Rock Climbing in Yangshuo, China is Asia’s premier sport climbing destination. The climbing in Yangshuo is amazing because of the many four-star routes concentrated in one area. As a bonus, the landscape is surreal and resembles a Chinese painting. Accommodation is easy to find and the food is delicious. The social scene during high season is lively and it’s a great way to connect with climbers from all around the world. Getting to the crag is easy and involves a scooter and a short walk. With so many awesome aspects, it’s no wonder why Yangshuo is one of our top places to climb in Asia. This guide will outline the best season to visit, how to get to Yangshuo, where to stay, transportation, and more.
Guide Contents
- What It’s Like To Climb Here
- Best Season To Climb in Yangshuo
- Yangshuo Climbing Budget
- Visa for China
- How To Get To Yangshuo
- Accommodation in Yangshuo
- Getting Around Yangshuo
- Finding Climbing Partners in Yangshuo
- Guidebook
- Recommended Food
- Internet and VPN in Yangshuo
- SIM Card for China
- WeChat in China
- Communication
- Safety
- Drinking Water
- Packing List
- Additional Tips for China
What It’s Like To Climb in Yangshuo
The rock is limestone and the quality is amazing. All the routes in the area are sport climbs. There are a variety of routes such as climbing on tufas, slopers, overhung, crimps, caves, powerful, technical, easy, hard, and multi-pitch routes; there is something for every style and for all climbing levels! With so much spectacular climbing to do, it’s the reason why we visited Yangshuo multiple times. Most of the routes are at least 20 meters. Bringing a 70 meter rope is advised. An 80 meter rope is required for certain routes, but for most people, a 70 meter rope is perfect. Bring 14-20 quickdraws. We only arrived with 12 and found ourselves back cleaning quite often.
Climbing in Yangshuo is perfect for those who love experiencing new cultures, meeting people from all around the world, and don’t like to hike far. It’s probably not a good place if you enjoy quiet adventures. If that’s your style, I suggest checking out Shigu and Li Ming!
Best Season To Climb in Yangshuo
Fall Climbing Weather
Fall is the best time to visit Yangshuo as the weather is mild and the sun quickly dries out the rain. We didn’t keep a log of how many days it rained from October 2018 – December 2018, but the team and I found ourselves rocking our rain gear quite often. Even though it rained, everyone got tons of climbing in. I found climbing during October 2018 to be a bit hot in the direct sun. November had the ideal temperatures for climbing as it wasn’t too hot or too cold. Fall is the high season and the easiest time to find a climbing partner if you’re going solo. Keep in mind this means the crags will be busy, and you may find long queues for the best routes. If you’re looking to socialize and have fun, this is certainly a fun time to be in Yangshuo. Keep in mind that since everyone wants to be here during this time, accommodation costs will be higher.
Winter Climbing Weather
Winter is the second runner up as the best time to visit Yangshuo for climbing. The winter air is dry and cold, making it easy to stick to the wall like Spider-Man. There is also less traffic at the crag so it’s a great time to focus on redpoints and projects. I highly recommend coming at this time if you’re serious about climbing and sending. Be prepared with hand warmers and warm clothes! The temperature drops down to the single digits in Celsius.
Spring Climbing Weather
Spring is one of the worst times to climb in Yangshuo. The crew and I were there from mid-March 2019 and were chased out by the persistent rain after a month. Prior to arriving, we heard from the local climbers that the rain was much worse. If you’re coming in from Hong Kong for the weekend then visiting during Spring could be worth it. If you’re traveling from far away and have limited vacation time, then it’s best to avoid climbing in Yangshuo during Spring. No one wants to travel half-way around the world, only to stay in the hotel room the entire time. Ideal climbing weather during the Spring in China can be found at Shigu and Li Ming.
Summer Climbing Weather
The team and I have not climbed in Yangshuo during the summer. We heard it’s very hot and humid, but like anywhere, I bet it’s possible to climb in the morning and chase shade throughout the day. If anyone has any information on what it’s like to climb in Yangshuo during the summer, please email us and we’ll update this info and give you credit.
Sunset at Brothers Cave in Square Mountain. You can climb here!
