Mountain Biking around Yangshuo

With countless trails and paths leading through some of the most dramatic Yangshuo scenery, mountain biking is an excellent way to get deep into the countryside and see a lot in a short space of time. We have written out 4 of our favorite routes all starting from YSMR.

You can rent the following bikes from the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
* Mountain Bikes in two different sizes
* Push-Bikes
* Tandems
1/2 day = 15 RMB
Full day = 30 RMB

Routes to Moon Hill
Duration: Times vary according to route taken
Head towards the main road from the hotel and cross the Gongnong Bridge. Visit the Big Banyan Tree on the left side before heading on to Moon Hill. Leave your bikes at the bottom of Moon Hill and climb to the top. Without visiting the Banyan Tree this will take about 30 min to Moon Hill and another 60 min to climb to the top and down again.

Another option is to head towards the main road from the hotel but this time take a right approximately 700 meters from YSMR. This path will lead you down to a large weir where you can cross the river. From here a small path but will take you through Fen Lou Village to the Jin Bao River. Cross the river and take the concrete road turning right when it meets the main road and bike 5 min to Moon Hill. This takes again about 40 minutes and is a very scenic taking you through two villages.

Extending your day trip:
Opposite of Moon Hill is the entrance gate to Moon Hill Village where you can relax and have lunch in a traditional farmers restaurant. Here you can also visit the Water Cave (link to Water Cave section on cave page) a large, complex set of caves with spectacular underground scenery (allow 1.5 hours for half tour and 3 hours for full tour).

 

Dragon Bridge
Duration: whole day
Follow the Yu Long River until Chao Lang village. From there make your way through small villages, bumpy roads and fields leading you to the 400 year old Yu Long Bridge. Although the bridge is not particularly spectacular the scenery is magnificent and there are plenty of spots to go swimming on the way. About half way to the bridge you can stop at the catch-your-own fish farm have a break and enjoy your catch of the day whilst admiring the beautiful scenery.

From the Yu Long Bridge there are many ways back so we have listed four of them.
The first option takes you from the from the bridge to a little town nearby called Baisha. From there it is about 10 km back to Yangshuo town and another 7 km to the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (all on main roads).
The second option is to cross the Yu Long Bridge and take the dirt track heading down the river to Tongmen Hill where you can cross the river on a weir back to YSMR. This option has fantastic scenery but might take longer as the paths narrow towards the end and you may have to push the bike.
The third longer alternative takes you up river to the next much larger bridge. Cross the bridge over the river and head towards Jin Bao Town then on to Gao Tian which is south of Moonhill. It's about 17 km from the Yu Long Bridge to Gao Tian and a further 7km back to YSMR.
The final option is to simply go back the way you came ;-)!

To Yangshuo Town
Duration: 1 hour
Follow the path to the main road from the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat. Cross the Gongnong Bridge and take the second path to the left. After approximately 600 meters there is a path branching off to the right, this is the way to Jianshan Temple, a renovated Buddhist temple spread across many levels. After the temple head back to the path you came from and follow it along the Yu Long River heading downstream until you reach the first main road. Cross this road and follow the path until you cross a second bridge and come to another main road. This road will lead you to Yangshuo town.

Liugong Village
Duration: whole day
From YSMR head to the main road crossing the Gongnong bridge and taking the second left. Head on this path to the main road at Aishan and follow this south in the direction of Yongcun. The road to Liugong is half way between Aishan and Yongcun on the left hand side and about 20km from the Mountain Retreat. Folow this road to the end where you'll enter the sleepy riverside village of Liugong. Here you can have lunch and walk around the ancient cobbled streets of this 800 year old village.
Near the village are also the famous three-color ponds. The level of water in the ponds always remains equal throughout the year regardless of the water level of the Li River. As the name suggests the ponds have three different colors giving rise to many a local folk story about their supernatural existence.

For more great mountain biking pictures go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yangshuomountainretreat/sets/72157603685370638/