Yangshuo Overview

Located in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yangshuo County is famous all over the world for its beautiful scenery. The county is administered by and located south of Guilin, about 65 kilometers away by land and 83 kilometers by sea. It was established in 590 A.D. in the Tang Dynasty, and has garnered a very long history of more than 1,400 years. The total area covered is 1,428 square kilometers, in which agricultural land occupies 20,000 hectares. Scattered throughout the area are more than 30,000 population members belonging to 11 ethnic communities such as the Han, Zhuang, Yao, and Hui groups.

Because Yangshuo County is situated in Central Asia’s tropical monsoon zone, the climate is very moderate, offering rich sunshine and abundant rainfall. The average annual temperature is 19°C with around 302 frost-free days per year, as well as a total of about 1,465 sunshine hours and 1,640 millimeters of rainfall annually. In addition, it is typical karst landform.

Due to its breathtaking landscapes, Yangshuo was one of the earliest national scenic spots of China. Even throughout history, there was a well-known saying that went, “Guilin is the most beautiful place in the world; however, Yanghuo is the most beautiful place in Guilin.” This sentiment truly gives weight to the importance of Yangshuo’s beauty as compared to other incredible natural scenes around the globe. As if grown from the very core of the earth, the mountains of Yangshuo demonstrate many postures, some looking like figures and beasts, while others resemble birds and other fantastic creatures. In any case, each peak has its own unique characteristics, creating a sense of spiritual fulfillment and unforgettable emotion for all visitors. Almost all of the mountains have holes since the area is of karst topography, such that crystals and beautiful stalactites can be wonderfully stumbled upon, forming natural art galleries and elaborate labyrinths. The mountains are not only for show, however; native farmers have made practical use of the land and perfected the art of growing lush bamboos and trees on their slopes. These plants help make Yangshuo look like spring all year round. The water treasures of Yangshuo tie everything together to form magical scenes as if lifted from the most magnificent of wishful dreams. Han Yu, one of the most famous poets in Chinese history, once compared the region’s rivers to a young girl’s vibrant green waist belt, and the mountains as her hair clasp of green jade.

Indeed, Yangshuo is famous for its 4 primary characteristics—the green mountains, attractive water, astounding peaks, and mystifying caverns. Within its property, there are more than 20,000 peaks and mountains, 16 twisty rivers (including 69 kilometers of the Lijiang River, regarded as the golden water area of the Guilin water system), the wonders of Lotus Cave where 108 karst clouds are located, thousand-year-old Big Banyan trees under which is said to be where the classic lover Liu Sanjie became engaged with her husband when he threw her an embroidered ball, Moon Mountain, Yu Long River which is acknowledged as the second Lijiang River, and so on. Besides, historic figures and cultural heritage relics can be seen anywhere, such as the stone inscriptions of Bilian Peak, ancient streets and constructs of Yangshuo County, and the famous West Street which merges modern shopping and entertainment with the ancient atmosphere. All these spots combine to make Yangshuo a famous destination attraction both at home and abroad.

With its varied geographic and climate features, Yangshuo yields all kinds of resources. Rice is one of the main food crops; its annual output is 130,000 tons. Besides, Shatian pomelos, cumquats, persimmons, and Chinese chestnuts are regarded as the 4 greatest specialties of Yangshuo. Among these local favorites, Shatian pomelos are famous around the world for being so large, fragrant, and delicious. In fact, in 1996, Yangshuo was officially and proudly named as “the home of Shatian pomelos” by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. The region also abounds with all kinds of mineral products such as lead, zinc, barite, marble, lime rock, and so on. Capitalizing on the rapid development and popularity of Yangshuo’s tourism industry, the locals have begun using and drawing inspiration from these resources to create handicrafts like paintings, calligraphies, hand-painted fans, marble art wares, landscape bonsai pots, cultural T-shirts, stone seals, wood carvings, clothes and potteries in the ancient styles, embroidered balls, and more.

With more and more foreign visitors traveling to Yangshuo all the time, the region has gradually built dozens of hotels for international guests. Even in some very small hotels, staff are capable of communicating fluently in English. These days, customers can enjoy a delicious array of foods from different counties in the restaurants, bars, and hotels on West Street. Favorite local cuisines include Guilin rice noodles, Lijiang beer fish, boiled Lijiang fish, and much more. Among these, Lijiang beer fish is largely considered the best. Famous national figures from history such as Sun Yat-sen, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and other Chinese high-level leaders have long known of Yangshou’s value and have admired its incredible beauty. Foreign dignitaries including former USA presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, George Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar, have also traveled here. In 1996, the fourth Premier of the People's Republic of China, Li Peng, and his wife traveled to Yangshuo and left the inscription, “Yangshuo: the most famous tourism county of China.”