Explore the region
About Xingping Ancient Town
Xingping Ancient Town lies beside the Li River northeast of central Yangshuo. Its historic market-settlement role and surrounding karst landscape make it a useful place to connect town streets with river scenery. Guangxi's archive account traces the area's administrative history to the third century, followed by its continued role as a market after the county seat moved.
The surrounding river district includes the scenery associated with Yellow Cloth Reflection, Nine Horse Fresco Hill and the landscape used on the 1999-edition twenty-yuan banknote. These names refer to places across the wider Xingping area, rather than features all visible from one street corner. The old town and a river excursion are complementary experiences, but they have different routes and starting points.
Begin with a short circuit of the town and then choose one river viewpoint or organised boat product. Watch how the settlement sits beneath the limestone hills and how the view changes near a bend in the river. Confirm the exact pier, route and return point before boarding. A trip sold from Xingping may cover only one river section, so compare its scope with any longer Guilin-to-Yangshuo journey you have in mind.
What to look for
- A historic market settlement beside the Li River.
- The relationship between town streets and the surrounding limestone hills.
- Nearby river scenery associated with well-known paintings and banknote imagery.
Location & getting there
Getting to Xingping Ancient Town
Use 阳朔兴坪古镇, then locate the specific pier or viewpoint separately. Xingping town is distinct from central Yangshuo and from a full-length Li River cruise route.
- Use 兴坪古镇 with Guangxi when searching for the visitor entrance.
Find Xingping Ancient Town
兴坪古镇 · 阳朔县
No reliable map pin yet: search by the Chinese name.
Sources & visit information
Place identity, setting and the described features checked against the linked institutional sources on 9 September 2026. Suggested visiting sequences are editorial guidance. Current opening hours, fees, events and access to individual interiors must be checked with the venue; no new map coordinates are inferred from this review.
Image credits & notes (1)
- Xingping Ancient Town (兴坪古镇), Yangshuo County. Photograph: "Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi, China - panoramio (51)".Photo: Ethan Lee · CC BY-SA 3.0Resized for the web; the photo itself has not been edited. Thumbnails may show a cropped view.
