Visiting Yangshuo with kids is fun! This city of 350,000 people is located in the middle of a spectacular landscape of karst mountains, rivers and green rice fields. The natural landscape is unique and found nowhere else in the world. The Li River runs through the Yangshuo region and on this river you can do all kinds of things with kids. On both sides of the river, you have beautiful mountains and green bamboo trees. Yangshuo is a popular destination among both Chinese and foreign tourists. We visited the city with our family and in this blog, we share the best children’s activities of Yangshuo.
Best travel time Yangshuo with kids
The best travel time to visit Yangshuo with kids are the months of April, May, October and November. This is because during these months there is less rainfall and temperatures are pleasant. Summers in Yangshuo are very hot and humid. July and August are the months with the highest temperatures. We were there in August with our family and it was indeed hot but doable.
Transportation to and in Yanghuo
Many families with kids visiting Yangshuo travel by (high-speed) train to the city of Guilin. From Guilin, you can either take a cab to Yangshuo (about a 1-hour drive) or, if you have more time, take a cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. The best way to explore Yangshuo and its surroundings is by bicycle, scooter or subway.
Children’s activities Yangshuo
Below we list some activities that should not be missed when visiting Yangshuo with kids.
#1 Rafting on the Li River
Rafting on the Li River or the Yulong River is one of the most popular activities in Yangshuo with kids and is the perfect way to discover the beautiful karst landscapes from the water. You will pass limestone mountains, green rice fields and pretty villages during this river rafting trip.
Rafting on the Li River is usually done on bamboo rafts with a motor. On the Yulong River, the rafts are often a bit smaller and are propelled by a skipper using a long stick. Most of these rafts have two chairs and an umbrella on the raft. So you may need multiple rafts with a family with kids. You can arrange these tours very easily at Yangshuo port.
A trip usually takes about 1.5 hours and you will pass various rapids on the water. If you have little time in town, this is the activity to do with the family in this region.
#2 Explore the area by bicycle or scooter
A bicycle or scooter tour in Yangshuo is a fun way to explore the Yangshou region with the family. Yangshuo is particularly bike-friendly, with many well-maintained trails and quiet roads. With children, for example, you can rent a tandem bike, where you as a parent can ride with your kid. Just keep in mind that many of the bikes are in poor condition, so check your bike carefully beforehand.
There are lots of different bike tours offered in Yangshuo, and many of them are guided. You have some popular routes you can ride in Yangshuo with kids.
Yangshuo to Moon Hill: this route is about 15 kilometers (round trip) and this route takes you along the Yulong River and through quiet villages. You can stop along the way with kids at the Butterfly Spring Park and the end station of this bike ride is the beautiful Moon Hill (more on this later in this blog), where you can stop for a short walk and a beautiful view.
Yulong River Valley: this is an approximately 20-30 kilometer looped cycling route. This area is known for its quiet and car-free trails along the Yulong River. You cycle through fields and past bamboo forests. You quickly spend a whole day on this bike tour with kids.
Ten-Mile Gallery: this bike route is about 10 kilometers long (round trip). This bike route starts in downtown Yangshuo and follows the road south toward Moon Hill. Along this route are numerous attractions to see with kids, including Big Banyan, Tree Park and the Butterfly Spring.
#3 Cooking course
If you want to learn Chinese cuisine a little, then doing a cooking course in Yangshou with kids is highly recommended. Several places offer cooking classes. Classes often begin with a visit to the local market hall in Yangshuo, after which you will prepare various dishes under supervision. Very fun to do with the family. Take the recipes with you and try preparing the dishes again at home.
#4 West Street
West Street is located in downtown Yangshou and is the most touristy street in the city. It’s fun to walk around here with kids at the various souvenir stalls. You also have several restaurants and bars here, where you can go for snacks and drinks.
It can also become very entertaining here towards evening with live music and various buskers, for example. This area is definitely fun to visit if you are visiting Yangshou with the family.
#5 Moon Hill
Moon Hill is a limestone mountain with a striking crescent-shaped passage in the middle. The arch was created by millions of years of erosion and weathering of the limestone, which led to the formation of this lunar shape. The arch is about 50 meters high and 20 meters wide. You can also climb Moon Hill with kids.
Atop this mountain you also have a beautiful view of the surrounding karst landscapes. The climb goes up over fine (but sometimes steep) paths and steps and takes about an hour. With very small kids, though, this can be a pretty exhausting climb. In the summer months, try to climb this mountain especially in the early morning or late afternoon, as it can be very hot during the day.
