Xingping Ancient Town 兴坪 — The Real 20-Yuan View, Laozhai Hill & Li River Bamboo Rafts 2026

Q: Where exactly is the 20-yuan-banknote view at Xingping?

It is at Yellow Cloth Shoal (黄布倒影), a bend of the Li River near Dahebei village. Walk from the old town toward the pier for about 15–20 minutes and you reach the same angle printed on the 1999 fifth-series 20-yuan note. For a higher view that captures both the town and the river bend, hike the Back Hill behind the town (about 20 minutes) to its viewing platform, or climb Laozhai Hill (about 225 m, roughly 30 minutes).

Q: Is it free to enter Xingping Ancient Town?

Yes — the town and the old street are free to walk. You only pay for the activities you choose, such as a bamboo raft to Nine Horses Mural Hill (about ¥150–220 per person) or a small trail fee on parts of the Laozhai Hill climb. The Fishing Village (Yucun), about 2 km away, charges a separate admission.

Q: How much is a bamboo raft at Xingping and where does it go?

Motorised bamboo rafts leave Xingping Pier and head upstream to Nine Horses Mural Hill (九马画山) and back — roughly 5.5 km and about 1–1.5 hours, passing the 20-yuan Yellow Cloth Shoal view on the way. Expect about ¥150–220 per person (about ฿750–1,100) depending on the season and on bargaining. Early morning, when there is light mist, is the prettiest time.

Get to know it

Why travellers seek outXingping

Pick up a 20-yuan note and turn it over — that row of karst peaks mirrored in still water isn't an artist's invention. It's Yellow Cloth Shoal (黄布倒影), a bend of the Li River right by Xingping, and you can walk out and stand at the exact same angle. It's only a 15–20 minute stroll from the old town.

Xingping (兴坪) is a small ancient town on the east bank of the Li River, about 40 minutes from Yangshuo town, with more than 1,300 years of history. It was the largest town on this stretch of river long before Yangshuo grew up. What remains today is a stone-paved old street, rows of Ming- and Qing-era shopfronts, and a run of peaks-and-water scenery that plenty of people call the prettiest on the whole Li River.

Xingping's real draw is how calm it is. If Yangshuo's West Street is all night-time buzz, Xingping is the opposite — slow, quiet, built around the landscape. It suits the kind of traveller who'd rather be on a raft at dawn watching the mist lift than chasing bar lights. The town and old street are free to enter; you only pay for the activities you choose.

The Li River bend near Xingping Ancient Town — karst peaks reflected in still water, the same scene printed on the 20-yuan banknote — The Li River bend at Xingping — the same karst-peaks-reflected-in-water angle as the back of the 20-yuan note

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Town entry

Free

Pay only for rafts / hill / fishing village

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Best time

Early morning mist

06:00–08:00 — still water, few people

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From Yangshuo

~40–45 min

Bus ¥10 or DiDi / taxi

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Laozhai Hill

~225 m high

~30 min climb, 90° river-bend view

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Bamboo raft

~¥150–220 (~฿750–1,100)

Xingping ↔ Nine Horses Hill, ~1–1.5 h

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20-yuan view

Yellow Cloth Shoal

~15–20 min walk from the old town

Don't miss

5 things that make Xingpingworth a half-day or a day

From the view on the banknote to a fishing village two world leaders once visited

1

The 20-yuan view · Yellow Cloth Shoal (黄布倒影)

Classic photo spot · ~15–20 min walk from the old town

The karst peaks reflected on the back of the 1999 20-yuan note come from this very bend of the river, near Dahebei village. Follow the crowd toward the pier and you'll reach a marked spot where you can hold the banknote up against the real thing. Early morning — still water, thin mist — gives the sharpest reflection.
2

Laozhai Hill (老寨山)

Panorama viewpoint · ~225 m · ~30 min climb

A small hill right beside the old town. Climb it in about 30 minutes and the summit opens onto the Li River curving a full 90 degrees around its base — the best panorama in Xingping, and especially good at sunrise. The path is fairly steep, so wear trainers and carry water.
3

Bamboo raft to Nine Horses Mural Hill (九马画山)

On-water activity · ~5.5 km · ~1–1.5 hours

A motorised bamboo raft leaves Xingping Pier and drifts upstream to "Nine Horses" cliff, whose streaked rock face is said to resemble nine galloping horses — passing the 20-yuan Yellow Cloth Shoal view on the way before looping back. Reckon on about ¥150–220 per person (about ฿750–1,100). Always agree the price before you step on.
4

Xingping Old Street (兴坪老街)

Stone-paved · Ming/Qing shopfronts · free

The town's main lane, paved in stone since old times, lined with timber-and-brick shophouses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today there are small cafés, souvenir shops and guesthouses tucked among them. An easy 20–30 minute wander — and far quieter than Yangshuo's West Street.
5

Fishing Village (渔村 Yucun)

Ming-era village · ~2 km from town · separate fee

A riverside village built in the Ming dynasty, more than 500 years old — grey brick, black tile, horse-head firewalls and carved windows. It's nicknamed the "President Fishing Village" because Dr Sun Yat-sen visited in 1921 and former US President Bill Clinton came in 1998. You can still watch the traditional cormorant-fishing demonstration here.