Yangshuo Climbing Budget
The price of accommodation will depend on the season that you visit and where you stay. Here are the prices I saw during high season in 2018 (prices will most likely change in the next few years). Dorms $7/night, hotels $15/night minimum, apartment $120/month minimum. Meals range from $2-10. We ate the $2 stir-fry meals most days and it was delicious! Local beer starts at 10 RMB and craft beers start at 40 RMB. Beers start at 20 RMB at Rusty Bolt Bar. You can calculate how much you might spend based on these numbers.
Visa for China
Check if your country requires a visa to get into China. Apply in advance, as the visa application can be a long process. US, Canadian, and UK citizens all require a visa.
How To Get To Yangshuo
There are three ways to get into Yangshuo. The method you choose is dependant on how much time you have and flight prices.
From Guilin Airport
Fly into Guilin International Airport (KWL). You may need to transfer in from another major airport in China. After passing security in the Guilin Airport, you will see booths selling shuttle tickets to Yangshuo. You can either take the shuttle bus or hire a private taxi. The drive will be an hour long. The private taxis will take you directly to your hotel. The estimated cost for our private taxi was around $20. This was worth it as we were able to depart the airport quickly and arrive directly at our hotel. If you can get a direct flight into Guilin, this is the fastest way to get to Yangshuo.
Tips:
- Don’t forget to exchange some money at the airport or withdraw a small amount. Many hotels in Yangshuo require you to pay in advance with cash.
- I didn’t see a place to get a SIM card at the Guilin airport, but things change very rapidly in China
Kimmie Tu warming up on Carbonic Acid Trip 5.10b (4 stars) at Wine Bottle crag.
From Hong Kong
Fly into Hong Kong International airport (HKG). Take the Airport Express high-speed train into Kowloon (last stop on the train). From there, take a bus or taxi to West Kowloon Terminus (香港西九龍站). Board the train to Guangzhou South (广州南站) and then board another one to Yangshuo (阳朔) (around $50 USD total). The estimated trip is under 4 hours. After you exit Yangshuo station, make a left and you will see an office that sells shuttle tickets to Yangshuo for 20 RMB (Chinese Yuan). The shuttle ride will take a minimum of 45 minutes. After exiting the shuttle, there may be an option to take another shuttle for 2-5 RMB to West Street (西街步行街) (main tourist area, you’ll be going here if you stay at The Climber’s Inn). However, this shuttle might only operate during high season. If you’re not going to West Street then you’ll need to hire a taxi. You’ll find taxis outside of the bus stop. Locals have told me it’ll usually cost them 10 RMB to hire a taxi, but it seems like foreigners get charged significantly more. I’ve been quoted 20-60 RMB. You can try using Didi (China’s Uber) to see if you can find a car that is cheaper. This route is popular if you need to stop by Hong Kong to obtain a Chinese Visa.
Tips:
- Book your train tickets in advance on Trip.com. Buy both tickets at the same time. Don’t wait until you get to Guangzhou to buy your Yangshuo ticket as you’ll need to exit the station and try to buy a ticket where they don’t speak English.
- If booking train tickets online, you will be charged a service fee when you arrive in person to pick up your tickets. Be sure to bring Hong Kong Dollars to pay for this fee as they may not accept credit card payments (they didn’t for us in 2018).
- Buying train tickets in person will save you a few dollars. They speak English at the West Kowloon station. Arrive 2 hours in advance if you’re buying tickets as the queue can be very long.
- Arrive at West Kowloon at least 1-2 hours before your train departure. There may be a long line to purchase/pick-up your tickets. You’ll need 45 minutes to go through security and immigration (much like going through an airport) and board the train.
- If you’re flying into Hong Kong, you can get a SIM card at the airport that will work in both Hong Kong and China. Either China Mobile or China Unicom will work fine. As of March 2019, I only saw China Mobile at the airport.
- You’ll probably want to exchange around $20-50 worth of USD to the Chinese Yuan at the airport. Don’t forget the Yuan, you’ll need it for transportation in China. Also, grab some Hong Kong Dollars for transportation and food.
