Peak Views, Peak Chaos: My Honest Yangshuo Adventure

Safe to say, Yangshuo and I had a complicated relationship. I went on a short 4 day trip hoping for my main character ‘finding herself’ moment that was lost in the gorgeous green fields and mountain views. But reality had other plans: bumper-to-bumper scooter traffic, endless crowds, noise and the sun? Oh, just casually trying to roast people alive at a scorching 36°C every day.

To be fair, this has to be my fault. I decided to stay at a hotel near the busy tourist route…at the popular 10 mile gallery…next to the area that loves everything sky related (Wow Steph, great job 😭).Hot air balloons, paragliding, helicopters and a random Zeppelin that would zoom past my hotel every day, like a morning alarm clock you can’t turn off. To top it off I was doing a solo trip during China’s summer vacation season. Rookie mistake. Families, couples, screaming kids galore, it was like everyone had the same idea at the exact same time. If you’re looking for peace, go literally any other time of year...and maybe choose a different spot.

Also read the mountain-hiking signs, trust the mountain-hiking signs. Or you may just slip and land squarely on your pride a couple of times (like seriously, OUCH) 😂

That said, Yangshuo is stunning. Once I finally escaped the tourist-saturated areas and found the courage to outrun the e-bike stampede, I did stumble upon quieter, postcard-perfect areas that made me go “Ahhh, there it is.” The evenings are generally quieter in the mountains and there were some nice moments that allowed me to enjoy my own company in the nature. The locals I met around the fields were so friendly.

Would I go back? Yes! But in winter seasons and perhaps not in the centre of everything going on all at once. Has anyone else experienced Yangshuo and loved it? What were some things you did differently for a more peaceful trip?

#yangshuo #阳朔 #chinatravel #china

Post by 大 Big Steph | Sep 1, 2025