

Climate: Guilin 24-28°C, sometimes bright sunshine, sometimes heavy downpours. During our four days, three were sunny and one rainy.

Itinerary: Beijing - Guilin (by plane, about 3 hours), Guilin - Yangshuo (by car, about 1-1.5 hours)

Flight tickets: Beijing - Guilin, round trip 9354 RMB. Booked on a whim in mid-to-late April; if booked before March, at least half the price.

Car: Arranged by a friend; you can also rent one yourself for往返 between Guilin and Yangshuo and nearby attractions. In central Yangshuo, you can rent electric scooters by the day. Remember: don't rent one with more than three wheels, or the police will have a word with you~

1. Yangshuo Yitian Amari Hotel *2 nights

Pros: Located in the most bustling West Street area of Yangshuo. Supermarket downstairs, turn into a pedestrian street for easy dining and shopping. If your room faces the street, you can see shops and the lively square from the balcony. The hotel's public areas are quiet and dimly lit. Beds are comfortable, bathroom has separate wet and dry zones. Breakfast buffet with variety: Guilin rice noodles, wontons, pineapple fried rice, and other specialties; the rest is standard breakfast fare.

Cons: Street-facing rooms are indeed very noisy due to the May Day holiday; shops stay open until around 12-2 AM. The hotel is close to the bar street, so even with windows tightly shut, it's loud at night. Room layout is a bit compact; no luggage rack; suitcases over 26 inches must be opened at the doorway.

2. Yangshuo Xitang Riverview Resort Hotel *2 nights

Pros: A riverview hotel must have riverview rooms: floor-to-ceiling windows and a bathtub by the window, perfect for photos while enjoying. We had a two-bedroom, one-living-room unit, suitable for four people. The entire hotel and room are clean and bright. The first-floor restaurant attracts many visitors; the food is tasty. The fifth floor has a coffee shop and private rooms; outdoor booths are a bit hot but offer unbeatable views, worth enduring. Ample bottled water supply; fridge has free Coke and Sprite. Location is in a bustling area; about 20 minutes' walk to West Street, with convenient dining nearby and relatively affordable prices due to distance from West Street.

Cons: Only one small elevator; during peak times, stairs are faster. Breakfast is on the fifth floor coffee shop with limited seating (about six tables, sofa booths); if crowded, they might open private rooms.

Recommendation: An unremarkable roadside stall in front of the hotel, said to have been open for 20 years. Just a food cart, a few small tables and stools. They sell "清补凉" (chilled herbal soup), similar to fruit salad, cold and refreshing, great for hot weather. Search "富安码头清补凉" on Dianping.

As a foodie, I must organize the cuisine first~~

Rice noodles: Ate them almost daily. Locals recommended dry-mixed noodles, but Mr. Liu vetoed that and insisted on soup noodles for four days. No matter which shop, the pickled green beans and pickled bamboo shoots were delicious! The noodles here come with crispy fried pork belly, fatty but not greasy. Ritouhuo is a major local chain, but they don't sell luosifen.

Luosifen: Only ate once, at Feifei Luosifen, a small shop we passed by on a scooter. Tasty; ordered the classic with tons of toppings, even duck feet.

Beer fish: A common dish everywhere in Yangshuo. First time, I didn't pick the right fish—too many bones. Later splurged on a less bony type, much better texture. Sauce-based with tomato and green chili, sour and spicy, a unique flavor.

Stir-fried river snails: No grit, very clean, salty and savory.

West Street: Turn left at the end for a few dozen meters (forgive a northerner who can't tell directions). At "Zhengda Chicken Cutlet", duck intestines and squid: duck intestines 10 RMB for 30 skewers, squid 12 RMB for 20 skewers. Both classics. Duck intestines are tender; some shops grill them (harder texture), but this shop uses a griddle, soft and sticky, with chili sauce—very nice!

Fu'an Pier: Across from Xitang Hotel, down a small alley, a bit hard to find. Navigate to Xitang. After the boss made it for us, we tasted and devoured it, forgetting to take a photo; by the time we remembered, only the syrup was left...

West Street Chongchong Fried Skewers: Not sure if it's good, but definitely expensive: small scorpion 35 RMB per skewer (three scorpions).

West Street: The most bustling commercial street in Yangshuo, no contest. The main drag is an old street with uniform architecture, a wide straight bluestone road lined with local food and souvenirs. After crossing a small bridge over the lake, it becomes a new district with modern buildings, winding streets with many branches, housing brand stores like McDonald's and KFC, a three-story Starbucks, Miniso, souvenir shops, and cold drink shops.

