[2025 Yangshuo ] Travel Guide for Yangshuo Butterfly Spring Scenic Area (Updated Jul)

Truly living up to its reputation as having the "finest scenery under heaven"! My 4-day, 3-night trip to Guilin and Yangshuo showed me the most breathtaking natural landscapes🏞️. Here's a hands-on guide to help you plan your itinerary wisely, avoid crowds, and experience the essence of Guilin! 🌊Day 1: Classic Highlights in Guilin City 📍Elephant Trunk Hill Park (¥50 admission): A must-see city emblem! Best visited in the morning for fewer crowds and better photos. The park is small - 1 hour is sufficient. 📍Dongxi Alley (Free): A Ming-Qing style pedestrian street, especially beautiful when lit at night. Try the Old Street Danzi Rice Noodles here. 📍Two Rivers and Four Lakes Night Cruise (¥210 boat ticket): Highly recommended! Stunning night views. Arrive early to secure a good spot for photographing the Sun and Moon Pagodas. 🌿Day 2: Yangshuo's Scenic Beauty Morning Li River Cruise (Mopanshan Pier to Yangshuo, 4 hours): Choose the 9am departure for fewer crowds and better views. Box lunches on board cost ¥35 - better bring snacks. Afternoon electric bike rental (¥30/day) for Ten-Mile Gallery ride: Stop at attractions like Butterfly Spring and Big Banyan Tree for photos. Evening Impression Liu Sanjie show (¥198 standard ticket): An impressive outdoor performance - don't forget mosquito repellent. ⛰️Day 3: Longji Terraces Day Trip (Recommended to join a local tour - 4-hour roundtrip) Golden terraces in October are spectacular! Wear anti-slip shoes as reaching viewpoints requires hiking. Must try the bamboo tube rice in the villages. 🍜Food Recommendations: ✅Guilin Rice Noodles (Lao Dongjiang Main Store): Incredible value at ¥5 for 100g! ✅Yangshuo Beer Fish (Sister Xie's Beer Fish): Freshly prepared Li River fish ✅Oil Tea: Unique Dong ethnic snack - might take some getting used to 📌Practical Tips: 1. Book Li River cruise tickets 3 days in advance - upper deck seats offer better views 2. Apply sunscreen for Ten-Mile Gallery bike ride - bargain at fruit stalls along the way 3. October is peak season at Longji Terraces - arrive at viewpoints before 7am to avoid crowds 4. All tickets are cheaper when purchased in advance on Ctrip than at the gate

You must stay at a riverside homestay by the Yulong River when visiting Yangshuo! Open the window to breathtaking landscape views—you'll regret not booking more nights😭 Here's a perfect 3-day, 2-night itinerary to experience the best of Yangshuo! 💫Day1: Li River Highlights Cruise (Xingping Ancient Town → Nine-Horse Fresco Hill) Start your morning with a bowl of Guilin rice noodles in Xingping Ancient Town, then take a bamboo raft through the most scenic section of the Li River! Snap photos of the 20 RMB background, Yellow Cloth Reflection, and Nine-Horse Fresco Hill—classic spots best visited in the morning for fewer crowds and perfect lighting📸 Afternoon: Yangshuo West Street Must-visit at night! Explore quirky shops and bars, and try the beer fish at "Little Southern Country"—tender and flavorful, conveniently located at the West Street entrance. 💫Day2: Yulong River Bamboo Rafting (Jinlong Bridge → Jiuxian Section) The most beautiful rafting route with 9 thrilling drops—wear sandals, you'll get wet! The emerald river reflects swaying bamboo, creating surreal views. Ten-Mile Gallery Bike Ride Rent an e-bike in the afternoon to cruise past Moon Hill, Big Banyan Tree, and Butterfly Spring. Catch sunset at "Workers-Peasants Bridge"—the golden light on karst peaks is magical! 💫Day3: Xianggong Mountain Sunrise Depart at 4 AM for a 20-minute hike. When clouds and sunrise merge, it’s worth every step! Book a private car in advance. 🏡Stay Recommendation: Choose a Yulong Riverside homestay! "Sugar House" offers prime views—wake up to mountains from your bed, plus an Instagrammable pool. 🍜Food Checklist: ✅Beer fish (Little Southern Country, West Street) ✅Guilin rice noodles (Lao Dongjiang Rice Noodles) ✅Stuffed river snails (Sister Xie Beer Fish) ✅Bamboo-tube rice (roadside stalls make the best!)

