travel · 21 April 2026
Yangshuo by bicycle
The cycling routes through karst country around Yangshuo — Yulong River, Moon Hill, the back roads.
Yangshuo is the small town at the downstream end of the Li River cruise from Guilin. The town is best known as a backpacker base, but the karst landscape around it is best seen by bicycle.
Where to rent
West Street has 20+ bike rental shops. ¥30–¥80 per day for a basic mountain bike, ¥100–¥150 for an e-bike. Most rentals require ¥200 deposit and a passport copy.
Recommended bike type: - For flat valley routes (Yulong River, the eastern paddies): regular bike or e-bike. - For Moon Hill and ridge routes: e-bike or mountain bike.
The Yulong River loop (4–5 hours)
The classic ride. Head out of West Street west on the Yulong Road; cross the Yulong River at Jinlong Bridge; continue along the south bank through paddies and bamboo groves; cross back at Yueliang Wan; return via the north bank.
What you'll pass: - **Yueliang Wan** (Moon Cave) bridge. - **Dragon Bridge** (Long Tou Ji) — old stone bridge. - **Bamboo rafts** drifting past on the Yulong. - **Water buffalo** in the rice paddies. - **Old farming villages** with mud-brick houses.
Stop at any village for a noodle lunch (¥15–¥25). The path is mostly flat and well-maintained.
Moon Hill route (6 hours, more demanding)
South from Yangshuo to Moon Hill, the karst pinnacle with a moon-shaped natural arch through the top. Climb the 800-step path to the arch (1 hour up, 30 min down).
Beyond Moon Hill, continue south into the karst back country — fewer tour groups, more authentic farm villages, the limestone pinnacles increasingly dramatic.
Eastern paddies (3 hours)
East from Yangshuo, the road follows the Li River into rice-and-pomelo country. Less famous than the Yulong River route; correspondingly quieter. Pomelo (Yangshuo's signature fruit) season is October-November when the orchards are heavy with fruit.
Practical
- Helmet: not provided by most rentals. Bring or buy.
- Map: most rentals give a paper map; combine with Maps.me offline.
- Water: 1L+ per person in summer; villages have small shops.
- Sun protection: full-arm coverage and a hat. The karst-country sun is fierce.
- Phone: keep charged for navigation; signal is patchy in the deeper backroads.
When to go
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) are best — comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, lower-water Yulong (visible river-bed pebbles). Summer (June-August) is hot, humid, and the Yulong runs higher; some routes flood briefly after heavy rain. Winter (December-February) is crisp and cool but the colour is muted.
Avoid public holidays — particularly Golden Week (October 1-7) when the area is overrun.
Combining with rafting
Many travellers combine bike + bamboo raft. Cycle out, raft a section back (the bike rental shop will collect the bike from a designated drop point if you arrange in advance for ¥50–¥100 transport fee). The Jinlong Bridge to Chaolong section is the classic combined route — 1.5 hours of rafting plus 2-hour cycle each way.
Cost
- Bike: ¥30–¥80/day.
- Lunch in a village: ¥30–¥50.
- Yulong rafting: ¥220 per raft (2 people).
- Moon Hill entry: ¥15.
Total day: ¥80–¥200 per person for a combined cycle-and-raft.
Where to stay
Yangshuo town for the bar street and easy logistics. Surrounding villages (Aishanmen, Jinbao, Yangmei) for genuine countryside stays — substantial mid-range guesthouses have appeared in the last decade.
The karst landscape is the reason most travellers go to Yangshuo. Cycling lets you see it at the right speed.
Tags
yangshuo, guilin, cycling
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