Located in Guangxi Province,at the terminus of the Li River cruise 65km (40 miles) S of Guilin, the small town of Yangshuo has long been a mecca for backpackers and rock climbers.
Here the vast landscape is reduced to a garden scale, nature in microcosm, where hills, mountains, oceans, and rivers are reduced to rocks, karsts, streams, and pools. Set amid an awesome cluster of limestone pinnacles -- a zigzag, serrated skyline superior even to that of Manhattan -- Yangshuo is more beautiful and significantly less crowded than Guilin.
Some of the most impressive karst scenery in Guangxi can be found just a short bike ride outside town. With its inexpensive hostels and Western-style cafes, some foreigners have been known to stay for months, sometimes even years.
Once a sleepy little town, today Yangshuo is integrated with upscale hotels, many new shops and bazaars, and eager tourists. Perhaps it is no longer the unknown, quiet idyll of years past, but it remains a lovely and relaxing place to break a journey and to soak up some of China's most beautiful scenery.
Yangshuo is typical of the Karst formation. The Li River provides picturesque landscapes while the river reaches Water-Dropping Villages to Yangshuo, stretching an area of 60 km . (37 miles) are the cream parts. Verdurous hills, jade rivers, peculiar caves and elegant stones present a splendid array of opportunities to visitors. There are 16 rivers and thousands of hills within the region. Moon Hill and Yulong River , the called 'Little Li River', are just two of the most enticing scenic spots in the county.
The famous opera Impression on Sanjie Liu drew its inspiration from this natural landscape and sets it as the huge theatre to play the performance. Sanjie Liu is a legendary fairy from a Zhuang ethnic girl whose songs are said to be unparalleled.
Climbing rocks, exploring caves, cycling along the nearby roads or just walking by the river provides an exciting experience to tourists.