Xingping Ancient Town Nanny-level Guide for the Lazy

🕤9:20 🚄 Head to Xingping Have some noodles for breakfast, take D2961 from Guilin North Station to Yangshuo Station (30min) Take a Didi from Yangshuo High-speed Train Station to Xingping Ancient Town (15min) 📌 Luggage can be stored at Xingping Bus Station, 5-10rmb per item 🕥10:20 👭 Tour Xingping Ancient Town The town is not large, with only a few streets crisscrossing. There are stalls selling local snacks and fruits at reasonable prices, where you can try things you've never eaten before 🕚11:00 🍲 Lunch Recommend 'Old Street Neighbor Bar', the portion sizes are suitable for 2-4 people. Must-try dishes include bamboo tube chicken, dry-braised potato beef, and stir-fried bamboo shoots. If interested, you can also try local specialties like beer fish, stuffed snails, Li River shrimp, and bamboo tube rice 🕛12:00 🔭 Head to the Viewing Platform Navigate directly to 'Viewing Platform' on your phone to see the 'Huangbu Reflection' printed on the twenty yuan note. Walking there from the town allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way (15min) ⚠️ Not far south of the viewing platform is a path, go down two flights of stairs to the riverside for a broader view. There's also a bamboo raft identical to the one on the twenty yuan note, where you can take photos of the iconic fisherman casting nets in the evening 🕐13:00 🛶 Bamboo Rafting on the Li River Walk from the viewing platform to Chaoban Mountain Pier (15min) Take an electric bamboo raft trip from Chaoban Mountain to Nine Horses Painting Mountain and back (1h) ⚠️ This section is the essence and highly recommended. Other sections may be too long and cause aesthetic fatigue, or be crowded with tour groups 📌 Electric bamboo rafts seat four people, with tickets priced at 120rmb/person. Empty seats require either sharing the raft or paying an empty seat fee of 65rmb/seat. Tickets can be purchased at any ticket office in Xingping 🕝14:30 🛺 Return to Xingping Ancient Town Take a sightseeing car from Chaoban Mountain Pier back to Xingping Ancient Town for 15rmb/person (10min), then walk to Xingping Tourist Bus Station to retrieve your luggage 🕒15:00 🚌 Head to Yangshuo Town Minibuses from Xingping Ancient Town to Yangshuo Town run every half hour, with a fare of 10 yuan/person (40min). The minibus will stop at several stations in Yangshuo Town, you can get off at the station closest to your hotel 🕔16:00 🏨 Check into the hotel and rest Recommended to stay near West Street for convenience in dining and travel 🕕18:00 🥘 Dinner Beer fish is a must-try local specialty in Yangshuo, but personally, I didn't find the taste amazing. Also tried the complimentary oil tea, which I'm not quite accustomed to ⚠️ Prices in Yangshuo are much higher than in Xingping, and ripping off tourists is more common. So whether it's dining, chartering a car, or buying tickets, keep your eyes peeled and try to purchase on platforms, don't trust strangers easily 🕣19:30 🚶‍♀️ Stroll on West Street West Street is bustling at night, but it's not much different from other ancient town's commercial streets, with restaurants, shops, and specialty stores 📌 The third floor of the Starbucks at the entrance of West Street is a viewing platform, with a Chinese architectural style and neon-lit night, it's very photogenic