Yangdi Village

Yangdi Village, Yangshuo

Yangdi Village is located on the west bank of the Li River, about 50km (31 miles) from Guilin, and 40km (25 miles) north of Yangshuo County. Behind the village lies a hill consisting of twin peaks, which look like two sheep hoofs hanging upside down. Hence the village gets its name Yangdi, which has a harmonic tone with 'Yangti', the Chinese expression for 'sheep hoofs'.

The scenery on the way from Yangdi to Xingping Town is the highlight of the Li River cruise and you will come across Wave-stone View, Xialong Village, Mural Hill, and Yellow Cloth Shoal. It is fair to say that if Li River were a piece of long poem, then the trip from Guilin to Ox Village is the prelude at best. Whereas, the trip starting from Yangdi Village is the theme part with appealing scenery and typical karst landscapes. Therefore, if time is limited, we suggest that you restrict your Li River trip to this section.


Lots of eye-catching attractions can be discovered around Yangdi Village. On the way from upriver Half-Side Ferry to the village, you will meet Mandarin Duck Shoal. On the west of the shore stand two stalactites which look like a couple of Mandarin ducks leaning upon each other. Near the Yangdi Village is a small hill and on its top stands a huge stone like a round millstone. Beside it is another three-yard tilting stone like a man pushing the millstone, therefore, the whole is called 'The Man Pushes the Millstone'.

About 1km (0.6 miles) downriver from Yangdi Village is the splendid Wave-Stone View of white spray slapping at stones in the river, which is different from the calm and peaceful water you have seen along the Li River. Drifting downriver you will encounter another attraction A Boy Worships the Buddha. A peak like a Buddha sits quietly, and in front of it stands a smaller peak resembling a boy who is worshipping the Buddha on bended knees. Those imaginations are fantastic, aren’t they? But what is more incredible is the nature that endows those peaks with various shapes.

The elegant mountains, the winding waterways, delicate shores, striking waterfalls, dense green bamboos and dotted villages form a beautiful landscape painting. Yangdi village is an ideal place to enjoy the Li River in misty rain, which seems to be a wonderland that is quiet, peaceful and mysterious. November to March is the low-flow period of Li River, and Yangdi Village sometimes becomes the starting point of the Li River cruise, when water is extremely scarce. Visitors are suggested to visit the Li River during the high period from April to October when water is deeper and greener.
 

Riding on a raft

Independent visitors can take a bamboo raft to fully enjoy the scenery. Unlike taking cruises, taking a raft is more adventurous and interesting. One can ask to stop at representative attractions and take as many pictures as he or she wants. Remember that the bamboo raft is only available during 8:30 -10:30 and 12:00-15:30.

Drifting from Yangdi Village to Xingping Town costs CNY 216 for an adult and CNY 40 for a child below 1.3m (4.3 feet). Or you can drift to Mural Hill, which costs CNY 118 for an adult and CNY 40 for a child. There is a slight difference between price of tickets sold at the entrance and those sold by local raft drivers. You are suggested to buy tickets at the official ticket office at the entrance, which are usually cheaper.

Don't throw your ticket away because you can use it to take an electric power car for a free ride, from either Mural Hill or Xingping Dock, to Xingping Coach Station. Spend an hour wandering in Xingping Ancient Town and then you can take a bus to Yangshuo and start another amazing trip.
 

Hiking from Yangdi Village to Xingping was once in vogue, but is now impracticable for the sake of visitors' safety. Fortunately, hiking is still allowed between Mural Hill and Xingping Town, so you might want to drift downstream from Yangdi Village to Mural Hill, and then hike to Xingping Town. The whole walk would take about 1 - 1.5 hours.

See more about Li River Hiking Adventure.

1. From Guilin, visitors can take direct buses to Yangdi at Guilin Main Bus Station, which is located next to Guilin Railway Station. It costs CNY 22 and the whole journey takes about an hour. Make sure that the bus is bound for Yangdi Dock, NOT Yangdi Lukou.
2. From Yangshuo County, visitors can take buses from Yangshuo North Bus Station to Yangdi Dock, which takes about an hour.