Departs Friday morning at 8 am from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
Price: RMB 3300 /USD 451 twin share
(+RMB 800 /USD 110 single supplement)
Includes: Bikes, guide, support vehicle with driver, transfers to and from Yangshuo station, hotels, meals (from Friday night dinner to Sunday lunch), and tickets (e.g. Xianggong platform).
Excludes train tickets, visas, alcohol, and other personal expenses. Budget about USD 50 each way for your train tickets depending on the class.
Highlights
- The high speed train from Hong Kong
- Xingping Old Town
- Li River ride to Nine Horse Fresco Mountain
- Sunrise views from the new Xianggongshan photographers platform over the Li River
- Yangshuo’s remote uplands
- 400-year-old Jade Dragon Bridge and Yulong River
- The Yulong Valley and riverside ride
- Boutique traditional hotel in a restored Qing dynasty village
- Guangxi cuisine
Trip Summary
Travel by high speed train from Hong Kong to Yangshuo, then ride from the station into Yangshuo’s high country ascending from the famous bend of the Li River at Xingping to Xianggongshan. We stay in a hotel just below the pinnacle – perfect for those wanting to see the first rays of sun summoning the mist from the river into an enveloping dance with the mountains.
Day 2 takes us through remote upland limestone karstscapes, small villages, market towns, orchards and paddy fields, then leads us down to the valley of the Jade Dragon – the Yulong. The Jade Dragon chose this valley for its beauty, lending its name to the 400-year-old Moon Bridge as well as the river that runs beneath it. We stay in an architecturally refurbished Qing dynasty village home converted into a hotel in the heart of the Yulong valley.
On Sunday we enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a gentle loop ride through the Yulong river villages, extending out to the Jinbao River and Moon Hill, before circling back to the hotel for a shower, lunch, and transfer back to the station.
Additional Details
Boutique Hotel: Restored Qing dynasty village home
Departs from: Hong Kong
This trip begins at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station at 8:00 AM. Our train departs at 9:12 AM—but allow time to clear Hong Kong customs and enter China before boarding. Designed as a weekend getaway, this three-day, two-night trip departs Hong Kong early Friday for an enjoyable afternoon ride.
Alternate Joining Points: With a little coordination you could join us at Shenzhen North, Guangzhou South, or make your own way to Yangshuo Station (arriving around 2:00 PM) ready to bike up. If you’d prefer to arrive later on Friday, we can transfer you directly to the hotel to join the group the following morning.
Terrain and Cycling Support:
- Day 1: A short ride along the river that includes a local ferry crossing (cars cannot cross). Luggage will be carted up to our hotel at Xianggongshan in small electric carts. If a 3 km climb is too much, we can help arrange an electric buggy for you and your bike.
- Day 2: An undulating route – some climbs, more descents. A support vehicle will be with us all day to transport luggage, give a lift to anyone needing a break, or simply to help with a bottle of water or a coffee stop.
- Day 3: A loop ride along narrow pathways that cars cannot easily follow. Luggage remains at the hotel while we return to change, have lunch, and freshen up before our transfer back to the station and Hong Kong.
Note: The support vehicle also carries coffee!
Itinerary in Depth
Day 1 – 12 km Cycling
Morning train and afternoon bike ride – Dress for action
We meet at West Kowloon Station at 8:00 AM to clear customs and board a train for Yangshuo at 9:00 AM. We change trains at Guangzhou where you can grab a coffee and breakfast if needed (or pack a lunch if you prefer). We arrive at Yangshuo station after lunch (around 2:00 PM). Be ready in your riding gear as bikes will be waiting.
From Yangshuo station, it’s a downhill ride toward the old Li River port of Xingping. Although new construction has overtaken parts of this rustic old town, it remains a worthwhile detour to enjoy a freshly squeezed juice or local snacks (like Osmanthus cake).
From Xingping, we ride along the riverside to a ferry crossing that takes us to the “Nine Horses” area – a frescoed mountainside steeped in legend. According to myth, the Monkey King’s journey to the West led to a god zapping disobedient horses into art. We pause to appreciate this natural mural before beginning a three-kilometer climb up to our countryside hotel at the foot of China’s most spectacular viewpoint, Xianggongshan.
Choose to ride, walk, or take an electric cart if the climb is too challenging. Once checked in, enjoy a hearty countryside meal featuring the region’s signature sour-hot flavors.
Day 2 – 40-50 km Cycling
In the hills above Yangshuo, rice is cultivated in upland valleys while cumquats, pomelos, mandarins, and oranges thrive on the slopes.
If you’re an early riser, join your guide on a pilgrimage up to the ticketed viewpoint – a magical and enlightening experience if the weather is on your side. Otherwise, sleep in and catch up on the adventure over breakfast.
The day begins with a gentle downhill, followed by undulating terrain and a slow 2 km climb, then a long, winding descent through valleys, villages, and forests to the market town of Putao. Here, you might stop for a bun or noodles and explore the local market if it’s operating.
The workout continues downhill from Putao to Fuli Bridge, where we pause for lunch amid views of dramatic limestone karsts. After lunch, enjoy an easy flat ride via the 400-year-old Jade Dragon Bridge with plenty of scenic stops.
Day 3 – 15-35 km Cycling
Our hotel, set in a renovated gray brick traditional village home with beautiful gardens, serves a leisurely breakfast. If you’re up with the sun, the village is a delightful place for a dawn stroll.
Today’s loop takes you along the leveled banks of the Yulong River, through rice fields and karsts, and toward Moon Hill via the Jinbao. Enjoy the relative peace of biking away from the crowds while taking in the natural beauty of the wind-eroded tunnel at Moon Hill. We return to the hotel for a meal featuring Yangshuo’s classic dishes – think beer fish, duck, snoozing dragon eggplant, stuffed peppers, fried rice, and noodles – prepared with seasonal, fresh ingredients. We depart from the hotel around 2:30 PM to allow ample time to travel back to Yangshuo train station for our return journey to Hong Kong.
Getting There
The 09:12 AM G6510 train from West Kowloon’s Hong Kong Station to Guangzhou Nan, and the connecting 10:57 AM D1814 train to Yangshuo, are the magic tickets for this trip. The easiest place to buy e-tickets is Trip.com. Create an account so your tickets are stored in the system and can be easily refunded if necessary. Be very careful when typing your full name and double-check your digits—if they don’t match exactly, you won’t be allowed on board. Tickets can be purchased 15 days in advance and sell out quickly (as early as the 14th), so don’t delay. Trip.com also has a great cancellation policy.
Arrive on time at 8:00 AM as you will need to clear customs in both Hong Kong and China before boarding. At Guangzhou South (Guangzhou Nan), there’s a 45-minute stopover – perfect for a quick takeaway brunch.
Getting Back
Our guiding principle is to depart Yangshuo 90 minutes before our train’s departure. We leave our hotel/lunch spot at 2:30 PM to ensure enough time to travel back to Yangshuo train station and catch our return train to Hong Kong.
For More Information: Please email bruce@bikeaways.com for bank account details. Packing lists and other relevant information will be forwarded after booking.