Capture the Sunset from Mt. Laozhai (老寨山)

Mt. Laozhai is an approximately 220m karst peak in the village of Xingping. It overlooks a dramatic bend in the Li River, showing off some of Guilin Province’s most classic landscapes. Xingping is best reached from the well-known tourist town of Yangshuo (阳朔) either by rafting down the Li River or by a 1+ hour bus. You can also raft down the river halfway from the town of Yangdi (杨堤乡) to Nine Horse Fresco Hill (九马画山), and take a 2-3 hour leisurely hike down to Xingping through the countryside. Regardless how you get there it is not difficult, but it is best to rely on help from an English-speaking hostel in Yangshuo to avoid getting scammed.

Once in Xingping, the path up to the top of Mt. Laozhai is located in the southwest corner of the village, just inside the entrance. If unsure of where to start, the locals should know and there is an English speaking hostel close by. It is over a 1000 step climb to the top, and can take anywhere from 25-45minutes. At the top there will be a small pavilion, continue past it and scramble up on the rock pile to reach the top and soak in the amazing west-facing views! If the weather is nice and you have a sleeping pad and bag, consider spending the night in the pavilion on top as well!