Yangshuo Travel Forum

I've a few questions and hope that any kind souls could help me out with..

After browsing through so much forum posts,I'm quite convinced that it would be relatively cheaper to either take a sleeper bus or train to guilin/yangshuo (from shenzhen)and that yangshuo is a better place to stay at. But which is better/safer and cheaper? bus or train?

What is it like of the cost of food at yangshuo or guilin?

If I'm going during the new year period, it would probably be better to book the train ticket before going? So, is there any online booking services for train tickets?

Since it would be first time going China and alone, hope that any kind people can advise me on these stuffs. I would be going from hong kong.

Thanks in advance..

Bus is more expensive; train is cheaper (but only goes to Guilin, then you'll have to backtrack to Yangshuo) and also much more difficult to get because of the Chinese New Year period.
Train tickets only go on sale a max of 10 days before departure, for major stations. I don't recommend the online agencies as they charge an arm and a leg for the privilege. I would suggest that you take the bus instead.

I was in Yangshuo a couple of weeks ago....by far my best experience in China. I would definitely recommend staying in Yangshuo over Guilin.
I took a flight from X'ian - cost me about $100. I stayed at the Moon Resort in Moon Hill village for a couple of nights for a more quite and "countyside experience" and then stayed at Morning Sun hotel off west street in Yangshuo for an additional 3 nights for the city experience. Here are some of my travel notes:
1. Moon Resort: cost 80 RMB/night. Small hotel and off the beaten path but was simply amazing. The rooms offer the best views of the peaks I have seen in Yangshuo. The hotel is run by Derrick and his wife Wei Wei and we spent the evening talking and playing cards with the couple, their little girl and Derrick's parents. Perfect cultural immersion I was looking for. Wei Wei is also a tour guide and was able to get us great discounts on just about everything. Derrick also cooks for the guests and the food ranges around 10-20 RMB depending on what you order. Derrick makes a mean beer fish - best I had in Yangshuo. Moon Resort arranged a pick up and drop off at the guilin airport - costs about 200 RMB each way. http://www.moon-resort.com

2. Morning Sun Hotel: Very clean hotel with luxury amenities and great location. 120 RMB per night. The hotel is just off West street - so we could walk to the west st in about a minute but were able to avoid the noise. http://morningsunhotel.com/

3. Restaurants: food on the west street is a little more expensive - about 25 - 30 RMB per dish. We found a hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Cao's Kung Fu Wonton that had most dishes for 5 RMB and tasted very good. Their best dish is fried dumplings (5 RMB). The restaurant is across from backstreet cafe.

4. Activities: Hike up to Moon Hill, caves, farmer's market, biking (go with a tour guide on this one), comorant fishing, Impression Sanjie Liu (expensive, but don't miss this). If time permits, you can visit Xinpin village and take a boat ride to see the view that is on the 20 RMB bill.

Would it be easier to get to yangshuo from guangzhou then? I'm a bit confused.. and how about the way from yangshuo back to hongkong? around how much time do i need to allow myself for the travelling time back?

Thanks both of you for your kind advices..

It might be easier from Guangzhou, yes.
Look on this page for more detailed information: http://www.yangers.com/How_to_get_to_Yangshuo.htm

Hi, How convenient is moonhill resort? As in, are there curfews or like is it easy to reach there late at night?