Guilin attraction guide
Xingping Ancient Town and Li River Viewpoint Guide
兴坪古镇
Explore Xingping with railway-station transfers, old streets, Li River viewpoints, 20-yuan scenery, boat products and Xianggong Mountain pairing.
- Allow
- 4–7 hours
- Ticket
- Town free; boats paid
- Access
- Yangshuo rail station / road transfer
- Bring
- Chinese station and hotel names
Xingping is a small Li River town near major karst viewpoints and the station officially named Yangshuo, creating both opportunity and frequent transport confusion.
For foreign visitors, the useful plan is not only what to see but which entrance, identity document, transport connection and exit make the visit work. Save “兴坪古镇” in Chinese before leaving your hotel.
Quick answer
Use Yangshuo railway station as the rail gateway to Xingping, walk the old streets and riverside, and verify any boat route instead of assuming it reaches central Yangshuo.
Photo guide
What Xingping Ancient Town looks like
Historic streets and Li River scenery around Xingping (view 1)
Photo: Chinatravelsavvy. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Historic streets and Li River scenery around Xingping (view 2)
Photo: Chinatravelsavvy. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Historic streets and Li River scenery around Xingping (view 3)
Photo: Chinatravelsavvy. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tickets, reservations and passport checks for Xingping Ancient Town
The old town has no general ticket. Boat and raft products are separate, route-specific and affected by river conditions.
Check the official channel for your exact date and choose passport as the identity type when real-name booking is required. Keep the confirmation, admission window and entrance instructions available offline.
Yangshuo railway station is near Xingping, not Yangshuo’s West Street. Choose the correct onward destination.
A practical route through Xingping Ancient Town
- Transfer from Yangshuo railway station or central Yangshuo to Xingping.
- Walk the old town lanes before peak tour groups.
- Continue to the signed Li River and 20-yuan landscape area.
- Buy a boat only after confirming route and endpoint.
- Return to the station, Yangshuo or your local hotel with buffer.
How to fit Xingping Ancient Town into a Guilin itinerary
Pair Xingping with Xianggong Mountain or an overnight after the Li River cruise.
Morning and late afternoon offer better light; midday tour arrivals make the compact streets crowded.
Keep a workable backup
- Walk the riverbank when boats pause.
- Stay in town during heavy rain instead of forcing a viewpoint.
- Use the railway station transfer only after confirming final bus times.
- Return to central Yangshuo before evening road congestion peaks.
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From must-see attractions and local food to reservations, transport, and last-minute changes, send us your requests. We’ll take care of the practical details so you can focus on experiencing Guilin.
Plan My Guilin TripFrequently asked questions
Is Yangshuo railway station in Yangshuo town?
No. The station is near Xingping and requires a road transfer to central Yangshuo and West Street.
Can foreign visitors enter Xingping Ancient Town with a passport?
Major Guilin attractions generally support valid foreign passports, but the sales channel and gate workflow vary. Bring the original passport used for any real-name booking.
How much time should I allow for Xingping Ancient Town?
Plan about 4–7 hours, plus transport, security and queues. Mountain, river and outlying attractions need extra buffer for weather and internal transfers.
Official information used for this guide
Operational details last checked August 15, 2026. Tickets, hours, transport, closures, and passport workflows can change; confirm final details with the venue.
