Guilin Yangshuo Xi Jie

Chinese name: Yang shuo xi jie

Location: Near Pantao road, Yangshuo County, Guilin City

Admission: FOC

Estimated time of tour: half day

Recommended time of visit: all year

Nearby attractions: Xingping Ancient Town; Li river. 

Guilin has always been the forefront of China’s opening up. It was one of the first tourist city ever opened to foreign visitors in late 1970s. Guilin has been the crown jewel of China’s tourism industry. This inconspicuous southern city in China attracts hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors each year for its amazing landscapes and dazzling culture. Among all its natural and cultural attractions, a less than 1km long street 60km south of downtown Guilin is especially popular among overseas visitors. Some say your trip to Guilin is not complete, if you don’t spend a day here in Xijie, Yangshuo. It is called xi jie (west street) or yang ren jie (street full of foreigners) as the foreign residence population is larger than the natives. Some argue that Xijie, was once, the place in China which has the highest percentage of foreign residence. In early 1980s, backpackers started to appear and gather in Yangshuo. These foreigners came to Yangshuo for its tranquil life and picturesque views. At the beginning, they stayed foe 3-5 days or a week. Then some foreigners decided to stay much longer. They opened pubs, restaurants, hotels and art studios. Many of they married with Yangshuo locals and live here permanently. Their presence boosted the local economy and even changed local language. To communicate with there foreigners, Yangshuo locals took to their English book and began to learn from these foreigners. It won’t be surprising to see a Chinese granny taking to foreigners in English here in Yangshuo Xijie.  

Some argued that Xijie was the origin, or at least the inspiration, of those popular ancient streets in many big cities in China. All you need to do here in Xijie is to order a cup or coffee or tea in local coffee shop and relax yourselves. Off course, if you want to explore more of Yangshuo, you can rent a bike, circle around its beautiful surroundings, especially the Yulong River. 

Yangshuo xijie is suitable to visit all year around. Local hotels or B&Bs are mostly reasonable priced. As for food, Xijie, or all of Yangshuo is never in short of pubs and restaurants, Chinese or Western style meals are everywhere. If you want to try something local, Yangshuo shares the same food culture that of Guilin. Pi jiu yu (Beer fish) is the most common one. Fish from Li River are processed and cooked with beer. Since you are in Guilin region, mi fen (rice noodle) is something impossible to miss. 

Access

There are shuttle bus between Yangshuo and Guilin. The travel fare costs you RMB25. If you have time, take a cruise boat is better option. Start off from Guilin, you will have the most beautiful view of Guilin along Li River. The boat cruise takes about RMB180.