🌿Take your kids and escape from the city during the Dragon Boat Festival! 5-year-old + baby personally tested the super exciting landscape class + bamboo rafting + landscape class ~ with parent-child friendly strategy 🗺️ ~ - ✅How long to play in Guilin: It only takes one day to visit Guilin city Check in at Elephant Trunk Hill, Sun and Moon Towers, and Jingjiang Palace You can go directly to Yangshuo and stay in Yangshuo for about 2-3 days. - ✅How to get to Guilin Guilin Liangjiang Airport Choose [Gate 6 Airport Bus] upon arrival: 20 yuan to the city center High-speed rail priority [Guilin Station], 10 minutes by taxi to Elephant Trunk Hill - 👨👩👧👦5 days and 4 nights slow travel version (avoid the crowds!) DAY1️⃣: Arrive in Guilin • Afternoon: Play water gun battle at Xiangbishan Park (free admission for children) • Night: Night view of the Sun and Moon Towers (a pleasant walk along the lake) DAY2️⃣: Little No.1 Scholar in Wangfu + Sightseeing at Xianggong Mountain • Morning: Wear Hanfu to write the Chinese character "福" at Jingjiang Palace, and take your children to see the imperial examination culture (for children over 3 years old) • Afternoon: Avoid the crowds and climb to the top of Xianggong Mountain to overlook the famous First Bay of the Li River. It is super beautiful~ (15-minute staircase, 5+ years old can climb independently) • Secret: The tour guide of Jingjiang Palace is a gold medal lecturer with ten years of experience~ DAY3️⃣: Via Ferrata Climbing + Cave Exploration • Morning: Via Ferrata Climbing, Kid-Friendly Edition, take your kids to see the aerial karst (over 1.2 meters, with a coach accompanying you throughout the trip) • Afternoon: Explore the almost undeveloped caves, look for stalactite "annual rings", and roll around in the mud. It's so interesting. (This is the "ultimate cave play" that ordinary people can't experience at all.) • Easter egg: A coach will accompany you throughout the whole process of flying a ferrata, and the safety lock has double insurance DAY4️⃣: Cycling in Shili Gallery + Bamboo Rafting in Yulong River • Morning: Have fun riding with your kids to see the highlights of the Ten-mile Gallery, and look for "Julongtan", "Butterfly Spring" and "Moon Mountain" along the way (take photos and check in along the way, and post them on WeChat Moments) • Afternoon: Family rafting on the Yulong River, listen to the stories told by the rafting master! (Become a landscape painter for a day) • Hidden gameplay: immersive viewing, beautiful scenery on both sides of the river DAY5️⃣: Take away the taste of Guilin • Souvenir: Osmanthus cake ("Jin Shun Chang" no additives) - 🍜【Eat noodles and fish! Locals' private food map 🗺️】 Yangshuo West Street Night Market ▪Beer Fish: Swordfish + tomato stewed with Liquan beer, "Xie Sanjie Beer Fish" is 80 per person, the fish meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth! Guilin rice noodles: stewed vegetables noodles with pot roasted pork, "skinny rice noodles" dry version with crushed peanuts is super fragrant, two or two figures are enough to fill you up~ Mugwort cake: 3 yuan/piece! Glutinous peanut filling, the aroma of mugwort is super fresh~ After rafting at Yulong River Farmhouse, head straight to the riverside village. Bamboo tube chicken + bamboo tube rice are must-orders! The local chicken is roasted in fresh bamboo tubes, the soup has a bamboo aroma, and the kid drank three bowls in a row! - 💡Tips ✅It rains a lot on the Li River during the Dragon Boat Festival, so prepare disposable raincoats and shoe covers, and it’s super fun to splash water on the bamboo raft! ✅Use Didi to take a taxi at the high-speed rail station! Don’t pay attention to the black car’s double price❌ - 🏨Yangshuo TOP Resort Hotel: Bamboo Window Stream Excellent location: on the banks of the Yulong River, close to all attractions Family-friendly: There is a swimming pool, a rural viewing platform, and the rooms face the mountains and water Intimate service: full butler service - 💡Why do you recommend this route? 👉 Learn through play: Geology, history, and humanities are all covered, and your child can show off his knowledge to his friends when he comes back. 👉 Strong parent-child interaction: It is not just sightseeing, but rock climbing, cycling, and exploring together to warm up the relationship💕 👉 Relaxed and not tiring: 1-2 main attractions per day, plenty of lunch breaks, and the baby's battery is fully charged This trip really made me realize that taking children to see the world is the best growth lesson! - 🚢Guilin, where "boats sail on the blue waves and people swim in a painting", is the romance from textbooks shining into reality. 💕This Dragon Boat Festival, bring your kids on a healing journey of mountains, rivers and food! - Click [Close] [Collect] [Line] to send "number of people" to sign up now~ Learn about the parent-child study tour~We are always available~ -

