How fit do I need to be?

Moderate — the loop is mostly flat (gentle gradients <5%) and you can stop anywhere. Average tourists with basic bike experience finish 30 km in 4-5 hours. The full 50 km loop with Moon Hill climb requires solid fitness; the half-loop (Yulong River only, 15-20 km) is family-friendly. Don't attempt in 35°C+ summer heat — heat exhaustion is the real risk, not terrain.

Where do I rent a bike?

Any West Street bike shop (¥30-60/day depending on type). The shop owner stamps the rental contract and you leave passport or ¥500 deposit. Bring helmet (some shops provide free, others ¥10 rental). e-Bikes (¥80-100/day) are recommended for older travelers or 35°C+ days — they make the 50 km loop comfortable.

Standard loop: Yangshuo town → Yulong Bridge (3 km) → south along Yulong River bank (10 km of bamboo + rice paddies) → Big Banyan Tree (3 km detour) → Moon Hill (4 km, climb optional) → back via main road (15 km) → Yangshuo town. Use Maps.me with downloaded Yangshuo offline tiles. Many shops have printed English maps free for rentals.

Easy to do, easy to recover. Karst peaks make landmarks; ask any local 'Yangshuo?' and point — they'll direct you back. Hotel-provided English maps + offline Maps.me cover 95% of routing. Worst case: ¥30 motorbike taxi (找摩托) to your hotel from any village. Phone signal works on the loop except in the deepest Yulong River sections.

Water (1.5L per person — refills at small village shops), sunblock SPF 50, hat, sunglasses, light snacks, ¥200 cash for unexpected lunch/raft tickets, phone with offline maps, a small towel for sweat. Wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals — pedal grip issue). In rainy season (May-July), pack a light poncho.

Yangshuo Countryside Bike Loop, Guilin: Map & Visitor's Guide (2026)

Q: Where do I rent a bike?

Any West Street bike shop (¥30-60/day depending on type). The shop owner stamps the rental contract and you leave passport or ¥500 deposit. Bring helmet (some shops provide free, others ¥10 rental). e-Bikes (¥80-100/day) are recommended for older travelers or 35°C+ days — they make the 50 km loop comfortable.

Q: What's the route?

Standard loop: Yangshuo town → Yulong Bridge (3 km) → south along Yulong River bank (10 km of bamboo + rice paddies) → Big Banyan Tree (3 km detour) → Moon Hill (4 km, climb optional) → back via main road (15 km) → Yangshuo town. Use Maps.me with downloaded Yangshuo offline tiles. Many shops have printed English maps free for rentals.

Q: What if I get lost?

Easy to do, easy to recover. Karst peaks make landmarks; ask any local 'Yangshuo?' and point — they'll direct you back. Hotel-provided English maps + offline Maps.me cover 95% of routing. Worst case: ¥30 motorbike taxi (找摩托) to your hotel from any village. Phone signal works on the loop except in the deepest Yulong River sections.

Q: What should I pack?

Water (1.5L per person — refills at small village shops), sunblock SPF 50, hat, sunglasses, light snacks, ¥200 cash for unexpected lunch/raft tickets, phone with offline maps, a small towel for sweat. Wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals — pedal grip issue). In rainy season (May-July), pack a light poncho.

30-50km countryside cycle through karst peaks, rice paddies, and Yulong River villages. ¥30-60/day bike rental; the iconic Yangshuo activity.

At a glance

What it is: Outdoors
Also known as: 阳朔乡村骑行环线 (Yángshuò Xiāngcūn Qíxíng)
Opening hours: 7 AM – 6 PM
Time needed: Full day (5-7 hours)
Best time to visit: Spring + autumn cool mornings; avoid July-August heat
Getting there: Metro to the door
English: English tours available
Cards accepted: Cash only
Entry: Walk-in — no booking · tickets & prices →
Wi-Fi: No public Wi-Fi
Address: Yangshuo town, West Street bike rental shops · 桂林市阳朔县 (西街集合)

See Yangshuo Countryside Bike Loop tickets & tours

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Yangshuo Countryside Bike Loop map & getting there

Map of Yangshuo Countryside Bike Loop (阳朔乡村骑行环线) in Guilin — nearby streets and metro stations

Amap (in China)Open in Google Maps Apple Maps Interactive Guilin map →

Taxi / DiDi? Show the driver: 桂林市阳朔县 (西街集合) · Yangshuo town, West Street bike rental shops

The Yangshuo countryside is best experienced by bicycle on the standard 30-50 km loop: Yangshuo town → south along Yulong River → Moon Hill → Big Banyan Tree → Yangshuo Park → back to town. The route is mostly flat with karst peaks on all sides, rice paddies, water buffalo, and small villages with Zhuang/Yao ethnic-minority residents. Bike rentals (¥30/day single, ¥60/day tandem, ¥100/day e-bike) at any West Street shop. Allow 5-7 hours including stops at Moon Hill (climb), bamboo raft launch points, and rural lunch (¥30 / person at countryside restaurants). Or do a half-day version (just Yulong River + Big Banyan, ~3 hours). Strongly recommended even for non-cyclists — the flat terrain + scenery is unforgettable.