We arrived around 9 PM on the first day, stumbled into the new district's food street for a meal, which felt satisfying then but later turned out to be the most disappointing. Just considered it part of the atmosphere!

2. Yulong River Raffing

Raffing is a recommended way to experience the Yulong River. Riding a bamboo raft on the river, with picturesque mountains and water on both sides, is very enjoyable. On the slow raft, watch the rolling peaks and pastoral scenery. You'll pass small towns and ancient bridges over clear water—peaceful and relaxing. There are nine small drops where water splashes; protect electronics and lift your feet if you don't want wet shoes.

We took the longest route (Jinlong Bridge to Jiuxian), 90 minutes, 255 RMB per raft (for two people). Families with three need to split; each raft must hold exactly two. Odd numbers must share. Small children cannot ride; holding them is not allowed.

Tip: On holidays, arrive at the dock before 9 AM to avoid crowds. Avoid the middle dock—huge crowds, over an hour queue.

3. Ten-Mile Gallery

Ten-Mile Gallery is a scenic area south of Yangshuo town, with rolling hills on both sides of the road, picturesque. The road is asphalt; you can explore by electric scooter, enjoying fresh air and scenery.

Rentals are available everywhere in Yangshuo town, return where you rented. Hotels also have a few. Renting for a full day costs about the same as half a day. Holiday price: 60-80 RMB. Rent in the morning; by afternoon, few bikes left, and batteries may not be fully charged. Make sure the vendor installs an umbrella—shade in sun, shelter in rain.

The route is easy: navigate to Ten-Mile Gallery, ride along Kangzhan Road. After the big archway, no private shops on either side. Road is mixed traffic with pedestrians; it's chaotic. Renting groups often ride side by side—watch your speed.

First attraction: Totem Ancient Path, showing the ruggedness of primitive tribes. We didn't go, no comment.

Second: Tianlai Butterfly Spring. The gate features a large butterfly. Inside: a karst cave, glass bridge, chain suspension bridge, and folk performances. We went; the hill is low, easy to climb, with beautiful summit views and paragliders soaring among the mountains. Descend on foot or via a slide (20 RMB per person). You sit on a marble slide with shorts and gloves, sliding down—fun but tough on shoes (sole braking).

Then Gongnong Bridge, offering views of Yulong River bamboo rafts—great photo spot, free.

Fourth: Big Banyan Tree, where many scenes from "Liu Sanjie" were filmed. We didn't go, no comment.

Further on: Moon Hill, at the end of Ten-Mile Gallery. A natural arch through the mountain, resembling a full moon from afar. Visible from the road, free.

We did the Yulong River rafting and Ten-Mile Gallery ride on separate days, but they can be combined in one day to save time.

4. Li River Raffing

Li River bamboo raft tour on the Xingping section is considered the essence of Guilin's scenery. Locals say, "Yangshuo's scenery surpasses Guilin, and the most beautiful part of Yangshuo is Xingping." Attractions include Nine Horse Hill, Yellow Cloth Reflection, Monks and Nuns Meeting, Chaoban Hill, and the 20 RMB bill background. Starting from West Street area, driving takes about an hour (excluding traffic).

We only did the Xingping-Nine Horse Hill section: boat there, sightseeing car back, 115 RMB per person. Research the route beforehand; I didn't know I could choose, and the queue was long, ticket seller gave brief answers. To avoid hassle, I bought tickets for the nearest dock—just wanted to see the 20 RMB background and experience the boat.

Each boat has four seats; empty seats are compensated at 25 RMB per seat to the boatman.

Li River rafting uses motorized boats, while Yulong River uses punting—one fast, one slow. Li River scenery is grand (high mountains, wide water); Yulong River is more delicate (clear water, green hills). Different styles; both recommended.

5. Xingping Ancient Town

Xingping Ancient Town sits on the Li River bank in northern Yangshuo, with over 1,700 years of history. You can get off the sightseeing car from Nine Horse Hill at Xingping. I wondered why many people walked back—turns out the car doesn't stop at the 20 RMB background platform. Xingping is similar to other ancient towns: full of souvenirs and drink shops. We strolled one small street and left.

Yangshuo is a beautiful place.

Due to time, we only visited a few classic spots. No trip is without regrets; looking forward to completing the rest next time.

There are many homestays under construction, nestled amid mountains and water, poetic and picturesque.

Here, you can enjoy peace and tranquility surrounded by landscapes, or feel the vibrant nightlife in the bustle.

Diverse Yangshuo, looking forward to seeing you again~

The end~~END~~Thank you~~

Travelogue Directory

1. Itinerary

2. Accommodation

3. Cuisine

4. Attractions

5. Closing Remarks