I. Must-Visit Attractions 1. Li River Highlights (Yangdi to Xingping) - Activity: Bamboo raft cruise (about 1.5 hours), visit the 20 RMB banknote scenery, Nine Horses Fresco Hill, and Huangbu Reflection. - Tips: Book tickets in advance through official platforms; during peak season (April-October) you may need to join a waitlist. Recommended route: take a bamboo raft from Yangdi to Xingping, then walk to Xingping Ancient Town. 2. Yulong River Cycling - Route: Yulong Bridge → Wanjing Section → Jima Village → Moon Hill (about 9 kilometers total). - Transportation: Rent an electric bike (50 yuan/day) or bicycle (30 yuan/day); the countryside views along the way are incredibly therapeutic. - Highlights: Fuli Bridge, Xiangui Bridge (perfect spots for photography). 3. Ten-Mile Gallery - Recommended method: Rent an electric bike to ride through Moon Hill, Big Banyan Tree, and Butterfly Spring. - Moon Hill: Natural stone arch shaped like a moon; you can climb it or view from a distance. 4. Xingping Ancient Town - Features: A thousand-year-old town that preserves bluestone paths and old houses, perfect for photography. - Highlights: Laozhai Mountain (climb to the top for a panoramic view of Li River), Guandi Temple (overlooks the 20 RMB banknote scenic spot). 5. West Street - Activities: Night tour of the bar street, try local snacks, shop for handicrafts. Recommended: "Lazy Sofa" bar for folk music. - Tips: Avoid weekend evening crowds; visit artsy shops during the day. 6. Silver Cave - Features: Karst cave spectacle with lights that make it "flow like mercury"; tour takes about 1 hour. 7. Shangri-La Park - Highlight: Boat ride through a cave that opens into a bright scenic area, reminiscent of "The Peach Blossom Spring"; great for photos. --- II. Food Recommendations Must-Try Specialties 1. Yangshuo Beer Fish: First choice is Master Chef Beer Fish (West Street main store); choose Li River carp or swordfish. 2. Guilin Rice Noodles: Shengji Fenku (Seven Star District old shop); noodles with braised meats and soup are a perfect match. 3. Stuffed Snails: Meat stuffed into snail shells; "Xie Sanjie Beer Fish" on West Street has a good reputation. 4. Lipu Taro with Braised Pork: Tender and savory; commonly found in farmhouse restaurants in Xingping Ancient Town. Snack Recommendations - Osmanthus candy, mugwort cake, pine flower candy (at "Guzi Pastry" at the entrance of West Street). - Oil tea stalls at the foot of Laozhai Mountain in Xingping (locals' favorite). --- III. Transportation Guide External Transportation - High-speed rail: Guilin Station → Yangshuo Station (about 1 hour, fare about 50 yuan), then 15 minutes by taxi to West Street. - Bus: Guilin Bus Terminal → Yangshuo (about 2 hours, fare 25 yuan). Within Yangshuo - Bus: Routes 1/2 travel between West Street, Xingping, and Yulong River. - Vehicle rental: Electric bikes 50 yuan/day (recommended), cars about 200 yuan/day. - Bamboo rafts: Xingping to Nine Horses Fresco Hill section about 120 yuan/person (4 people per raft, empty seat fees apply if fewer). --- IV. Accommodation Suggestions - Near West Street: Convenient for night tours, such as Yangshuo Mango Villa (countryside style), Jiyun Shangyan (high-end guesthouse). - Along Yulong River: Yuyuan Jingshe (detached villas), Secret Garden (Instagram-worthy). - Xingping Ancient Town: The Old Place International Youth Hostel (near the 20 RMB banknote scenic spot). --- V. Suggested Itineraries Classic 3 Days 2 Nights - Day 1: Yangdi bamboo raft → Xingping Ancient Town → West Street night tour - Day 2: Yulong River cycling → Ten-Mile Gallery → Moon Hill → Silver Cave - Day 3: Shangri-La Park → Xianggong Mountain sunrise (optional) → Return journey In-depth 5 Days 4 Nights - Add: Xianggong Mountain sunrise, Xingping Fishing Village, rock climbing experience (near Butterfly Spring), free cycling along less-visited sections of Yulong River. --- VI. Important Notes 1. Weather: Bring sun protection in summer, rain gear during rainy season, and jackets in winter due to temperature differences. 2. Bargaining: Specialty stores have fixed prices, but handicrafts on West Street can be bargained (start at 30% of marked price). 3. Avoiding scams: Choose official ticket booths for Yulong River bamboo rafts; refuse street touts. Photography is prohibited inside Silver Cave. 4. Environmental protection: Do not disembark from bamboo rafts on Yulong River to keep the water clean. --- VII. Best Time to Visit - April-May/October-November: Pleasant temperatures, avoiding rainy season and peak crowds. - Sunrise/sunset: Xianggong Mountain (5:30-6:30 AM), Moon Hill (soft light after 4 PM). --- Hope this guide helps you plan a perfect trip to Yangshuo! If you have other needs (such as family travel or photography routes), feel free to ask additional questions! 🌄

