Daily rates, deposits, the fees that catch people out, and how to pay less without haggling hard.
Bottom line: A Yangshuo e-bike costs 30-60 RMB a day and a pedal bike 20-40 RMB. Budget a deposit of 100-500 RMB or a passport, return on time to avoid overtime fees, and rent a street back from West Street for the best rates.
E-bikes are the single best-value activity in Yangshuo: for less than the price of a coffee you get a full day of countryside riding. Prices are not fixed by law, though, so what you pay depends on where you ask and how long you hire for. This page sets out the realistic numbers so you can tell a fair price from an inflated one.
| Vehicle | Typical daily rate | Range | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard e-bike | 30-60 RMB | 40-60 km | Yulong loop, Ten Mile Gallery |
| Long-range e-bike | 50-80 RMB | 70-90 km | Xingping and back in one day |
| Pedal bicycle | 20-40 RMB | Your legs | Short loops, fit riders |
| Tandem / child seat | 40-70 RMB | Varies | Families |
Those are full-day rates. A half-day afternoon hire is sometimes offered at around two-thirds of the daily price, though many shops simply quote the day rate regardless.
Most shops hold either cash — commonly 100-500 RMB — or your passport. Ask which before you agree, and decide what you are comfortable with. Photograph the bike from both sides before you ride so that any pre-existing scratch is on record, and confirm the return time out loud rather than assuming.
Bargaining here is friendly. If the shop will not move, it genuinely will not; there are plenty of alternatives within a few hundred metres.
West Street and the streets immediately around it have the densest cluster of rental shops, which makes comparison easy — walk two or three and you will know the going rate within ten minutes. Hotels and hostels arrange rentals too, which is convenient but rarely the cheapest. Full details on what to check before riding are in the e-bike rental guide, route options are in the cycling routes guide, and the ultimate e-bike guide pulls pricing, rules, routes, and safety into one page. If it is your first time on two wheels in China, read the e-bike safety guide before you ride.
Source & verification: Prices are typical 2026 Yangshuo rates and vary by season, shop, and battery capacity; holiday weeks sit at the top of the range. Rechecked September 2026.
Expect 30-60 RMB a day for a standard e-bike and 20-40 RMB for a pedal bike. Longer battery-range models sit at the top of that range, and multi-day hires usually bring the daily rate down.
Usually yes. Shops either hold cash (commonly 100-500 RMB) or keep your passport until you return the bike. Ask which they require before you commit, and prefer the cash option if you are uncomfortable leaving a passport.
The common extras are an overtime charge if you return late, a fee for a second battery, and damage charges for scratches or a flat. Photograph the bike before you ride and agree the return time out loud.
Yes, politely, especially for two or more days or during the low season. Asking for a small discount on a multi-day hire is normal and rarely causes offence. Fixed daily rates in peak weeks are less flexible.
Shops a street or two back from West Street are consistently cheaper than those on the main pedestrian strip. Hotels and hostels rent too and are convenient, though often slightly pricier.
Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate, and most shops also take cash. Foreign cards are rarely accepted at small rental shops, so have a wallet app set up or enough cash for the rental and deposit.
For the standard low-speed rental e-bikes most visitors use, a motorcycle licence is generally not required, but the rules on e-bike categories, helmets, and where e-bikes may ride are enforced inconsistently and change over time. Confirm the current local rules with your rental shop before you set off, wear the helmet whether or not it is enforced, and treat the main roads as shared with scooters, buses, and farm vehicles. The e-bike safety in China guide covers the rules and the road behaviour that keeps visitors out of trouble.
Yes on the countryside loops, which are the reason to rent one in the first place: the lanes around the Yulong River and the Ten Mile Gallery are flat, quiet, and scenic. The risk concentrates on the busier main roads, in wet weather when stone and painted surfaces are slick, and after dark when lighting is poor. Stick to the signed country lanes, brake earlier than feels necessary, and you are very unlikely to have a problem.
Usually yes. Multi-day hires commonly bring the daily rate down by 10-30% – a bike listed at 50-60 RMB a day often comes to 35-45 RMB a day over three days, estimates that vary by shop and season. The leverage is strongest in the low season and weakest in the October peak. Agree the total and the deposit terms before the first ride, and clarify the overnight arrangement: most shops let you keep the bike and charge it at your hotel (bring the charger), while some prefer a daily swap. If you plan the full countryside loop, compare multi-day rates with the route distances in the e-scooter routes guide, and read the deposit and battery advice in the complete e-bike guide before you commit.