From Guangzhou
Fly to Guangzhou (CAN) airport. You’ll most likely have to transfer in from another airport to get here. From the airport, take a taxi to Guangzhou South Train Station (广州南站). Make sure you go to the correct train station as there are several. Take a train to Yangshuo station (阳朔). After you exit Yangshuo station, make a left and you will see an office that sells shuttle tickets to Yangshuo for 20 RMB (Chinese Yuan). The shuttle ride trip time is a minimum of 45 minutes. After exiting the shuttle, there may be an option to take another shuttle for 2-5 RMB to West Street (西街步行街) (main tourist area, you’ll be going here if you stay at The Climber’s Inn). This shuttle may only operate during high season. If you’re not going to West Street then you’ll need to hire a taxi. Locals say they it’ll usually cost them 10 RMB to hire a taxi, but it seems like foreigners get charged significantly more. I’ve been quoted 20-60 RMB. You can try using Didi (China’s Uber) to see if you can find a car that is cheaper.
Tips:
- Don’t forget to withdraw or exchange money
- Write down Guangzhou South Train Station (广州南站) to show the taxi driver
- Book your train ticket in advance on Trip.com.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your train departure
Accommodations in Yangshuo
There are a vast amount of hotels for you to stay at or you can rent an apartment for a month. You can use Booking.com to search for hotels. If you’re not sure where you want to stay, here are the places that we have stayed at:
Climber’s Inn – A good choice if you’re traveling solo as it is easy to find climbing partners in the dorm room. As of 2019, the Climber’s Inn has moved to its new location on Fuqian Xiang. The new location should be quieter than the old location. The owner, Lilly is an amazing host and she will help link you up with other climbers, take you climbing, and even organize dinners. Lily sells the guidebook and belay glasses. We stayed here in 2018 and haven’t been to their new location. Please email us reviews and we’ll update the info here.
Mountain Stream – A hotel within a 20-minute walk from town (the walk is pleasant as you get to experience local life). The rooms are spacious, clean, and quiet. The water is hot, the heaters work, the beds are comfortable, and the internet works well enough to check emails and do some internet browsing. Those who need to work on their laptops may not find the internet strong enough. Overall our stay here was very enjoyable and we would stay here again. They offer a lot of services such as taxi, shuttle, scooter rental, and bike rentals. However, be advised that they upcharge double for their services.
YangShuo Eden YHA – A very lovely hotel located in a quiet area of Yangshuo. Here you can enjoy the lovely view of Yangshuo without all the chaos in the main tourist area. This is a great choice if you’re on vacation. This was my favorite place to stay. The downside is you’re far from all the food, but it isn’t a problem if you buy a scooter or rent a scooter.
Finding an apartment:
This takes a bit of work but is possible. The first step to finding an apartment will be to go to the Rusty Bolt Bar and ask around or join a climbing group chat on Wechat. You’ll have to find someone to add you to the group chat. Let me know if anyone has updated info on apartment hunting and I’ll update the info here. For insight, this is how I found my first apartment. I subleased a second apartment from a friend. The estimated minimum apartment cost is 800 RMB/month for a basic apartment.
Kimmie Tu and April Davidson having a great time driving from White Mountain crag.
Getting Around Yangshuo
The best way to get to the crag is to buy a scooter or rent a scooter. Driving on a scooter around in Yangshuo is relatively safe. The locals drive slowly. You do not need a license to drive a scooter that is under 50 CC.
Renting a scooter:
Rent one from your hotel or in town. You’ll see signs that say Scooter Rental.
Buying a scooter:
If you’re staying for more than 2 weeks, buying a scooter and then reselling it is a great option. Scooter prices range from 300-900 RMB depending on the season and condition of the scooter. Ask around at the Rusty Bolt if you need a scooter. There are also buy/sell group chats on Wechat. You may want to change the oil of your scooter as travelers are not likely to change the oil until the scooter breaks down.
Navigation App:
Google Maps won’t work unless you have a VPN. Download Maps.me beforehand and download the “Guangxi” area, where people have pinpointed where some of the most famous crags are located. Apple Maps is another good option, but it won’t have crag info (only available on iPhone).
Finding Climbing Partners in Yangshuo
If you’re solo-traveling or want to add more people to your climbing group, the best way to find climbers is to go to the Rusty Bolt Bar at night. That’s where all the climbers hang out. It’s across the alley from the Climber’s Inn.
