Yangshuo Station (兴坪) → West Street & Xingping
When you walk out through the exit gate of Yangshuo High-Speed Station, follow the arrows right toward the Tourist Transport Service Center (客运服务中心). Do NOT negotiate with aggressive touts outside the barrier.
| Route Option | Cost | Duration & Frequency | Payment & Drop-off Reality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Recommended Direct Shuttle to Yangshuo West St |
¥20 | 40–50 mins Departs 15–20m after train arrival |
Buy at window with Cash or Alipay. Drops off at Fengming Tourist Center (1.5 km to West St; take ¥5 golf-cart or DiDi). |
| Xingping Ancient Town Bus | ¥5 | 10–12 mins Runs frequently till ~21:30 |
Drops at Xingping Bus Terminal. 5-min walk to 20-Yuan banknote viewing pier. Ideal if staying in Xingping. |
| Official Taxi / DiDi | ¥100–¥140 | 35–45 mins On-demand |
Use DiDi inside Alipay (fixed price). Touts will ask ¥180–200; refuse and use app or queue at taxi curb. |
Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) → Yangshuo & Guilin City
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is 85 km northwest of Yangshuo and 28 km west of Guilin downtown. You do not need to go into Guilin city first if your destination is Yangshuo.
Direct Airport Shuttle to Yangshuo
- Fare: ¥70 RMB / person
- Duration: ~90 minutes via express highway
- Frequency: Roughly every 1.5–2 hours (10:00 to 20:00)
- Counter: Exit Arrivals Hall → Airport Coach Ticket Counter
- Arrival: Yangshuo Bus Station (Kangzhan Road)
Airport Shuttle to Guilin Downtown
- Fare: ¥25 RMB / person
- Duration: 40 minutes
- Drop-off: Aviation Hotel (民航大厦, close to Guilin Railway Station)
- Private DiDi / Car: ¥80–110 to downtown; ¥220–280 to Yangshuo
Li River Cruise Piers & Hand-Luggage Forwarding
The 4-hour luxury cruise runs one-way from Guilin to Yangshuo. A major friction point for foreign travelers with bulky luggage: can you bring large bags on the boat?
Yes, luggage is permitted directly on board. Both 3-star (Mopanshan Pier) and 4-star (Zhujiang Pier) boats feature dedicated baggage storage areas on the lower deck at no extra cost.
Pier Logistics: Zhujiang and Mopanshan are 25 km south of downtown Guilin (35 mins by DiDi, ~¥60). Boats depart strictly between 08:45 and 09:30 AM. Arrive at least 30 minutes early for passport scanning.
Arrival Pier in Yangshuo: You disembark at Longtoushan Pier (龙头山码头). From the pier, electric shuttle carts (¥15) run through the riverside walkway to West Street, or you can walk 15 minutes.
Yulong River Bamboo Raft Pier Selection & 8:00 PM Quota Rule
Unlike motorized Li River boats, Yulong River rafts are hand-poled 2-passenger bamboo rafts that glide silently through weir drops. Tickets sell out within minutes during peak season.
| Pier Route | Price / Raft | Experience & Weirs | How to Return |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shuiedi → Gongnong Bridge (水厄底 → 工农桥) |
¥200 / raft (2 persons max) |
The sweet-spot route. 45–50 mins, 4 exhilarating weir water drops. Great karst views. | Gongnong Bridge has return sightseeing golf-carts, or rent a shared bike right outside. |
|
Jinlong Bridge → Jiuxian (金龙桥 → 旧县) |
¥320 / raft (2 persons max) |
Upper river classic. 90 mins, 9 weir drops, passes under ancient Yulong Stone Bridge. | Rent a scooter/bike at Jiuxian, or hire a local transport back to your hotel. |
Guilin & Yangshuo → Longji Rice Terraces (龙脊梯田)
The Longji Terraces in Longsheng are 80 km northwest of Guilin and 140 km from Yangshuo. Do not take multi-stop local rural buses unless on an extreme shoestring budget; direct tourism coaches save 2.5 hours.
From Guilin Station (Railway South)
- Direct Express Bus: Departs from outside Guilin Railway Station parking square
- Cost: ¥50 RMB / person one-way
- Times: 08:30, 09:30, 13:00, 15:00
- Destination: Dazhai (Jinkeng) parking lot (cable car base)
- Luggage: Stowed underneath in luggage hold
From Yangshuo Town Direct
- Direct Tourism Shuttle: Departs from Yangshuo Bus Station or Fengming Center
- Cost: ¥90 RMB / person
- Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours
- Departure: Usually 08:30 AM daily (ask your guesthouse front desk to reserve seats 24h prior)
Xianggong Mountain (相公山) Sunrise Transport
Xianggong Mountain offers the world-famous panorama of the Li River horseshoe bend. Because sunrise takes place between 05:45 and 06:30 AM depending on season, public transit is non-existent.
Option 1: Shared Sunrise Van from West Street (¥100–120/pax round-trip)
Nearly every boutique hotel and hostel organizes a shared minivan leaving West Street around 04:00–04:30 AM. Includes two-way transit and ticket entrance coordination. You return to Yangshuo around 08:30 AM in time for breakfast.
Option 2: Private Taxi / DiDi (¥260–300 round-trip with waiting time)
Negotiate a fixed price the afternoon before with a verified DiDi driver or front desk. Driver waits 1.5 hours at the mountain base while you climb the 15-minute stone staircase to the observation decks.
Scenic Entry Ticket: ¥60 RMB / person (bookable at the ticket counter upon arrival, passport required).