Step off the scenic loops and into 1,700 years of river-town life — Xingping's old street, Fuli's painted-fan makers, and Jiuxian's quiet lanes, all an easy e-bike ride from Yangshuo town.
Bottom line: Yangshuo is usually sold for its karst scenery, but its river towns are the cultural counterweight — Xingping (1,700+ years old, and the view on the back of the 20-yuan note), Fuli (the painted-fan capital), and Jiuxian (a restored historic village). All three are free to walk and an easy e-bike loop from town.
Most visitors race through Yangshuo on bike loops and raft trips and miss that the same river has been shaping towns for over a millennium. The Li River bends past Xingping (兴坪古镇), one of the oldest settlements in the region, where a Ming- and Qing-era street still runs down to the water. A short hop away, Fuli (福利古镇) has spent generations making hand-painted fans, and Jiuxian (旧县) keeps a cluster of old houses that cyclists detour through for the quiet. Together they are the best low-effort window into local life you can get without leaving the Yangshuo basin.
None of these old towns charges an entry fee — you wander the lanes for free and pay only for what you choose to do or buy. That makes them a good counterbalance to the ticketed scenic spots, and an easy half- or full-day addition to any Yangshuo itinerary, especially on a day you want culture over cardio.
Xingping is the headline. Founded well over 1,700 years ago, it was once a bustling river port, and the old street — a strip of grey-brick, tiled-roof buildings — still leads from the market down to the Li River. The town's fame got a modern boost when the bend just south of it was printed on the reverse of the 20-yuan banknote, making the 20-yuan viewpoint one of the most recognised photo spots in China. Get there for soft morning or late-afternoon light and you'll see why.
Beyond the photo, Xingping is where the cormorant fishing tradition is staged on the river at dusk, and it sits on the classic Guilin-to-Yangshuo river road, so it works as a natural stop on a self-drive from Guilin. Allow 1.5-2 hours to walk the street, climb to a viewpoint, and have a riverside tea.
Fuli is smaller and quieter than Xingping, and it is the home of Yangshuo's signature handicraft: the painted fan (团扇). Local makers hand-paint silk or paper fans — karst landscapes, birds, plum blossom — and mount them on carved bamboo frames. Several family workshops still operate along the old lanes, and watching one being painted is a better souvenir story than any shop purchase.
Fuli also has its own stretch of old riverside buildings and a slower pace than the West Street bustle of Yangshuo town. It pairs naturally with Xingping on a single loop: ride out through Fuli in the morning, reach Xingping for lunch and the viewpoint, and drift back as the light softens.
Jiuxian is the cyclist's favourite — a historic village a few kilometres from Yangshuo town whose old houses and narrow lanes have been partly restored, with a couple of cafes and guesthouses moved into heritage buildings. It is not a "sight" with a ticket; it is a place to ride in, lock the bike, and walk the lanes where new building meets old stone.
Because it sits right on popular cycling routes, Jiuxian is the easy win if you only have an afternoon and want old-town atmosphere without a dedicated day trip. Combine it with the Yulong River path for a loop that mixes heritage and scenery.
If you go upstream rather than down, Yangdi (杨堤) marks the northern start of the classic Li River scenic stretch and the downstream cruise that ends near Xingping. It is more of a launch point than a town to explore, but it frames the river narrative: the same bends that inspired the painted fans and the banknote view are the ones the cruise passes. Many self-drivers stop at Yangdi for the first big karst panorama before continuing to Xingping.
Beyond painted fans, the Yangshuo and wider Guangxi craft scene includes Zhuang and Yao embroidery (bold geometric and floral patterns, often on indigo cloth), tie-dye from nearby minority villages, and small woven or carved items. You'll see these in Fuli and Jiuxian workshops and in the occasional riverside stall. The honest rule: the best pieces are made by the person selling them, so a demonstration or a maker's stall beats a generic tourist-shop shelf.
| Town / village | Known for | Effort from Yangshuo town |
|---|---|---|
| Xingping (兴坪) | Old street, 20-yuan viewpoint, cormorant fishing | E-bike ~40 min / drive ~30 min |
| Fuli (福利) | Painted-fan workshops, quiet riverside lanes | E-bike ~30 min / drive ~25 min |
| Jiuxian (旧县) | Restored historic village, cafes, cycling stop | E-bike ~20 min / drive ~15 min |
| Yangdi (杨堤) | Cruise start, first big karst panorama | Drive ~40 min upstream |
All four are simple to reach. By e-bike or bike, they form a flat, signed loop out of Yangshuo town — the most enjoyable way, because the roads themselves are scenic. By car, follow the river road toward Xingping; parking sits near each old town, though lots fill on holiday weekends, so arrive earlier in the day. If you are on a Guilin-to-Yangshuo drive, build in a Xingping stop rather than treating it as a detour.
These towns are good year-round, but the experience changes with the season. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable walking weather and the clearest river light for the 20-yuan viewpoint. Summer is lush and warm — go early to beat the heat and the crowds. Winter is quiet and atmospheric, with fewer vendors but colder lanes, so dress for it. Mornings and late afternoons beat midday for both photos and temperament.
The project does not name specific shops or workshops. The practical guidance: buy from makers you can see working, agree a price before committing, and skip anything described as a valuable antique unless you genuinely know the field. Painted fans, embroidery, and tie-dye from local hands are fairly priced, packable, and put money directly into the villages you are visiting — which is the point of stopping in the first place.
Xingping (兴坪古镇) is the oldest and most atmospheric — a Li River town with over 1,700 years of history and a preserved old street of Ming- and Qing-style buildings. It is also the spot on the reverse of the 20-yuan banknote, so the bend in the river just south of town is one of the most photographed views in the region.
Painted fans are Yangshuo's best-known handicraft, and Fuli (福利古镇) is the centre of their making. Local artisans hand-paint landscapes, birds, and flowers onto silk or paper fans mounted on hand-carved frames. They are light, pack flat, and make a genuine regional souvenir rather than a generic one.
Yes, easily. Xingping, Fuli, and Jiuxian all sit within a comfortable e-bike or bike loop of Yangshuo town (roughly 20-40 minutes out). The roads are flat and scenic, which is why these villages are staples of Yangshuo cycling routes. Driving is also straightforward, with parking near each old town.
No — walking the old streets of Xingping and Fuli is free. You pay only for specific activities (a Yulong raft, a show, or a workshop demonstration). This is different from ticketed attractions like Elephant Trunk Hill or the cable car at some sites, so budget mainly for transport, food, and any crafts you buy.
Beyond painted fans, look for Zhuang and Yao embroidery, tie-dyed cloth, and small carved or woven items sold by village makers. Buy from the people actually making them where you can, agree on a price first, and treat any 'antique' claim with healthy scepticism — most pieces are contemporary craft, which is fine and supports local makers.
Half a day covers one town at a relaxed pace; a full day lets you link Xingping, Fuli, and Jiuxian with a riverside lunch and some cycling in between. If you are combining it with the 20-yuan viewpoint and cormorant fishing at dusk, plan the ancient-town wandering for the afternoon and stay for the river at night.
Pair a Xingping afternoon with a dusk river and you get history and a show in one outing.
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