What you can do here

Climb, raft, and slow right down by the Li River

🌅 Get up early for mist and still water

Xingping is at its best in the early morning, around 06:00–08:00. The Li River is still glassy, a thin mist hangs over the water, and the early light softens the karst peaks. This is when the Yellow Cloth Shoal reflection is sharpest — before the breeze and the rafts start to ripple the surface later in the morning.

If you're visiting on a day trip from Yangshuo, set off early to catch this window. If you'd rather take it slow, stay a night in Xingping and you'll get both sunset from Laozhai Hill and sunrise over the river on the same trip.

🛶 Drift the Li River by bamboo raft

A motorised bamboo raft leaves Xingping Pier for Nine Horses Mural Hill (九马画山) — roughly 5.5 km, about 1–1.5 hours there and back — passing the 20-yuan Yellow Cloth Shoal view along the way. You sit low to the water, close to the peaks, water buffalo and riverbank bamboo, in a way the big tour boats can't match. Expect about ¥150–220 per person (about ฿750–1,100) depending on the season and on bargaining.

This is exactly why so many people prefer the Xingping stretch to the long cruise — the raft sits near the surface and feels much closer to the landscape.

Tip: Li River cruises and Yangshuo–Xingping raft trips can be booked ahead on Klook, with clearer prices and no haggling at the pier. See cruises & rafts on Klook →

The Li River with karst peaks and a bamboo raft near Yangshuo, close to Xingping, Guilin — The Li River near Yangshuo and Xingping — karst peaks and bamboo rafts are the signature image of Guilin

📸 Where to get the postcard shot

For the classic "20-yuan" view, walk from the old town toward the pier for about 15–20 minutes until you reach the marked spot where you can line it up against the banknote. If you'd rather have a higher angle that frames both the old town and the river bend, hike the Back Hill behind the town for about 20 minutes to its viewing platform.

The best panorama of all, though, is still the summit of Laozhai Hill, where the river curves right around the base of the peak. Get there before sunrise to catch the first warm light of the day.

Getting there

How to reachXingping

Most people use Yangshuo as a base and ride out to Xingping for a half-day or full day — it's both the easiest and the cheapest way.

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Bus from Yangshuo

~¥10 (~฿50)

Leaves Yangshuo Bus Station every ~20 min (morning–early afternoon), ~40–45 min. Then a ~10-minute walk into town.

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DiDi / taxi

From ~¥40

About 45 min from Yangshuo, drops you at the edge of the old town. Worth it if you're a few people.

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Li River cruise

From Guilin ~4–5 h

The long Guilin→Yangshuo cruise passes this stretch and lands near Xingping. See the cruise guide for details.

Timing tip: Guilin has no metro — getting around here means buses, taxis/DiDi and tours. Coming straight from Guilin, take the high-speed train or a bus to Yangshuo first (about 1.5 hours), then continue to Xingping. Catch the 20-yuan view in the morning, then do the old street and a raft ride later — that fits neatly into a single day.

Pair it nearby

Combine Xingping withGuilin & Yangshuo

Xingping slots in perfectly with the Li River and the Yangshuo countryside — plan the rest here

Li River Cruise, Guilin→Yangshuo

The classic ~83 km cruise that passes the 20-yuan view near Xingping — boat types, prices, seasons

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Yangshuo West Street

The lively side of Yangshuo — bars, restaurants and the Impression Liu Sanjie show

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Yulong River, Yangshuo countryside

The "Little Li River" — quiet bamboo-raft drifting and cycling among the karst peaks

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Frequently asked

FAQ · Xingping before you go

Where exactly is the 20-yuan-banknote view at Xingping?

It's at Yellow Cloth Shoal (黄布倒影), a bend of the Li River near Dahebei village. Walk from the old town toward the pier for about 15–20 minutes and you reach the same angle printed on the 1999 fifth-series 20-yuan note. For a higher view that captures both the town and the river bend, hike the Back Hill behind the town (about 20 minutes), or climb Laozhai Hill (about 225 m, roughly 30 minutes).

Is it free to enter Xingping Ancient Town?

Yes — the town and the old street are free to walk. You only pay for the activities you choose, such as a bamboo raft to Nine Horses Mural Hill (about ¥150–220 per person) or a small trail fee on parts of the Laozhai Hill climb. The Fishing Village (Yucun), about 2 km away, charges a separate admission.

How much is a bamboo raft at Xingping and where does it go?

Motorised bamboo rafts leave Xingping Pier for Nine Horses Mural Hill (九马画山) and back — roughly 5.5 km and about 1–1.5 hours, passing the 20-yuan Yellow Cloth Shoal view on the way. Expect about ¥150–220 per person (about ฿750–1,100) depending on the season and on bargaining. Early morning, when there's light mist, is the prettiest time.

How do you get to Xingping from Yangshuo?

The cheapest way is the bus from Yangshuo Bus Station to Xingping — about ¥10 (about ฿50), leaving roughly every 20 minutes from morning to early afternoon, taking about 40–45 minutes. From Xingping bus station it's a 10-minute walk into the old town. A DiDi or taxi (from about ¥40) is more comfortable and takes about 45 minutes. The long Guilin Li River cruise also passes this stretch and lands near Xingping.

How is Xingping different from Yangshuo West Street, and which should I pick?

West Street in Yangshuo is busy and lively — bars, restaurants and night-time energy. Xingping is quieter and slower, built around the river scenery, the stone-paved Ming/Qing street, and morning raft rides. If you want calm and postcard karst views, choose Xingping; many travellers base themselves in Yangshuo and visit Xingping for a half-day or full day.

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