Between 08:00 AM and 18:00 PM daily, the Ten-Mile Gallery is placed under strict municipal traffic control. Private cars without local passes and unauthorized non-local tour coaches are prohibited from driving into the corridor.
If you arrive via self-drive or non-licensed rideshare, you will be stopped at the Fengming Tourist Parking Hub (凤鸣停车场) and forced onto ticketed shuttle buses. To truly enjoy this corridor with total freedom, rent an electric scooter (E-bike) or hire an authorized licensed local driver who possesses green-pass access!
1. What is the Ten-Mile Gallery?
Stretching roughly 5 kilometers (historically known as 10 Chinese li) south from Yangshuo town toward Gaotian, the Ten-Mile Gallery (十里画廊) is a picturesque river basin flanked on both sides by jagged karst spires, pomelo orchards, and water buffalo meadows.
The corridor is so dense with surreal geological formations that early painters described traveling through it as “unrolling a ten-mile scroll of traditional ink landscape.” Today, it represents Yangshuo’s premier outdoor playground for e-biking, mountain climbing, and pastoral photography.
2. Essential Route Logistics
| Metric | Field Verified Details | Traveler Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Type | Paved 2-lane road with dedicated bike lanes | Clear green cycling lane markings, smooth asphalt. |
| Total Distance | ~8 km (one way) from West Street to Moon Hill | Approx. 25–35 mins continuous riding without stops. |
| E-Bike Rental Cost | ¥30–¥60 RMB / day (~$4.50–$8.50 USD) | Negotiate full-day rate with charger; deposit usually ¥100–¥200 or passport scan. |
| Scenic Shuttle Bus | ¥20 RMB / day hop-on hop-off | Stops at major parks; useful for families with infants who cannot ride e-bikes. |
| Best Season | April–May (mirror water) & Sept–Nov (golden rice) | Summer afternoons require sun protection; evening breezes are sublime. |
3. The Xiaohongshu E-Bike Rental Playbook: 4 Traps to Avoid
Renting an electric moped is the quintessential Yangshuo experience, but local enforcement and rental shops require travelers to stay sharp:
⚡ Rule 1: Always Film a 360° Inspection Video
Before taking the handlebars, take out your phone and film a slow 30-second video showing:
- Pre-existing scratches, chipped plastic guards, and loose rearview mirrors.
- Brake pad responsiveness (squeeze both hand brakes to ensure immediate stopping).
- Battery indicator: Demand a battery with 100% (4 full bars). A battery with only 2 bars will stall on the return uphill stretch near Assembling Dragon Cave.
🪖 Rule 2: Helmet Compliance (Strictly Enforced)
Local Yangshuo traffic police station mobile checkpoints near the entrance of Ten-Mile Gallery. Wearing the supplied helmet strapped securely under your chin is mandatory. Fines of ¥20–¥50 RMB are issued on the spot to foreign and domestic tourists caught riding bareheaded.
🔒 Rule 3: Anti-Theft Wheel Clamps
When stopping to visit an attraction or cafe, always engage the rear-wheel lock and keep the key secured. Do not leave wallets, passports, or camera lenses inside the front open basket.
🚫 Rule 4: Skip Overpriced Roadside “Folk Culture” Parks
Several dated commercial parks along the main highway (such as fake tribal shows and imitation water caves) charge steep entry fees (¥80–¥120) with high-pressure sales pitches.
- What to skip: Commercial ethnic reproduction parks.
- What to enjoy instead: The authentic, free scenery! Veer off the main highway onto the riverside boardwalks and narrow village dirt lanes where local farmers tend duck ponds.
4. Key Highlights Along the Corridor
[West Street] ➔ 2.5 km ➔ [Fengming Hub] ➔ 2 km ➔ [Totem Trail (Pass)] ➔ 1.5 km ➔ [Gongnong Bridge ⭐]
│
[Yulong River Raft Drift]
│
[Moon Hill (End)] 🠔 2 km 🠔 [Assembling Dragon Cave] 🠔 1.5 km 🠔 [Big Banyan Tree] 🠔────┘1. Gongnong Bridge (工农桥): The Sunset Master Vantage
Where the Ten-Mile Gallery highway crosses over the serene Yulong River.
- The Scene: Scores of hand-punted bamboo rafts glide beneath the bridge arches while jagged peaks reflect in glassy water under vivid purple and crimson sunsets.
- Safety Note: Around 18:00–19:00, the bridge fills with tripods, cyclists, and pedestrians. Park your e-bike well off the road on the bridge shoulder and watch for passing shuttle buses.
2. Big Banyan Tree (大榕树景区)
- A colossal, 1,400-year-old banyan tree dating to the Sui Dynasty, spanning over 1,000 square meters of canopy.
- Admission: ¥18 RMB. Modest and shaded; pleasant 30-minute stroll for nature lovers.
3. Moon Hill & Licun Village (月亮山与历村)
The southern climax of the corridor. Stand across the highway at Licun Village to view the limestone arch, or climb the 800 stone steps for panoramic valley vistas.
5. The Pro Route: The Countryside River Loop
Instead of riding back along the noisy main highway, smart cyclists take the Yulong River Countryside Escape:
- Ride south along Ten-Mile Gallery to Moon Hill.
- Turn right into the village paths toward Licun Village and weave through the pomelo orchards.
- Follow the paved rural tracks running along the Yulong River dyke northward through Jima Village (骥马村).
- Emerge back into Yangshuo town via Chaoyang Wharf.
This loop replaces diesel fumes and tour shuttles with whispering bamboo groves, crystal-clear river shoals, and friendly rural hamlets.