We recently took a day trip from Yangshuo to Xingping, and it turned out to be a great way to see more of the Li River area without staying overnight. We headed out in the morning and spent the rest of the day exploring this small historic town, enjoying the scenic views, and taking a boat tour on the river.
Overview
Xingping is an ancient town on the east bank of the Li River, known for its calm pace of life, cultural charm, and the 20 RMB scenic spot that appears on the Chinese banknote. The town has a well-preserved old centre with stone-paved streets and traditional houses.
Many travellers visit Xingping for the day to soak up the countryside vibe and admire the classic karst mountain views.
Getting to Xingping from Yangshuo or Guilin
Getting There by Land Transport
- We took a Didi taxi from Yangshuo to Xingping, which cost us the equivalent of $6 for a 45-minute drive. It was quick, comfortable, and convenient.
- Alternatively, buses run frequently from Yangshuo’s main station and drop you near Xingping’s old centre, but they can take longer.
- From Guilin, another option is to take the high-speed rail to “Yangshuo” high-speed station, which amusingly is closer to Xingping than to Yangshuo itself. The journey takes around 10 minutes and costs approximately $2, making it a fast and affordable choice. From the station you can either take a bus or a taxi for around $1-2.
Boat
Alternatively, some travellers choose a boat ride from Yangshuo or Guilin along the Li River, which offers some impressive scenery along the way. This can be pricier than the bus, but it’s an option if you want a more leisurely journey.
Best Time to Visit
We think any time between April and October is a decent period to visit Xingping. The weather is generally warm, and you’ll likely see clear skies framing the iconic karst mountains.
If you travel during peak summer, it can get hot and busy, so an early start from Yangshuo helps beat the crowds.
Things to Do in Xingping
1. Take a Boat Tour on the River
One of the highlights of this day trip was cruising along the Li River. We boarded a small boat that took us past lush riverbanks and picturesque peaks. The ride was short but gave us a fresh perspective of the karst landscape.
Boats leave every 30 minutes so no need to hurry, simply choose the best time for you. All you have to do is go to the ticket office, buy your tickets and get on the next boat.
We think the best time to go is in the afternoon as you get to see a bit the sunset.
The tour starts with a short promotional stop where they encourage you to take photos with a local Cormorant fisherman however, we passed on the opportunity.
The cruise is a great experience and gave us also a chance to interact with the locals as they all wanted to take a photo with us. (Yes, it’s a thing!) The boats themselves are a bit dated and could do with an upgrade but not to worry, you won’t stay long on your seat as you most likely will want to go on the upper deck and take in the views.
Throughout the tour they will offer guide to describe the surroundings but it’s only in Chinese. So make sure to turn on your favorite interpreter app.
Overall, the experience is great and even though we did bamboo rafting in Yangshuo (on the same river) it still offers a great perspective of the surrounding karst mountains. So we would absolutely recommend it.
Make sure you bring a camera to capture the rolling hills and reflections in the water!
📍Location: Xingping Fishing Village You Ticket Office, China, CN 广西壮族自治区 桂林市 阳朔县 30 米 邮政编码: 541906
🕒Time Needed: 2 hours
🌟Best Time to Visit: Afternoon
🎟 Price: $
ℹ️Note: Tickets can be bough on site.
2. See the 20 RMB Scenic Spot
After the boat tour, we hopped off to see the 20 RMB scenic spot, which is the exact view featured on the 20 yuan note. You can find the marker on Didi with ease and can have a taxi drop you off there.
We went there as it’s a popular scenic spot however, for most foreign tourists it might not represent much. If you have a 20 yuan note on hand, you can line it up with the background for a fun photo.
Once you arrive there, you will see plenty of tourists trying to get a photo with the iconic karst mountains and plenty of photographers offering their services. We chose to take our own photos and one of the photographers even offered to take some photos using our phone which was appreciated.
Like what you are reading? Why not join us for other journeys by subscribing to our newsletter:
3. Walk through the Old Centre
Back in the town, we wandered through Xingping’s old centre with its narrow alleys, stone buildings, and a slow-paced atmosphere. We saw a variety of local shops selling everything from handmade souvenirs to tasty snacks.
It’s a good place to pick up some gifts or simply enjoy a bit of people-watching.
Xingping Ancient Street is the heart of Xingping Old Town, offering a glimpse into the past with its well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty-era architecture.
The narrow, winding cobbled streets are lined with traditional grey-brick houses, wooden facades, and sloping tiled roofs, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that transports visitors back in time. If you’re intrigued by more traditional towns in China, check out our post on hidden gems in Pingyao.
Small vendors and dessert stalls along the historic street often sell bamboo cup ice cream. The ice cream is served in freshly cut bamboo tubes, which add a subtle earthy aroma to the dessert and also helps keep the ice cream cool for longer. You should try it for yourself! We did 🙂
Where to Eat in Xingping
For lunch, we popped into a local eatery on the main street called Old Street Bar. We chose this place as it was one of the better reviewed places on Dianping part of their “Must East in 2024” range.
We were met by what we believe to be the owners, which were really hospitable and accommodating. They also displayed plenty of patience whilst we translated the menu.
We tried a few local dishes including bamboo chicken, stir fried bamboo, snails stuffed with pork mince and egg and tomatoes stir fry.
The bamboo chicken and bamboo shoots sound interesting but overall, they were underwhelming. The meat with all meat on the bone as is normal in China but overall seems more of a tourist hype.
The stuffed snails were actually tasty and the herbs used brought a very welcomed freshness and depth of flavor to the dish. As you’d imagine the eggs and tomatoes were exactly as you’d imagine, so nothing to write home about.
Overall, a good place to have a lunch but nothing to write home about in our opinion.
Final Thoughts
Our day trip to Xingping offered a peaceful change of pace from Yangshuo. The boat tour on the river, the 20 RMB scenic spot, and exploring the old centre gave us a glimpse of local history and the area’s natural beauty.
It’s easy to reach and manage in a single day, but it packs in enough variety to make you feel like you’ve truly ventured off the beaten path.
Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:
- Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here.
- Accommodation – would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com, Trip.com or Agoda to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
- Transport – consider Rentalcars.com for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
- Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
- Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
- Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
- Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.
As an Amazon Associate and member of various other affiliate programmes, some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to our blog by adding your email address below. You’ll be the first to hear about new destinations and articles we publish!
Are you interested in travelling? Check out our Facebook page and other social media for regular tips and recommendations on how to travel and where to go!
