Yangshuo & Yulong River

People have lived in the Yangshuo area for about 3,000 years, and Yangshuo County was established in 590 under Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty. The nearby river town of Xingping, first settled in 265, was the regional centre until then. For most of its history this was a farming district, with trade moving along the Li River.

The Yulong River's name is usually translated as 'meeting the dragon', from a local legend. Its best-known landmark is Yulong Bridge, a stone arch bridge dating from the Ming dynasty, where raft trips traditionally begin. In recent decades Yangshuo has become a favourite stop for independent travellers, and later one of China's best-known rock-climbing areas, with famous crags such as Moon Hill. Today West Street, a historic lane in the town centre, is one of the busiest tourist streets in Guangxi.

Outside town, daily life in the valley revolves around farming. Rice is still grown on the valley floor, but many families now cultivate pomelos, mandarins and other fruit, and roadside stalls sell them in season. Villages along the Yulong River have turned old farmhouses into guesthouses, and many local people work as raft poler, guide or cook. Yangshuo is part of Guangxi, home to the Zhuang people, and Zhuang folk songs and festivals are part of local culture, as is the famous evening light show staged on the Li River.