Yangshuo West Street
West Street (西街, Xijie) is the pedestrian street in the middle of Yangshuo town, a few hundred metres of flagstones running roughly east to west from the riverside Binjiang Road to Pantao Road. It is free, open all the time, and almost entirely given over to shops, bars, restaurants and guesthouses. Most visitors arrive the same afternoon as the Li River cruise, since Longtoushan pier is about 1.7 km away, and spend the evening here. Go for dinner and a walk, and stay somewhere slightly off the street if you want to sleep before midnight.
For how Yangshuo fits a Guilin trip, see the Guilin travel guide.
What it is, and what it isn't
Most of the buildings are 60 or 70 years old, with a few from the Ming and Qing, and the street is paved in big stone slabs. It is nicknamed "Foreigners' Street" (洋人街) for its long history of foreign backpackers, and it still has Western cafés and bars side by side with batik, seal-carving and calligraphy shops. Nearly a hundred shops, bars and restaurants are packed into its short length, and these days most of the crowd is domestic tourists.
So don't come expecting a quiet Guangxi lane. It is a busy, cheerful tourist strip with a good setting, karst peaks rising at the end of the side streets. That's why most people enjoy one evening here and spend their days out in the countryside.
Morning, evening, late night
- Early morning is the nicest time to walk it: shutters down, wet flagstones, peaks behind the rooftops, almost nobody about. Get a bowl of rice noodles before heading out to the river.
- Late afternoon and early evening is when it fills up. Shops are open, restaurants put out tables, and side streets towards the river are less crowded than the main drag.
- After about 21:00 the bars turn the music up. Some stretches are very loud until late, and on holiday weekends the street is shoulder to shoulder.
Eating
The dish to order in Yangshuo is beer fish (啤酒鱼): river fish braised with beer, tomato, chilli and peppers. It is priced by weight. Ask the price per jin (500 g) and roughly how big the fish is before they cook it, as this is the most common bill dispute on the street. Guilin rice noodles are on every corner for breakfast. For a quieter, cheaper meal, walk a few minutes off West Street, where ordinary restaurants cater to locals.
If you're rafting the next morning, eat early and go easy on the beer. The rafting docks are a drive out of town, and the river is at its best in the early light.
Where to stay
| Location | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| On West Street | Atmosphere, walking out of the door into town | Bar noise late into the night |
| Side lanes near West Street | Five minutes' walk from everything, quieter | Still busy at holidays |
| Countryside along the Yulong River | Peace, views, bikes from the door | Need taxis or bikes to reach town |
For a two-night stay, one popular split is a night near West Street after the cruise and a second night out by the Yulong. Book early for National Day, May Day and Spring Festival, when beds sell out before boat tickets do.
Getting there and away
- From the Li River boat: Longtoushan pier to West Street is about 1.7 km, a 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride.
- By train: Yangshuo railway station is in Xingping, about 20 km from town. Buses from Yangshuo to Xingping run roughly every 15 minutes from about 06:30 to 19:20, and a separate shuttle links Xingping with the station. Allow up to two hours door to door if you rely on buses, or take a taxi.
- To Guilin by road: buses and private cars run from Yangshuo to Guilin through the day.
The next day
Most people use Yangshuo as a base for the countryside:
- Bamboo rafting on the Yulong River. Tickets for the next day are released at 20:00 on the official mini-program, so you can book from your West Street dinner table.
- Cycling or e-biking the lanes along the Yulong, which costs little and needs no booking.
- Back to Guilin for Duxiu Peak or Reed Flute Cave if you have a spare afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yangshuo West Street worth visiting?
For an evening, yes. It is lively, close to the cruise pier and has plenty of places to eat. Most of Yangshuo's best scenery is outside town, so plan your days elsewhere.
Is West Street noisy at night?
Yes. Bars play loud music until late. Light sleepers should stay in a side lane or out in the countryside.
How far is West Street from Yangshuo railway station?
About 20 km. The station is in Xingping, so you need a bus, shuttle or taxi to reach town.