Town in Guangxi, China
Yangshuo for solo travelers
Is Yangshuo good for solo travel?
A small karst town built for travelers: cycling, climbing, rafting and cheap hostels, with the easiest English in rural China. Touristy West Street is loud; the countryside around it is the draw.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone; harassment is uncommon. Use hostel-arranged rides at night in rural areas. |
How to meet people in Yangshuo
Social hostels on West Street run bike days, rafting and climbing trips; rock climbing shops pair up partners, and cafés host language exchange.
Good things to do alone
- Cycle the Yulong River to Moon Hill
- Climb Moon Hill for sunset
- Raft the Yulong River on a bamboo boat
- Take a rock-climbing day with a local guide
- Hike Xingping to the 20 yuan note viewpoint
Where to stay in Yangshuo
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| West Street (Xi Jie) | First-timers: hostels, bars, tours, loud at night |
| Li River riverfront | Quieter guesthouses with river views |
| Moon Hill–Yulong River countryside | Long stays in farm guesthouses among the karst |
| Xingping | Quiet village at the Li River's scenic stretch |
Solo travel across China
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5/5 | Limited |
| Beijing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Shanghai | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Xi'an | 4/5 | Limited |
| Chongqing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 | Limited |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lijiang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiamen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Dali | 4/5 | Limited |
| Huangshan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kunming | 4/5 | Limited |
| Qingdao | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nanjing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Changsha | 4/5 | Limited |
| Pingyao | 4/5 | Rare |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 | Rare |
| Guilin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 | Limited |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 | Rare |
| Suzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Harbin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Sanya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Lhasa | 3/5 | Rare |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 | Rare |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 | Rare |
| Kashgar | 3/5 | Rare |
| Wuhan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Tianjin | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Yangshuo good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). A small karst town built for travelers: cycling, climbing, rafting and cheap hostels, with the easiest English in rural China.
How do you meet people in Yangshuo?
Social hostels on West Street run bike days, rafting and climbing trips; rock climbing shops pair up partners, and cafés host language exchange. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Yangshuo?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Yangshuo safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone; harassment is uncommon. Use hostel-arranged rides at night in rural areas.
More about Yangshuo
Going to Yangshuo solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Yangshuo meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.