Highlights

30-50 km loopFlat terrain; karst peaks visible on all sides
¥30/day rentalSingle bike at any West Street rental shop
Optional Moon Hill detourStandard waypoint with 800-step climb

What Chinese travelers actually do here

Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.

The Yulong River section (south bank, off the Big Banyan Tree-Moon Hill loop) is the scenic highlight — quiet rural bike path with bamboo arches over the road, rice paddies, water buffalo, and small villages. This is the section to spend the most time photographing.
Bike + Yulong bamboo raft combo: bike the river south, do a 1-hour bamboo raft from Jiuxian to Yulong Bridge (¥150-200), then bike back. Skip the bike-only route and do this combo for the optimal Yangshuo countryside experience.
Don’t rent the cheap Chinese single-speed bikes for the full 50 km loop — your knees will hurt by km 30. Pay ¥60-80 for a multi-speed bike or e-bike. The cheap bikes are fine for under 15 km.
Lunch spots: small rural restaurants exist every 5-7 km along the loop. Look for ones with chickens running outside (active kitchen) — point-and-order works. ¥30-50/person for noodles, vegetables, rice. The roadside Yangshuo chicken stew (阳朔啤酒鸡) is the local specialty.
Avoid 12-3 PM in July-August — the sun on the open road becomes brutal. Start at 7 AM, lunch in shade 12-2 PM, finish by 4 PM. Or do the loop in two parts: morning + evening shifts with hotel break midday.
Locals on the loop will offer ‘bamboo raft’ rides everywhere — these are unlicensed pirate rafts charging foreigner-prices (¥200+ for what’s worth ¥80). Decline politely. Use the OFFICIAL bamboo raft launch points only (Yulong Bridge, Jiuxian, Xianggui).

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Amap (in China)Open in Google Maps Apple Maps

Photos

Black and white photograph of a rural landscape featuring rice fields and karst mountains under a cloudy sky.

Picturesque view of traditional Chinese architecture and mountains in Guilin, China.

A serene view of a woman walking her dog on a rural trail in Guilin's lush landscape.

Videos

THIS Is CHINA?! | Biking Through Unreal Flower Fields in Yangshuo

Allison Paige Abroad

Biking in Yangshuo: Gorgeous sights in the Chinese countryside (CC)

Erin's Travels

Frequently asked questions about Yangshuo Countryside Bike Loop

How fit do I need to be?: Moderate — the loop is mostly flat (gentle gradients <5%) and you can stop anywhere. Average tourists with basic bike experience finish 30 km in 4-5 hours. The full 50 km loop with Moon Hill climb requires solid fitness; the half-loop (Yulong River only, 15-20 km) is family-friendly. Don’t attempt in 35°C+ summer heat — heat exhaustion is the real risk, not terrain.
Where do I rent a bike?: Any West Street bike shop (¥30-60/day depending on type). The shop owner stamps the rental contract and you leave passport or ¥500 deposit. Bring helmet (some shops provide free, others ¥10 rental). e-Bikes (¥80-100/day) are recommended for older travelers or 35°C+ days — they make the 50 km loop comfortable.
What’s the route?: Standard loop: Yangshuo town → Yulong Bridge (3 km) → south along Yulong River bank (10 km of bamboo + rice paddies) → Big Banyan Tree (3 km detour) → Moon Hill (4 km, climb optional) → back via main road (15 km) → Yangshuo town. Use Maps.me with downloaded Yangshuo offline tiles. Many shops have printed English maps free for rentals.
What if I get lost?: Easy to do, easy to recover. Karst peaks make landmarks; ask any local ‘Yangshuo?’ and point — they’ll direct you back. Hotel-provided English maps + offline Maps.me cover 95% of routing. Worst case: ¥30 motorbike taxi (找摩托) to your hotel from any village. Phone signal works on the loop except in the deepest Yulong River sections.
What should I pack?: Water (1.5L per person — refills at small village shops), sunblock SPF 50, hat, sunglasses, light snacks, ¥200 cash for unexpected lunch/raft tickets, phone with offline maps, a small towel for sweat. Wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals — pedal grip issue). In rainy season (May-July), pack a light poncho.