#JanuaryGoodPlaces2025 The scenic area of ​​[Tianlai Butterfly Spring] includes clear springs and streams, natural landscapes, stalactite caves, etc. The whole tour takes about 1.5 hours. It is more comfortable in the cool season. This scenic spot mainly relies on the income from tourist tickets to maintain its facilities, and can be considered a self-sufficient tourist attraction; therefore, locals will have discounted packages to attract tourists. This place is famous for the Guilin landscape, and you can also enjoy the scenery all over the suburbs of the Ten-Li Picture Gallery. In addition, it has a unique Ketes landform, with mountains closely connected and water flowing between the mountains, forming this beautiful scenery. In addition, there are no prosperous high-rise buildings in this area, so visitors can relax their body and mind and have a good vacation. #Tianlai Butterfly Spring #YangshuoTen-mile Gallery #Stalactite Cave #Butterfly

Butterfly Spring is located in the 'Ten-Mile Gallery' of the Moon Hill Scenic Area in Yangshuo, Guilin. It is named after a butterfly-shaped stalactite found in a cave within the scenic area. The scenic area is home to thousands of butterflies of various species living harmoniously with people. It is a friendly and natural ecological tourism spot, combining unique mountains, beautiful waters, mysterious caves, and idyllic scenery. 【Main Attractions】 Butterfly Cave, Butterfly Mountain Waterfall, Butterfly Bridge, Butterfly Mountain Scenery, Butterfly Fate, Bee Fate, Butterfly Pavilion, etc. The scenic area also houses the largest butterfly garden in China. 【Tour Suggestions】 It is not recommended to visit specifically. The main attraction of Butterfly Spring is the karst cave landscape, but nearby Silver Cave offers a more spectacular cave view, with scenery far better than Butterfly Spring. If you are just passing by Moon Hill, you can visit it along the way. You can finish touring the area in about an hour.

🗓️ April 4, 2024 🌧️ Our plans for bamboo rafting on the Yulong River were washed away by heavy rain, so we decided to explore the Shili Gallery, thinking it was a museum. 🦋 Instead, we found ourselves walking to Butterfly Spring Park. At the entrance, a giant butterfly sculpture welcomed us. ⛰️ The park isn't huge, but it offers caves, mountain climbing, amusement facilities, and lively folk performances. 🌼 After enjoying the show, we strolled through a beautiful garden and found charming shops with lovely souvenirs. #imissyangshou #guilin #traveling

