They say, "Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven, but Yangshuo’s is the best in Guilin." Young travelers come to Yangshuo, check into a hostel, rent a bicycle or an electric scooter, and set off to explore the mountains and rivers. When they get tired of cycling, by the Yulong River, they simply park their bikes on a bamboo raft and go drifting. In the morning, there’s authentic Guilin rice noodles to eat, and at night, there’s the lively West Street to stroll. Mangoes and passion fruits line the streets, along with foreigners. This is a haven for the young and hip.
And West Street is a melting pot—some come to heal, some for romance, and of course, some to learn foreign languages. "One year here is worth three years at school." A few years back, a friend came to Yangshuo specifically to intern and improve his English. In Yangshuo, it’s common to see an elderly woman riding a very old electric scooter, holding a brick-like phone. The moment she answers a call and speaks, her English is super fluent.
Take the high-speed train to Guilin North Station, and Xiao Hu, who picks you up, says that Yangshuo is like a book. But the book he refers to isn’t filled with tales of romance—it’s a chronicle of China’s climbing history. When "romance" becomes synonymous with a tourist city, and the charm of Western culture loses its purity, everything fades into mediocrity and vulgarity. But thankfully, Yangshuo still has climbing. "Climbing preserves the cultural roots of Yangshuo," says Zhang Yong, head of the Yangshuo Climbing School, member of the KAILAS “Rock Quest China” team, and a climbing bigwig.
On the Li River, there’s a saying for tourists: see the mountains, see the water, and see people climbing. Due to its unique karst landscape and rock formations, Yangshuo has become a world-famous climbing paradise. Ever since...1992...the year when AmericanTodd Skinner...climbers established the first sport route on Moon Hill in Yangshuo,5.10dand the second pitch5.12dpioneered outdoor climbing in China, to this day, there are now nearly40developed peaks,700-800climbing routes available for gear-assisted ascent. For those who love climbing, Yangshuo is one destination they must visit at least once in their lifetime—that’s the consensus among climbers worldwide.
This year, the KAILAS Yangshuo Climbing Festival was grandly held on9month19-20day, where elite climbers from around the globe witnessed a vivid, engaging, and high-level outdoor extravaganza. Avoiding the usual long-winded event formats, climbers here could freely enjoy and participate in their favorite activities: deep-water bouldering, redpoint climbs, boulder competitions, slackline performances, electronic music parties, climbing training and experiences, and of course, the main highlight—climbing.
Photo:2015KAILAS Yangshuo Climbing Festival – Climbing Experience
Photo:2015KAILAS Yangshuo Climbing Festival – Boulder Competition
Leveraging Yangshuo’s mountain advantages, crystal-clear waters, and rich cultural blend, climbing styles and activities continue to diversify. In addition to classic natural walls such as Wine Bottle Hill, Tongmen Shan, and Big Banyan Tree, plus the boulder competition, this year introduced a new activity—deep-water bouldering. It not only allows climbers to experience the difficulty and thrill of climbing on an arch bridge but also adds the excitement of falling into the water. Some climbers even spontaneously stripped down to their skivvies on the bridge for a group dive, chanting, “Just for climbing!”