Rural & Outdoor
This guide brings together Guilin’s rural areas, scenic parks, and related outdoor activities, focusing on places that offer a more relaxed and slow-paced way to explore the region. You’ll find practical details such as time needed, how to get there, and useful tips for making the most of your visit.
Ten-Mile Gallery Cycling
The Ten-Mile Gallery is a stretch of national highway named for the beautiful scenery along the road. It is not a designated scenic area with a fixed entrance or boundary. The cycling route generally includes two sections: the Ten-Mile Gallery section (10–12 km) and the Yulong River section (about 15 km).
Ten-Mile Gallery section: Fengming Parking Lot → Gongnong Bridge → Li Village / Moon Hill → Gongnong Bridge
Yulong River section: Gongnong Bridge → Jima Wharf → Chaoyang Dam → Shuangliu Yidu Pavilion → Yichi Daotian Coffee → Qianguqing
Suggested time:
By e-bike: 1–2 hours of riding time, or 3–5 hours if you include photo stops, exploring, and a break at a café.
By bicycle: Around 3 hours for the full route, excluding time spent stopping along the way.
Tips:
- The full route can be quite physically demanding by bicycle. If you prefer a more relaxed ride, I recommend cycling only the Yulong River section.
- You don’t need to enter Moon Hill Scenic Area to take photos of Moon Hill. The lawn in front of the archway at Li Village offers a good view of the mountain.
Jiuxian Village
After your bamboo rafting trip, taking a walk along the Yulong River and exploring the surrounding villages is a great way to slow down and experience Yangshuo’s countryside. Jiuxian Village is the closest historic village to Jiuxian Pier. With a history of more than 100 years, the village is made up of old brick houses with traditional tiled roofs. Quiet and far less commercialized than West Street, it’s a great place to experience the authentic atmosphere of rural Yangshuo.You could also find several local restaurants here, serving fresh and affordable home-style dishes made with local ingredients.
Suggested time: 1.5h-2.h (including lunch)
Xingping Ancient Town
Xingping is a small ancient town on the banks of the Li River. You can take a bus from near Yangshuo Railway Station to Xingping Ancient Town Bus Station. While the town itself is worth a stroll, the two highlights in the surrounding area are the 20-yuan banknote viewpoint and Nine Horses Fresco Hill. Renting an electric scooter is a convenient way to get around.
Suggested time: Allow around 2.5–3 hours for the three spots.
20-yuan banknote viewpoint: About 1 km from Xingping Ancient Town. Navigate to Guiyijg Travel Photography（桂影旅拍）; there is a small entrance with steps across from it. Walk down the steps to reach the viewpoint.
Nine Horses Fresco Hill: Navigate to Mashan Pier (马山码头) and take the ferry across the river. The best view of the mountain is from the opposite bank, looking back toward it.
Tips:
- If your hotel is not in Xingping, you can leave your luggage in the self-service lockers at Xingping Ancient Town Bus Station after getting off the bus.
- The ferry from Mashan Pier costs RMB 5 one way or RMB 15 for a round trip. If you’re heading to Xianggong Mountain afterward, take the one-way ferry.
Off-road mountain biking
Off-road mountain biking is popular these days in Yangshuo. It’s a fun way to blow off some steam, and no driving license is required. With protective gear and guidance from an instructor, most people can get the hang of it in about five minutes.
There are many operators along the Yulong River offering this experience. Routes typically take you through jungle trails, bamboo forests, steep slopes, and shallow streams, making for a more adventurous way to explore the countryside. A typical ride lasts 1–2 hours and costs around RMB 100–200 per person.
Tips:
- Look for highly rated operators on Meituan or Dianping. Make sure they provide insurance, professional instructors, and proper safety equipment.
- Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. The ride can get quite muddy, so avoid wearing clothes that are difficult to clean.
- Check with the operator in advance to see whether they offer a pick-up and drop-off service.
Guihai Qinglan
If you’re looking for a spacious, scenic place in the city where you can slow down and spend a relaxed afternoon, Guihai Qinglan is worth your time. Picture a wide green lawn and a calm lake surrounded by Guilin’s distinctive karst peaks, giving you plenty of open space to wander, have a picnic, take photos, or simply enjoy the scenery at your own pace. Beyond the landscape, you can also see alpacas and sika deer, or try a hot-air balloon ride for a different perspective over the park. Since most of the experience is outdoors, rainy days are best avoided. Taxis can also be difficult to find when you’re leaving, so it’s a good idea to arrange your ride back in advance.
Longjin Village
Tucked away in Longshui Town, Quanzhou County, north of Guilin, Longjing Village is where natural scenery and centuries-old village life come together. Its clearest highlight is the crystal-clear, jelly-blue stream running through the village. Green plants line the water, while aquatic plants sway beneath the surface, and the clarity of the stream reflects the area’s well-preserved natural environment. At the foot of the surrounding mountains, natural caves open into the landscape, and you can paddle a kayak inside to explore them. Quiet, little-developed, and far from the usual tourist routes, Longjing feels genuinely wild and untouched.
The village has preserved traditional Ming and Qing dynasty buildings and a simple rural atmosphere. You can explore the old village, catch fish and shrimp in the stream, and enjoy a home-style meal at a local farmhouse restaurant.
The biggest drawback is getting there. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from Guilin, so driving yourself or hiring a private car is the most practical option. Longjing Village works well as a day trip combined with Quanzhou County town nearby. If you have an extra day in Guilin and want to see a quiet, unspoiled mountain village away from the crowds, it’s well worth the detour.
Daxu ancient town
Sitting along the Li River just outside Guilin, Daxu Ancient Town is a quiet, well-preserved town with more than 1,800 years of history. The old streets still retain historic sites such as Wanshou Bridge（万寿桥） and traditional stone-paved lanes, with old shops and former banks lining the streets. The town also has the Thirteen Ancient Wharves（十三古码头） along the Li River, where you can take a walk and enjoy the riverside scenery. Daxu Ancient Town pairs well with Gudong Waterfall, so you can visit both in one day. It’s about a 30–40-minute drive from Guilin city center, and taxis are generally easy to find.
Dongli Ancient Village
Dongli Ancient Village（东漓古村） is a developed folk culture park in eastern Guilin, bringing together traditional crafts, local customs, and hands-on experiences. You can try traditional crafts such as weaving grass dragons（编草龙）, making round fans（团扇）, botanical printing（植物拓染）, and pottery, or join activities like tofu making（点豆腐） and dried tofu making（腐竹）. The village also has immersive traditional wedding customs, lively bonfire parties, and carnival-style games where you can collect “silver tickets”（银票） and exchange them for small gifts.
The whole place is designed around participation rather than simply sightseeing, which makes it especially popular with families traveling with children. If you’ve already explored Guilin’s iconic landscapes and want to experience local traditions, handicrafts, and folk culture, Dongli Ancient Village is worth adding to your trip.
It’s about a 30–40-minute drive from Guilin city center and can be easily combined with a visit to Daxu Ancient Town（大圩古镇）.