Yangshuo: Countryside cycling & Li River bamboo boat tour

Summary

Pedal quiet lanes, float past karst peaks, and taste Yangshuo life up close

You’ll cycle Yangshuo’s countryside lanes past rice fields and villages, share laughs with locals, stroll lively West Street for lunch, then drift quietly down the Li River by bamboo raft from Xingping to Nine Horses Hill—with your local guide handling all the details. It’s a day full of small surprises you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air in Yangshuo to smell so green — like wet leaves and something sweet I couldn’t place. Our guide, Chen, met us right at the hotel (I was still half-asleep) and somehow had us laughing before we’d even picked out bikes. The first few minutes were wobbly for me — I haven’t biked much since college — but soon we were gliding past rice paddies where old men in straw hats waved at us. One woman, knee-deep in mud, grinned as she shouted something to Chen about my “city legs.” Fair enough.

The countryside here feels endless. We passed through Yima Village and then Chaolong, where kids chased chickens across the road. At one point we stopped by the Yulong River just to watch the water move — it’s slow and glassy, reflecting those wild limestone peaks you see on postcards. Chen told us Jimmy Carter cycled this same route back in the ‘80s, which made me laugh; can’t imagine a former president getting his shoes this muddy. By the time we reached Moon Hill, my shirt was sticking to my back but I didn’t care. There was this moment when everything went quiet except for a distant rooster and the click of our bike wheels.

Lunch on West Street was loud and a little chaotic — bowls of noodles steaming up my glasses, people bargaining over fruit outside. I tried to order in Mandarin (Li laughed at my accent), but somehow we ended up with extra dumplings anyway. After that, a quick drive took us to Xingping Old Town. The streets there are narrow and worn smooth from years of footsteps; you can smell river water mixed with fried tofu from someone’s window.

The Li River bamboo boat ride is what everyone talks about, but honestly it surprised me how peaceful it felt out there. Just four of us on a raft with an old boatman who barely spoke but smiled every time we pointed at something new — Nine Horses Hill looked almost unreal in the mist. The wind picked up halfway through and I remember thinking I could stay floating there for hours. Back in Xingping, Chen handed us hot tea from a thermos he’d packed (he thinks of everything). That view from the river is still stuck in my head days later.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Yangshuo Countryside and River Cruise

• Cycle Yangshuo countryside and villages
• Visit West Street and have lunch
• Drive to and explore Xingping old town
• Bamboo raft cruise on Li River

Top questions

How long does the Yangshuo day tour last?

The tour lasts most of the day, including cycling, lunch on West Street, transfer to Xingping, and a one-hour Li River bamboo boat ride.

Is hotel pickup included for this Yangshuo countryside tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel or from Yangshuo Yulong park gate.

Can children join the Li River bamboo boat ride?

No, children under 7 years old or shorter than 1.2 meters cannot take this small boat ride.

What villages do you visit during the cycling part?

You’ll pass through villages like Yima, Chaolong, Jiuxian, Dashi, Moon Hill area, and Aishan during the bike ride.

Is lunch included on this private Yangshuo day trip?

Lunch is not specifically included but there is time set aside for lunch on West Street during the tour.

How many people fit on each Li River bamboo raft?

Each bamboo raft holds up to four people plus the boatman.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo (or at Yulong park gate), all bike rental fees for exploring local villages with your English-speaking guide by your side throughout—plus private car transfers between stops and plenty of time for lunch before your Li River bamboo raft cruise from Xingping to Nine Horses Hill and back again.