Yangshuo day tour: Yulong River cycling and Xianggong Mountain

Climb to karst views, ferry across to a historic village, then cycle the river valleys on your own pace.

A full-day guided tour of Yangshuo combines three distinct landscapes: a climb to Xianggong Mountain for views over the Li River's karst peaks, a ferry crossing to Xingping village (featured on China's 20 yuan note), and a cycling route along the Yulong River past rice paddies and water buffalo. An English-speaking local guide leads the route, handles transport between sites, and helps arrange lunch from local options in Xingping.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Yangshuo and countryside highlights

• Climb Xianggong Hill for views
• Take ferry across Li River
• Visit historic Xingping village
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Cycle through Yulong River countryside

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your Yangshuo hotel and starts at Xianggong Mountain, where a climb of more than a hundred steps takes 10–15 minutes. From the peak, the Li River bends through a landscape of karst hills that stretch to the horizon. The view is why tens of thousands of award-winning photographs have been taken here. On clear days, sea of clouds settle around the hills and rivers.

After descending, you take an 8-minute ferry across the Li River with local villagers to reach Xingping, a village over 1,000 years old with historic residences still standing. This is the location of the photograph on the back of China's 20 yuan banknote. Your guide will point you toward lunch options: local specialties like Beer Fish and Stuffed Guilin Snails, rice noodle stalls, or cafes scattered through the village. You choose what appeals and how long to stay.

The afternoon centers on the Yulong River, a quieter tributary of the Li, where you cycle on a flat path past rice paddies, water buffalo, and farmers at work. The fields shift color with the seasons. You can choose a regular bicycle or an e-bike for a more comfortable pace. Thick bamboo lines the riverbanks and banana trees stay green year-round. If you want to add a bamboo raft experience (40 minutes, RMB 200 per raft for up to two people), your guide can arrange it on site. The raft is poled by hand, not motorized. Your hotel return is included.

What’s included

• Admission to Xianggong Mountain.
• English-speaking local guide service.
• cycling fee along the Yulong River.
• ferry crossing the Li River.
• hotel pickup and return transport between all attractions.

Options for this experience

3 options

Driver-GuideGuide in English · 08:00 and 08:30Dependable driver-guide who speaks Chinese, offering trip help and basic communication with support from a translation app. Length: 8 hours. Flexible departure: we can collect you from your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo; simply give your hotel name when you book. Pickup is included.

Departing from Guilin with a tour guideGuide in English · 08:00Strongly recommended: a local guide brings useful background, cultural context, and a more personal experience throughout the tour. Length: 8 hours. Departure from Guilin: the Yangshuo and Li River Highlights Tour leaves from urban Guilin. Pickup is included.

Departing from Yangshuo with a tour guideGuide in English · 08:30Strongly recommended: a local guide brings useful background, cultural context, and a more personal experience throughout the tour. Length: 8 hours. Departure from Yangshuo: the Yangshuo and Li River Highlights Tour leaves from Yangshuo county. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

AgesAdult (4 to 75 years) · Child (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trippest Travel

Is this one for you?The 8-hour structure packs three separate landscapes into one day without rushing any of them. You climb to the views, spend time in the village at your own pace, and cycle the river valleys on a flat route that suits most fitness levels. Hotel pickup is included within Yangshuo's urban center, though hotels outside that area (like Banyan Tree Yangshuo and Alila Yangshuo) require a short taxi ride to the meeting point.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the climb like at Xianggong Mountain?

Xianggong Mountain involves more than a hundred steps that normally take 10–15 minutes to climb. The peak opens onto a panoramic view of the Li River bending through karst hills in every direction, and the path is manageable for most fitness levels with comfortable walking shoes.

Can I choose between a regular bike and an e-bike for the Yulong River cycling?

Yes. The cycling path along the Yulong River is flat and easy for most people on a regular bicycle, but if you prefer a more comfortable ride, you can choose an e-bike instead. Your guide can help you decide based on your preference.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but your guide will recommend and help you arrange options in Xingping village, from local restaurants serving specialties like Beer Fish and Stuffed Guilin Snails to rice noodle stalls and cafes. You have the freedom to choose what and where you eat.

What is Xingping village known for?

Xingping is a village over 1,000 years old with historic residences still standing. It's also the location of the photograph featured on the back of China's 20 yuan banknote, making it a notable landmark in the region.

Can I add a bamboo raft ride to the tour?

Yes, bamboo rafting on the Yulong River is optional and can be arranged on site through your guide. The raft is poled by hand by a traditional bamboo-raft operator and takes about 40 minutes. The cost is RMB 200 per raft for up to two people.