Guidebook
You can buy a book at the Climbers Inn or Rusty Bolt Bar. A digital copy can be found online on Rakkup for $8.99.
Yangshuo is a popular town for tourists. There are many restaurants to try.
Recommended Food
- Little Sheep for hot pot (a must-try if you haven’t had Chinese hot pot before). English is very limited but you can just point at their set menu.
- Stir-fry restaurants up Hospital Rd. You can pick and choose what you want like at a salad bar and they will fry everything up. It’s delicious and only 13-15 RMB.
- Pure Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant
Internet and VPN in Yangshuo
You will need to download and setup VPN apps BEFORE you go to China. Not all VPNs will work. Do some research beforehand. The ones I’ve used are ExpressVPN, VPN 360, and Star VPN (used in 2018 – 2019). If you don’t have a VPN, you won’t be able to access Google, Facebook, Instagram, and most Western websites. Be sure to install on your phone, tablet, and laptop.
If you have an international roaming plan from your provider at home, it can bypass the Great Firewall of China. My USA T-Mobile mobile provider was able to get around the firewall but I was limited to just 2g, which at times was faster than using a VPN.
Internet reliability and speed is not great in Yangshuo. It was slow in all the hotels and apartments I’ve stayed at. The best reliable internet was found at Pure Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant and coffee shops.
SIM Card for China
Obtain one at the major airports. If you don’t see them at the airport you can get a China Unicom SIM card in Yangshuo for around 50 RMB for 10 GB (price may change). This is where we got ours: https://goo.gl/maps/s8ajP5yLbaGzFpyUA, take a screenshot of this as Google Maps won’t work in China unless you use a VPN. There is a limited amount of English here so make sure you have the Google Translator App downloaded and have the offline functionality setup. Bring your passport. As of Spring 2019, only China Unicom in Yangshuo will sell you a SIM card. I tried getting a SIM card at the numerous China Mobile stores in Yangshuo, but they all turned me away.
Wechat in China
Download Wechat to communicate with other climbers and stay-in-touch with your loved ones back at home. Word of caution, Wechat has increased its security and setting it up can take a while. I won’t detail out the process as it seems to change often.
Communication
Mandarin Chinese is the main language of China. In Yangshuo they speak a dialect that is similar to Mandarin Chinese, however, Mandarin is widely understood. English is spoken in the main tourist areas in some hotels and restaurants but most places only speak Chinese. It’s good to download a translator app that can work offline like Google Translator. Download Simplified Chinese.
Festival crag is a beautiful and quiet crag that is less-frequented. It’s worth the visit! We recommend splitting a taxi with friends to get here. It’s further from all the other crags.
Safety
The locals are extremely friendly and very helpful here. Walking around at night felt safe. We have not heard any reports of people being attacked. We have not heard anything about stuff getting stolen at the crag, however, it’s always good to be mindful of your things. Driving around on a scooter is relatively safe as most people drive slow. Just be vigilant of the people driving in front of you as they don’t really check their blind spots.
Drinking Water
The water is dirty. It’s hard to avoid since your vegetables are washed in it. I didn’t hear of anyone getting food poisoning, however, we can report that our bowel movements were not spectacular. Best to avoid raw vegetables if you can.
Save the planet by not buying a new plastic bottle of water every day. Bring a large water bottle with you. Boil water at night and fill your water bottle in the morning.
Packing List
- 14-20 quickdraws
- 70 meter rope
- Rope bag and tarp
- Rain pants and jacket
- Waterproof shoes
- Harness
- Climbing shoes
- Belay device
- Anchor system (if going on multi-pitches)
- Personal anchor system
- Helmet
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Passport
- A large water bottle
- Headlamp
- Backpack with rain cover or dry bag
- Belay glasses (routes are long and your neck will hurt)
Additional Tips for China
- Power banks must be clearly labeled or else you can’t bring them in and out of China (they will confiscate)
- People may cut you in line or push you. This is normal in Asia. Don’t get angry and just cut people back if you want. Don’t forget you’re in their country.
Send Us Updates!
If you have any information you would like to add here, simply email us. Your participation in keeping this guide up-to-date to help fellow climbers is greatly appreciated! If we missed any information, let us know and we can locate the information for you.
