Yangshuo Scenic Spots

West Street (Xi Jie)

    West Street is situated in Yangshuo, the most beautiful town along the Li River. Built in 590 during the Sui Dynasty with the Li River passing by on the east, the street, which has experienced much wind and rain, is still well preserved, revealing the resplendence of past days.
    Since being opened up to the outside in 1978, West Street has received countless foreigners from all over the world and it was reputed as "Earth Village in China". Today, the 2000-m-long street is filled with stores, bars, cafes and hotels. Nearly all the inhabitants, old and young, in the street can speak simple English and the street is regarded as the largest foreign language corner in China.
    Offering not only elegant scenery, but also superior dining and Chinese and western snacks, Xijie, has become a good place for those who have been wandering around China for a while to have a break from oily stir-fried vegetables and grab a cup of coffee.
    Started in 1991, Minnie Mao's is one of the oldest cafes in town. Popular with the local people, Minnie's cafe, with its hospitality and first-class food, has made it well known far and near. Unique for its Minnie soup, Minnie tea, and sweet and sour chicken, the place is often packed. If you are in Yangshuo, you should not miss this excellent food.
     Lisa's cafe is also popular. Opposite Lisa's cafe is Mei You Cafe, which promises that "meiyou bad service, meiyou warm beer". Just as it promises, the service here is good and the beer here is really cold.
    Located on a small side street, Susanna's, which is said to be the first western restaurant in town, also stops many people's steps.
   Other popular places, such as Green Lotus, Paris Cafe and MC Blues Bar, which are on the corner of West Street and the main road, are welcomed too. With outdoor seating, they are good places to sit and watch the world go by. MC Blues also provides visitors with more than 150 tapes, and the visitors can freely choose what they like to hear.
     On Line Cafe, which only offers some drink, is the best in town. In manager Billy's own words: "No good no pay!" Its service also includes type, send, copy, print, scan, IDD calls and cheap fax! Besides, your computer problems can be solved here.

Tall Banyan

    Tall Banyan, located 7.5km south of Yangshuo, is one of the main scenic attractions of Yangshuo county. It is said that the banyan was planted in the Jin Dynasty and is now famous for its age and towering beauty.
     The banyan tree is now 17 meters high, 7.1 meters around the trunk, and covers an area of 1000 square meters. When we look closely we see that it has beautifully twisted roots and gnarled branches, hoary with primitive simplicity. Its crown is round with an exuberant growth of branches and leaves. There is a huge branch stretching out straight beginning at 1 meter above the ground. Enduring wind and rain for thousands of years, it is surprising that this branch has not been harmed. The Tall Banyan is on the west bank of the Jinbao River. There is an ancient ferry crossing under the tree, called "Rongyin Gudu". Across the river, there are rocks of varying sizes, fascinating mountains and wonderful caves, setting each other off and forming a pleasing contrast. Surrounded by fascinating peaks, green bamboo, footpaths crisscrossing fabric-like between the fields, along with the local conditions and customs of a mountain village in the South all becomes a virtual paradise.
     True, the reason why the old Banyan is well known is that the view nearby is beautiful. But there is one more important reason. It is in this place that part of the movie Liusanjie is filmed. The shot in which Sister Liu threw a ball made of rolled colored silk to Brother Aniu as a sign of love is taken here. That's why lovers and tourists, filled with admiration, will take pictures of each other in front of this old tree

Moon hill

    The highway from Guilin turns southward at Yangshuo and after a couple of kilometers crosses the Jingbao River. South of this river and just to the west of the highway is a limestone pinnacle with a moon-shaped hole penetrating the hill. Hence the name Moon Hill. With an elevation of 380 meters, the hill is 230 meters in relative height and 410 meters in length.
     Over 800 marble stairs leading to the cave were completed in 1981, giving convenience to those who want to get a close view of the cave. The cave is about 50 meters in height and width, shaped like a semicircular archway. On a sunny day, blue sky and white clouds can be seen through the cave and on cloudy and rainy days; the "moon" is deep in mist. Viewed from different places, the moon takes on different shapes, sometimes full moon, sometimes half-moon and sometimes crescent, forming a marvelous spectacle in Yangshuo. A series of caves have been opened up not far from Moon Hill: the Black Buddha Cave, New Water Caves and Dragon Cave. If you head out to Moon Hill, you will undoubtedly be intercepted and invited to visit these other caves. The caves and famous spots, as well as the people's villages will ever bring you a wonderful time!

Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Peak)

    Lies southeast of Yangshuo town and faces the Li River, this peak rises out of the river like a lotus. Hence the name Green Lotus Peak. It is the most famous hill in Yangshuo.
    Green Lotus Peak, flat and smooth, resembles a mirror in its front view. So people also named it Jianshan Hill (Mirror Hill). Looking at the hill after passing it, one finds the hill silently floating on water like an elegant budding green lotus, forming an enchanting scene.
     Green Lotus Peak has many inscriptions on its cliffs, in which the 5-meter-long Chinese character "Dai" caved in the Qing Dynasty is the most famous. The later generations endowed the character with a meaning "as the river and mountains unfold their greatness before you eyes, young lads, you should work hard to let your name pass down forever."
     The best place to view the lotus is the View Lotus Bridge. Built in 1978, the bridge is decorated with a relief, which depicts the landscape of Yangshuo. At the end of the bridge, three characters were carved which mean that is the best suitable place to view the "lotus".

The Folded Brocade Hill

    Located north of Guilin by the Li River, Diecai Hill rises abruptly with an elevation of 73 meters. The grotesque-looking rocks, with patterns suggesting a great pile of folded brocade, gave the hill its present name Folded Brocade Hill. Covering an area of 2 square kilometers, the hill consists of Yuyue Hill, Siwang Hill (Look-on-All-Direction Hill), Crane Peak and Bright Moon Peak. Beside its ravishing scenery, it has many ancient relics, including the Buddhist pagodas built in the Tang Dynasty (618AD - 907AD), inscriptions and Buddhist sculptures.
     Many charming scenes such as Diecai Pavilion, Diecai Archway, Windy Cave and Cloud-catching Pavilion scatter on the hill.
     Diecai Pavilion, covering an area of 64sqm, is 5m high, 7.5m long and 8.5m wide with Yuyue Hill in the east, Siwang Hill west and Bright Moon Peak north. Dexterously designed and elaborately built, the pavilion is single-storied with four angles, red pillars and a flat top, which is harmonious with the surroundings.
     With a horizontal board inscribed "Diecai Hill" hanging on it, Diecai Archway is a quite exquisite ancient building. A cave penetrating the Bright Moon Peak was named Windy Cave, which is roomy in both mouths and narrow in the middle. The cave is famous for 90 Buddha images of the Tang and Song dynasties, as well as dozens of ancient stone carvings inside.
     Located at the top of the Folded Brocade Hill,Cloud-catching Pavilion, which is round and single -eaved in shape with a pinnacle, commands a splendid view of scenery noted early in the Tang dynasty.