Biking Along the Li River and on the Beautiful Land around Yangshuo and Guilin

Riding distance: about 20 kilometers, there are highway country trails.

Route highlights: Yangshuo’s mountain scenery, rural landscapes, and water buffalo.

Physical requirements: Very casual, suitable for general physical travelers.  

Ride about 20 minutes from Yangshuo toward Lipu to reach Gongnong Bridge. Enjoy views of the limestone formation known as Camel Crossing the River and the meeting of the Yulong and Jinbao rivers. Continue past the Big Banyan Tree toward Moon Hill, then follow the moon-viewing road to Moon Village. Stop for a meal at a local farmhouse with views of the natural arch.

After lunch, retrace the route to the highway, then follow the country road past Busan Temple and cross a stone bridge to Yancun. Continue to Tianjiahe for views of the river and nearby farmland. Pause to enjoy the afternoon light before passing Dwarf Hill and cycling the final 5 kilometers back to Yangshuo.

Riding distance: The distance is nearly 20 kilometers.

Features of the route: It surrounds the big banyan tree scenic area.

Physical requirements: very casual, suitable for general physical strength.  

Turn right at Gongnong Bridge and continue approximately 500 meters to a small riverside hotel converted from a former pumping station. Bamboo rafts line the Yulong River, and paths lead into the surrounding fields. The riverside terrace is a pleasant place to enjoy tea and the view.

Follow the riverside path through bamboo groves toward Yangshuo Resort, about 1 kilometer away. Continue along the Yulong River for another kilometer to Tongmenyan, a rock-climbing area with a natural cave at the foot of the hill. Turn left onto the mountain path and travel about 500 meters to Fenglou Village, behind Moon Hill, before returning to Yangshuo by road.

Riding distance: 60 km one way, it takes two days to complete.

Route highlights: Scenic countryside and quieter routes around Xingping. The Xingping–Putao section includes difficult terrain.

Fitness requirements: This demanding route is best suited to experienced off-road cyclists.

Leave Yangshuo in the morning and follow Guanlian Road for about 10 minutes to Yangshuo Bridge. Enjoy views of the town, Bilian Peak, and Shutong Mountain. Continue through the tunnel toward Fuli, where you can explore riverside streets and visit workshops making traditional painted fans.

Turn left from the ancient town to the road to Xingping. Go ahead for 20 minutes to see Donglang Mountain, and to the right is the scenery of China.Go forward through Gufengting and Xishan. About 3 hours you can go to Xingping Ancient Town and visit Xingping Old Street. Have lunch near the pier.

Climb the hill near Xingping’s pier for views of the river and surrounding peaks. The walk to the top takes about 30 minutes and offers a rewarding vantage point for sunrise. Chaobanshanfang, about 500 meters beyond Xingping Bridge, is another scenic stop.

Riding distance: The total length is nearly 30 kilometers.

Route highlights: Mountain and river scenery, rural landscapes, historic villages, and old bridges.

Fitness requirements: Some sections are challenging and require good stamina and cycling experience.

Follow the Yulong River upstream. Some paths are narrow, so you may need to dismount and push your bicycle. The ride takes approximately five to six hours. Continue to Yulong Bridge, then return to Yangshuo by road via Baisha. A bamboo-raft journey back toward Gongnong Bridge is another option.

Day 1: Cycle south through Qixia Road to the crossroad and go straight to the right, choose to visit the ancient rock crossing banyan, Julongtan, Kistler Palace, Moon Mountain, and other attractions, and enjoy the tremendous Gaotian scenery along the way. You can stop at the roadside farmhouse for a meal, and have a full meal of authentic farmhouse. After dinner, stroll down West Street and have a cup of strong coffee at the roadside bar. Don't have an exotic charm. Live in Yangshuo  

Day 2: There are multiple routes to choose from after breakfast:  

A: Rural scenery  

Ride a bicycle through the country road to the big banyan tree, eat a farm meal, and then transfer to Yinziyan (16 kilometers from Yangshuo County), return to climb Moon Mountain, and ride back to Yangshuo.

Drive past Luoma, Fenglou Village, Panzhuang, admire the idyllic scenery of the Yulong Riverside, then tour the big banyan tree, the Moon Mountain, and ride back to Yangshuo.

Tour the quiet and beautiful Yulong River by bike, cross the Old County (Guguiyi County), Xiangui Bridge, reach the Yulong Bridge, Baisha, and ride back to Yangshuo.

Ride from Yangshuo to Baisha, visit Yulong Bridge, Yulong River, and return to Yangshuo.

B: Visit the ancient adventure tour

Ride to Grape, watch Guanyin Rock, then transfer to Yangmeiling, explore ancient stone city, eat farm food, and ride back to Yangshuo.

Ride a bike to the Moon Mountain, swim in the natural water and rock, and then ride the ancient village of Langzi, back to Yangshuo.  

After watching sunrise in Xingping, travel to the ferry and cross to Dahebei Village. Ride along the village path for about 20 minutes to Luoshi Rock, then cross Dazhou Ridge. Push your bicycle up the roughly 1-kilometer stone path dating from the Qing dynasty to Huangnitian. Continue along the rising dirt road, riding where the terrain allows, to Dalingtou. Nearby Hebao Mountain offers broad views of the surrounding landscape.

From Dalingtou Village, follow undulating mountain roads to the ancient Stone City, allowing about two hours. Continue toward Putao, about 7 kilometers away, with roughly an hour of riding. Enjoy views of open fields in spring and golden rice fields in fall.

When you get to the grapes, you can go to the Keguiyang Highway, and you can return to Yangshuo along the highway passing Xanaduyuan, Wulidian, and Baisha.