Moon Hill is about 8 kilometers south of Yangshuo and is easily accessible by bicycle, scooter or cab. You also have a restaurant at this landmark in Yangshuo, which is great for lunch with kids.
#6 Ruyi Peak
The Yangshuo Ruyi Peak cable car is really a top attraction in Yangshuo. The cable car offers stunning views of the karst landscape. At the top, you can enjoy the views from two glass walkways, a suspension bridge and a viewing platform. Especially with kids, these glass walkways are great fun to visit. It is not such a well-known attraction in Yangshuo, but we found it really spectacular.
The views of the karst landscape are truly magnificent and the glass walkway is also a unique experience. You walk around on well-constructed and safe trails. Do take 2 to 3 hours. It is a lot of ascending and descending via stairs.
#7 Impression Sanjie Liu
This is the largest natural theater in the world. The Li River itself is the stage and the twelve mountains serve as the backdrop. As many as 600 dancers participate in this show which makes the show thus very impressive. They make great use of all kinds of lighting effects, taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings. The show is in Chinese, but there is no talking in it, and it is mainly really about the dancing and the show anyway.
Each day there are two shows you can watch with kids, and they are at 7:40 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. At the show you also have several booths, where you can buy some drinks and some goodies for kids. The show lasts about an hour. We found this show a truly unique experience and definitely recommend going here with kids.
#8 Visit a tea plantation
Near Yangshuo, there are several tea plantations you can visit with kids. One of the famous tea plantations near Yangshuo is the Seven Stars Tea Plantation. This plantation is on the way to Xingping, so it is nice to combine if you are riding your bike or scooter to Xingping. You can pick your own tea leaves there and make your own tea here.
It’s a photogenic setting and you all get to wear typical Asian hats when picking the tea (very nice for the photos, of course). Of course, you can also taste the tea here.
Other children’s activities Yangshuo
In addition to the activities in Yangshuo described above, there are a number of activities you can do in this city with kids. We list them briefly below:
#9 Silver Cave cave
Silver Cave is a spectacular limestone cave with impressive stalactites and stalagmites illuminated in colors. The cave is known for its shimmering, silvery color, created by the reflection of light on the rocks and minerals in the cave. You can visit this cave near Yangshuo with kids. The cave is about 18 km from Yangshuo and can be reached by bus, cab or organized tour.
#10 Cormorant fishermen
Local fishermen traditionally use traditional methods of fishing, using trained cormorants to catch the fish. The cormorants peck the fish out of the water, but cannot swallow the fish. This is how fishermen catch fish. This way of fishing is characteristic of this region, but in practice it is no longer fished this way.
Now taking the famous photo of a fisherman with two cormorants on a stick is a tourist attraction. In downtown Yangshuo, you will find dozens of rafting fishermen with cormorants daily on the riverbank. For a fee, the family can also have their picture taken with a fisherman.
Family-friendly restaurant Yangshuo
You can eat fine food in Yangshuo with kids. Here are a few family-friendly restaurants in Yangshuo that you can visit.
Lucy’s Café: this cozy café is located on West Street and features Western and Chinese dishes. Kids can eat pancakes, fries or noodles at this family-friendly restaurant in Yangshuo. High chairs are available and the staff is very friendly.
Amy’s on the Li: You can order both Italian and Chinese dishes at this family-friendly restaurant in Yangshuo. The restaurant has a terrace, where you can eat outside and then you really have a beautiful view of the surroundings. In addition to pasta and pizza, the restaurant also has pancakes and fries with a burger for kids.
Family-friendly hotel Yangshuo
In Yangshuo, you have plenty of family-friendly accommodations where you can stay with the family. Many also have swimming pools. Nice to cool off or spend a day relaxing. We list below some of the top rated family-friendly accommodations in Yangshuo. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Climbers Inn Yangshuo
Middle class accommodation: The Bamboo Leaf Yangshuo: in this accommodation we stayed with our family and we really liked this accommodation. The accommodation has friendly and helpful (English-speaking) staff, a beautiful pool and a delicious breakfast. In addition, you could rent scooters and there was a free shuttle bus to downtown Yangshuo.
Luxury Accommodation: Yangshuo Sugar House
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Yangshuo.
About the author: I am Marjolijn. For over 30 years I have been traveling all over the world with my husband Frits and our kids Stijn and Jens. I have also turned my passion for travel into my profession and have been active as an independent travel consultant for some time now. So if you are looking for an unforgettable trip with your kids, I would love to help you find your next dream destination. Feel free to contact me without obligation.
