Travel in China
West Street works as both a destination and a base camp: give it a slow afternoon for the shops and cafes, then hand your evening over to the lanterns. In between, use it as the launch pad for the rivers, cycle routes and karst viewpoints that surround Yangshuo.
Suggested Itinerary
- Arrive
From Yangshuo's high-speed rail station or the bus station, take a local bus or taxi into town - there is no metro - and West Street sits at the centre. - Daytime Browse
Walk the full 600 metres end to end: craft shops, calligraphy studios, bakeries and cafes beneath the qilou arcades. - Evening Lanterns
Book a beer-fish dinner, watch the lanterns come on, then catch a shuttle to the Impression Liu Sanjie show if it's running.
What to See
The Flagstone Lane
Six hundred metres of stone worn smooth by fourteen centuries of use.
Qilou Arcades
The street's colonnaded facades - look above the shop signs for the carved details.
Cafes & Rooftop Bars
Espresso, pancakes and karst-peak views - the backpacker legacy in full effect.
Craft Shops
Calligraphy scrolls, landscape paintings and silverwork, much of it made in front of you.
Lantern-Lit Nights
The street after dark, when the lane turns red and the crowds come out to play.
The Karst Backdrop
The peaks framing the lane - best appreciated from a rooftop cafe at dusk.
Photo Gallery
Tips from Real Travelers
Food & Drink
Local restaurants
Nearby dining options.
Street food
Local snack stalls.
Cafes
Coffee and light meals.
Regional specialities
Try the local cuisine.
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