With the arrival of the summer vacation, the temperature begins to climb like an oven, and we all start to itch for a summer adventure filled with laughter and exploration. If you are already bored to death with the days of being at home with the air conditioner and mobile phone, then pull up your little treasure now and start an unforgettable summer parent-child trip together, to explore those beautiful cities and feel the magic of nature. 1. **Chengde: Fresh as First Love** - **Must-visit places:** Mountain Resort, Outer Eight Temples, Wuling Mountain - **Brief description:** Chengde, a city with fresh air and mild climate, is full of natural beauty and a long history and culture. Here, you can climb the peaks with your child, enjoy the cool summer breeze, and admire the charming scenery of the low hills. 2. **Guilin: Unbelievably Beautiful** - **Must-visit places:** Elephant Trunk Hill, Butterfly Spring, Binjiang Scenic Area - **Brief description:** Guilin, a magical land in the south, is home to numerous natural wonders. Not only does it have the world-famous Li River scenery, but also unique topography and rich ecological resources, allowing you and your child to frolic in the embrace of nature. Qingdao, a city with clear waters and soft sands, is an excellent choice for family trips. Imagine, at the No.1 Bathing Beach or the Old Stone Man Bathing Beach, you and your little treasure can become beach detectives, searching for shell treasures hidden in the fine sand, or transform into photographers, capturing the laughter and jumping waves in the sea breeze. Weihai, a place where the waves play a spectacular symphony for you. Take the little ones to Liugong Island, Chengshantou, or Hai Lv Island to explore the reefs that are like natural sculptures, and feel the shock that only the waves can bring. Ningxia Zhongwei, this is the stage where yellow sand dances with camels. At Shapotou or the Tengger Desert, you can lead your children to ride camels, shuttle between the rolling sand dunes like desert explorers, experience a unique desert adventure, and let the children learn through play, enjoying fun while gaining knowledge. Summer vacation is here, it's time to throw the phone aside, take the little ones out of the house, and head straight to those cities that are so beautiful they crumble! Go have an intimate embrace with nature and create some super memories that will make you laugh until your stomach hurts!

✨There are electric cars in the Ten-Mile Gallery Scenic Area. 🙈You can buy a ticket to ride freely within the scenic area, and other vehicles are not allowed to enter. 🙊From Yulong River rafting, it's just a few stops to the Butterfly Spring Scenic Area, and you need to buy a ticket to enter. 🐵We bought tickets from locals for 45 yuan per person. It is said that you can see the panoramic view of Yulong River from the top of the mountain, 🐒 and there is a waterfall cascading down. However, when we reached the top, we found that we couldn't see the Yulong River, 🐻 and we didn't find the waterfall after walking around. 🐮 Considering the ticket price, this place can be skipped. 🐶 ✨The stalactites in the cave appear in various shapes under the lighting, 🐨 but after seeing many stalactite caves, it doesn't feel novel. 🐼 Halfway through, you can choose between a free suspension bridge and a paid glass bridge. 🦁 Being slightly afraid of heights, I chose the free suspension bridge. Fortunately, the suspension bridge didn't sway much, 🐷 and I walked across it nervously. Although the surrounding scenery is nice, it is slightly inferior to the Yulong River. 🐰 ✨Climbing to the highest point and looking out at the small town, although there is no panoramic view of the Yulong River, the scenery from above is still good. 🐦 If you have enough time, you can come here to hike. 🐿 ✨In the entire Ten-Mile Gallery Scenic Area, apart from the Yulong River Scenic Area which requires a boat ride, it is best to rent a bicycle for the other parts. 🐩 You can stop and go, and take pictures whenever you encounter beautiful scenes. If you only take the electric car, you will reach the end in no time, 🐘 and you won't be able to appreciate the beauty of the Ten-Mile Gallery. 👍

Reasons to Recommend: I would recommend stopping by this Butterfly Cave on your trip to Yangshou. Not only is it beautiful, but you can get to watch an entertaining show, stroll through the avatar park, and buy beautiful jewellery and other souvenirs. You can also get to see a view of Yangshou if you hike further up.It is close to the Yulong River, so you can visit two places at once. Average Price per Person: About 85 yuan #yangshuo

The core program of Scorpio Butterfly Spring is the singing and dancing performance of ethnic minorities. The scorpio refers to the yangko, and the butterfly refers to the Miao dance. There will be 6-8 performances a day, each performance is about 30 minutes. When I arrived at the performance venue, I just caught up with the Miaos anti-plating encouragement. Anti-plating encouragement has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage masterpieces. It is a dance of the Miao people's sacrifices. It reflects the feats of the Miao people's ancestors who are not afraid of difficulties and obstacles, stalking, long-distance migration, opening up territory, hunting and creating a better life.