Back from Yangshuo! Helping anyone I can! (Never deleting this)

Just returned from Yangshuo and summarized this guide from personal experience to help you avoid pitfalls! If you plan to go to Yangshuo this year, just copy this! It really saves time, avoids traps, and gives peace of mind! No one should waste their vacation because they didn’t prepare well; many problems can actually be avoided in advance! Yangshuo’s 10 Golden Rules to Avoid Pitfalls❗️❗️❗️ Avoid Pitfall 1: 🚗 Choosing the right transport hub is crucial! Guilin Liangjiang Airport is the main gateway. After landing, you can take the airport shuttle bus directly to Yangshuo (about 1.5 hours), or take a taxi to Guilin Station and transfer to the high-speed train (Guilin to Yangshuo Station takes 20 minutes, then transfer to a minibus to the county). Avoid taking unlicensed taxis as prices are inflated. Avoid Pitfall 2: 🤫 Don’t just squeeze into the main street of West Street! The main street is heavily commercialized and crowded. Turn into the side alleys to find local favorite snack shops and unique handmade stores. It’s even more atmospheric in the evening. Avoid Pitfall 3: 🌻 Don’t be greedy for cheap full-route rafting on Yulong River! The full route (Jinlong Bridge to Old County) is long, but the best section is from Jinlong Bridge to Gongnong Bridge, which takes about 2.5 hours and offers better value; don’t trust roadside “private boats” as they are unsafe. Avoid Pitfall 4: 🌱 For Li River bamboo rafting, choose official docks! The scenic section (Yangdi - Nine Horses Fresco Hill - Xingping) must be booked from Yangdi or Xingping docks through official channels in advance to avoid buying “wild rafts” and missing the famous 20 RMB scenic spot. Avoid Pitfall 5: 🛵 Don’t take “black-market electric carts” in the Ten-Mile Gallery! Official electric carts have fixed stations and prices (about 50 RMB/person for a full day). Black-market carts overcharge and may take you to shopping stops. Renting an electric scooter (30-50 RMB/day) for self-driving is more flexible. Avoid Pitfall 6: 💕 Choose only 1-2 caves to visit! Yangshuo has many caves; Yinzi Cave is the most developed (the saying “visit Yinzi Cave and you’ll never lack money” is popular). No need to visit other small caves as the scenery is repetitive and less cost-effective. Avoid Pitfall 7: 🐟 Don’t randomly pick a beer fish restaurant! Many popular spots at West Street entrance charge “tourist prices.” It’s better to find old local favorites (like Xie Dajie, Master Chef), ask prices in advance, and choose swordfish or mao bone fish for more tender meat. Avoid Pitfall 8: ❗️ Don’t buy “low-price one-day tours”! These seemingly cheap tours often take you to multiple shopping stops (jade shops, latex stores), wasting time and risking scams. Choose pure-play tours from platforms that allow contract signing. Avoid Pitfall 9: ☀️ Check the weather in advance for sunrise at Xianggong Mountain! Xianggong Mountain is a great spot to watch the Li River sunrise, but on cloudy or foggy days, you won’t see anything. It’s recommended to ask the homestay host the day before to confirm the weather before deciding to get up early. Avoid Pitfall 10: 🏠 Don’t book accommodation last minute during peak season! April-May and September-October are peak seasons in Yangshuo, especially during holidays. Hotel and homestay prices can rise 3-5 times. Book 1-2 months in advance for better value and room choices. ❗️❗️3 Days 2 Nights Essential Itinerary Sharing😍😍😍 Day 1: Arrive in Yangshuo - Check into homestay - Stroll West Street ☁️ After arriving in Guilin, take a bus or high-speed train to Yangshuo and check into Yangshuo Xiaxiang Yishanjing Homestay. The host will contact you in advance, pick you up in Yangshuo town, and welcome you with handmade osmanthus jelly. After a short rest, the host will take you to West Street (10 minutes away) in the evening to explore alleys and try snacks (recommended: mugwort rice cakes, oil tea, stuffed snails). Enjoy the lively night scene of West Street. Day 2: Yulong River rafting - Ten-Mile Gallery - Relax at homestay 🌸 In the morning, head to Jinlong Bridge dock for Yulong River bamboo rafting (best section), enjoying the karst peak scenery on both sides. Have farmhouse lunch near the rafting endpoint. In the afternoon, rent an electric scooter to tour the Ten-Mile Gallery, visiting Moon Hill, Big Banyan Tree, Butterfly Spring, and other spots. Return to the homestay in the evening where the chef cooks delicious meals! After dinner, you can drink tea and read in the courtyard, or follow the host to the back mountain to watch the sunset. At night, enjoy an open-air movie in the courtyard with a special homestay cocktail. Day 3: Xianggong Mountain sunrise - Li River scenic cruise - Return trip 🌈 Get up early to watch the sunrise at the Thousand-Mile Landscape Painting viewpoint. The host will inform you of the sunrise time the day before (the homestay is very close to the viewpoint with convenient transport). After sunrise, return to the homestay for breakfast. In the morning, go to Xingping dock for a boat tour of the Li River’s scenic section, visiting the 20 RMB scenic spot and Nine Horses Fresco Hill. Have lunch in Xingping Ancient Town and end the trip in the afternoon. ❗️❗️Accommodation Recommendation｜📍Yangshuo Xiaxiang Yishanjing Homestay The biggest surprise of this trip was this homestay! It’s renovated from a 150+ year-old traditional house of the northern Guangxi Zhuge descendants, preserving mud walls and wooden structures. The courtyard’s old stone paths, ancient wood, and greenery are poetic, blending historical charm with modern comfort. 🌲 Convenient Location: Located in 📍Dongtao Village, 6-8 minutes by car from the town center. It’s very convenient to visit West Street, Yulong River, Xianggong Mountain, and other attractions. The homestay has free parking, a blessing for self-driving travelers. 😊 Comfortable Rooms: Few rooms but each unique. I stayed in a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window room where you can lie in bed and see the karst peaks. The bathroom is separate wet and dry, equipped with a Japanese imported toilet, a large bathtub, and high-end bedding, very comfortable. ✨ Thoughtful Service: The butler service is excellent! Morning reminders for sunrise, evening sunset tours, goodnight milk delivery, and laundry service for dirty clothes—more attentive than a five-star hotel. 🥹 Delicious Food: The homestay restaurant serves authentic Guilin cuisine. Beer fish and braised duck are made to order with local organic vegetables. There’s also great afternoon tea and coffee, so you don’t have to go out to eat well. 🫧 ❗️❗️Key Points｜Group Tours & Travel Tips Choose local pure-play tours in Yangshuo first to avoid resold spots from other places, and sign formal travel contracts (electronic contracts are acceptable). Confirm the travel agency has a business license and operating permit. Ask in advance if deposits are refundable if plans change to protect your rights. Make payments through official company accounts; do not transfer money privately to individuals to avoid scams. 💡💡 Yangshuo has many mountain and water roads; pay attention to safety during activities. Wear life jackets for rafting and obey traffic rules when driving. ✌✌