Yangshuo Countryside: Yulong River, Xingping and Karst
Raft the Yulong River between karst peaks, see the Li River at Xingping, and spend the evening on West Street. Routes, prices and booking.
Photo: LUIZ ANCIÃES / Pexels
Contents
Yangshuo's countryside is where the limestone peaks stand closest around you. On the Yulong River you drift past them on a bamboo raft, at Xingping the Li River bends beneath the hills at an old ferry landing, and after dark West Street fills with people. Pick one or two of the three for a day. The peaks belong to the region UNESCO lists as South China Karst, whose Guilin Karst component in Guangxi contains fenglin (tower) and fengcong (cone) formations.[1]
Choose a Yulong River raft route
The Yulong is the quiet one: green water, bamboo along the banks, and peaks that open one after another like a scroll. It is the classic Yangshuo experience, with more than ten piers and several routes. Rafts seat two or three people, and the operator charges per raft.[2] Prices below are the operator's listed prices:[3]
- Xinglong pier: a 2.86 km round trip with three weirs each way, 6 km from Yangshuo town. A two-person raft costs 180 yuan, a three-person raft 270 yuan.[3]
- Yulong Bridge pier: a 2.14 km round trip beside the 600-year-old Ming-dynasty Yulong Bridge, 180 yuan per raft.[3]
- Jinlong Bridge pier: a one-way 6.18 km drift over nine weirs, past Lovers Hill and Strawberry Hill, ending at Jiuxian pier. It costs 320 yuan per raft.[3]
- Fuli Bridge pier: a round trip from the upper river, 12 km from town. It costs 70 yuan per person (three people minimum, four maximum) or 200 yuan for a two-person raft.[3]
Book ahead on public holidays. The iYou Yangshuo platform, launched in July 2024, shows remaining tickets and lets you reserve a raft online, so you can lock in a popular three-person raft the evening before.[4] During the 2026 National Day holiday, 38 public-sector car parks in Yangshuo opened free to visitors with more than 2,700 spaces.[2] Prices and routes change, so check the pier's current listing.
Things to Do
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Plan Xingping and an evening in town separately
Xingping is a separate trip. The old town is a stop on the scenic drive through the karst peaks, with a historic ferry landing on the Li River where visitors stand to match the view printed on the 20 yuan banknote.[2] A Yulong raft ticket does not cover it.
West Street is Yangshuo's evening. The crowds arrive after dark, and the local cooking leans sour and spicy. Try an osmanthus drink with dinner, then find a bar.[2]
For broader trip planning, continue with our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: South China Karst. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [2] China Tourism News (China Tourism Daily): Yueyou Yangshuo: warm service for visitors. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [3] Yangshuo Yulong River Scenic Area Tourism Development Co.: Yulong River scenic area: pier and route pages. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [4] Xinhua News, report credited to Yangshuo County Publicity Department: Yangshuo Yulong River scenic-area service center and iYou Yangshuo platform launch. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the Yulong River for a bamboo raft ride between the peaks, with piers and routes of different lengths. Choose Xingping for the Li River at the old ferry landing and a look at the view on the 20 yuan banknote. They are separate trips, and you can do both in two days.
The operator charges per raft. At Xinglong pier a two-person raft costs 180 yuan and a three-person raft 270 yuan. The Yulong Bridge pier costs 180 yuan per raft, and the longer Jinlong Bridge route costs 320 yuan per raft. Prices and routes can change.
Yes. The iYou Yangshuo platform, launched in July 2024, shows remaining tickets and lets you reserve online. One family booked a three-person raft the evening before their trip during the October 2026 holiday.
Yes. You can drive the scenic route to Xingping for the Li River and the old ferry landing, or spend the evening on West Street for local food and bars.
No. Xingping sits on the Li River and is a separate stop on the scenic drive, while the Yulong River has its own piers and raft routes.
The South China Karst World Heritage property spans several provinces. Its Guilin Karst component in Guangxi contains tower and cone karst formations, the kind of peaks you see around Yangshuo.
