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The first time I went to Guilin was in the fall of 2017. I led a "4+2" cycling group to see the ginkgo trees.
Upon arrival, two local tour guides took us to a dark alley with twists and turns, no street lights, and a light rain. They said we had to try the most authentic food here, which I remember was called oil tea.
Books say that authentic and delicious food is usually hidden in alleys, and this time I really found it. The store is unassuming, but the seats are always packed.
After eating, we walked a short distance to the Li River. The Li River on a rainy night was dotted with lights and poetic mist.
We also climbed the Xiaoyao Tower, strolled along Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street, and bought some osmanthus cake. Then we went to the Sun and Moon Pagodas, which were incredibly beautiful at night. We also saw the nighttime cruise ships sailing along the "Two Rivers and Four Lakes." As we walked and chatted along the lakeside, I suddenly felt that Guilin was truly remarkable.
Tips:
4+2 Cycling: This cycling experience program was developed by the China-TravelNote domestic cycling team. The "4" represents a four-wheeled bicycle, and the "2" represents a two-wheeled bicycle.
[Cycling Sections]: Cycling is only arranged on sections with good scenery, safety and good experience.
[Riding Difficulty]: No basic riding experience required, suitable for the general public. There is a support vehicle, so you can get on the vehicle at any time when you don’t want to ride anymore.
【Slogan】: Ride for five minutes and take photos for half an hour.
When you come to Yangshuo, Guilin, how can you miss the opportunity to cruise on the Li River on a bamboo raft and enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river?
However, a friend of mine said, "Guilin's bamboo rafting is a complete bummer. I'll never go there again. There are too many people, it's not fun, the experience is terrible, and you can't see the scenery in the photos at all!"
I said, "That's because you haven't found the best places and the most essential sections." So I started explaining to my friend, "Guilin's bamboo rafts operate on the Li River and the Yulong River, and they operate on different sections of the water. There are multi-person diesel-powered rafts, two-person hand-made rafts, some that circle around a single body of water, some that simply go downstream without turning back, some that solicit tourists near traditional scenic spots, and some that avoid the crowds on less popular and essential sections."
Ticket price: 88 yuan
Mileage: about 10km
Time: about 50 minutes
This section of the Lingchuan Greenway, located on the west bank of the Li River, is a perfect place for cycling. The Ginkgo Cycling Group took this route, completely devoid of tourists. The ride ended at the Biyan Pavilion and we boarded the bamboo rafts. The rafts here are four-person, very quiet, and the scenery is stunning as we drifted down the river.
The reason for recommending this place is that it perfectly connects to the "Li River Cycling" route: the end of the Greenway, "Biyan Pavilion", is the starting point of the bamboo rafting. There are very few tourists here, and it is quiet and peaceful, which allows you to better enjoy the scenery of the Li River. The end point of the bamboo rafting is the entrance to a scenic spot called "Guanyan". If you don't have time, I don't recommend it.
Ticket price: 150 yuan
Mileage: about 5km
Time: about 50 minutes
The Yulong River can be said to be the most wonderful place in Yangshuo. It is here that the saying "Yangshuo's landscape is the best in Guilin" comes from.
In addition to the clear water and beautiful scenery of the Yulong River, another activity you can experience is bamboo rafting. The rafting here is different from that of the Li River, as it uses a two-person artificial bamboo raft.
The most fun part is the bamboo raft crossing the dam. It's called a dam, but it's actually a path for people to walk on, or a "slope," and the bamboo raft can just fit through the specific gap. The boatman is very skilled, and as for what it feels like, you can experience it yourself. In short, it's very interesting.
Be careful not to fall into the water when crossing this "bump" in the Yulong River.
The picture below explains the secret of how the bamboo raft can pass through easily. I want to say: the people of Yangshuo are really smart.
Ticket price: 95 yuan
Mileage: about 10km
Time: about 50 minutes
"Yangdi" can be regarded as an early birthplace of outdoor activities in China. In the 1980s, some foreigners, carrying large backpacks, hiked and camped along the Li River in the Yangdi and Xingping areas.
The "Nine Horses Painting Mountain" is one of the famous landscapes of the Li River. The stone walls are as sharp as a knife and from a distance it looks like a huge portrait of nine horses, hence the name Nine Horses Painting Mountain.
Tips:
[Explanation]: The starting point of this bamboo raft, "Yangdi", is on the west bank of the Li River, while the terminal is on the "east bank" of the Li River. After getting off the bamboo raft, you can take a shuttle bus to "Xingping".
[Complaint]: If a motor vehicle wants to go to Xingping to pick someone up, it has to take a long detour.
Ticket price: 60 yuan
The mountains and rivers are interdependent, and Xianggong Mountain is recommended to be visited.
If riding a bamboo raft is like entering the water, then climbing Xianggong Mountain is like getting a bird's-eye view, overlooking the magnificent First Bend of the Li River from above. As long as you climb to a high point, you will generally see a good view.
As mentioned above, the destination of the "Yangdi-Nine Horses Painting Mountain" bamboo rafting trip is on the "east bank" of the Li River. This is actually where you can disembark from the raft and take a ferry to Lengshui Village on the west bank of the Li River. Not far away is the Xianggong Mountain Scenic Area. This is another reason to recommend Xianggong Mountain; it can be perfectly combined with a bamboo rafting trip.
I wish you can see the most beautiful Li River on Xianggong Mountain.
As mentioned earlier, riding a bicycle allows you to see different scenery in different seasons:
The rapeseed fields in spring, the lotus ponds in summer, and the golden rice fields in autumn are all excellent small and beautiful cycling destinations in China!
To be honest, the essence of Yangshuo is to see the different scenery of Yulong River in different seasons, and the best way to see it is by bicycle. Because the core area of Yulong River is inaccessible to motor vehicles, you can only ride slowly and leisurely, stopping to take photos.
I wish you good weather in Yulong River.
Guilin's tourism industry is already well-established: numerous scenic spots, hawking and selling a wide range of goods... The recently completed Lingchuan Greenway is a cycling route that follows the Li River's "eyelashes." Cycling along the Li River's banks, you can stop at any time to experience the cobblestone shore up close.
The starting point of this cycling section is not far from the city of Guilin. It passes through the "Dayu Ancient Town", through bamboo forests, villages, fields, railway tracks, stations, lighthouses, ancient trees, water birds, mudflats, wild flowers, and fishermen, and rides along the bank of the Li River.
Yangshuo, Guilin, is a place that everyone must visit once. No matter what season it is, you will have a good experience. There are also many attractions such as: Longji Rice Terraces, Silver Rock, Haiyang Township Ginkgo, Guilin CityWalk, helicopter body projects, Yangshuo rock climbing, etc. that are worth exploring.
I wish you can eat authentic Guilin rice noodles in Guilin.
