Yangshuo Virtual Walk

Take a free virtual walking tour through Yangshuo, China — home to 300,000 people and one of Asia's most remarkable cities. Nearaway streams immersive 4K street-level footage from Yangshuo, letting you explore its neighbourhoods, culture, and atmosphere from anywhere in the world — no passport, no flights, no account required. This virtual walk collection includes 2 different 4K walking tour videos across Yangshuo.

Yangshuo has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but its recorded history begins with the Han dynasty expansion south of the Nanling Mountains around 111 BC. For most of its history it was a small riverside market town serving the agricultural communities living among the karst peaks. Its transformation into a destination began in the 1980s when early backpackers discovered the extraordinary landscape — the town was one of the first in China to develop a 'foreigner street' (西街, West Street) catering to international travellers. The Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo was designated a scenic area in the 1950s and appears on the Chinese 20 yuan banknote — making its karst peaks one of the world's most reproduced landscapes.

The limestone karst peaks around Yangshuo are up to 300 million years old — formed when this part of Guangxi was a tropical sea floor. The landscape inspired the phrase 'Guilin's scenery is the finest under heaven' (桂林山水甲天下) which has been used since the Tang dynasty. The iconic image of a fisherman on a bamboo raft with a cormorant on his arm is a real — though now touristic — Zhuang fishing tradition. The best time to take a virtual walk through Yangshuo is april–june (morning river mist, lush green peaks) or september–november (golden light, less rain). Must-try local foods in Yangshuo include Beer fish (啤酒鱼) — Yangshuo's signature dish: fresh Li River fish braised in local beer, Stuffed Li River snails (田螺), Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) with pickled vegetables and peanuts. The Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo is one of the world's most recognisable landscapes (it's on the 20 RMB note). Take the official Li River cruise one-way and cycle back through the karst villages — the cycle route between Yangshuo and Xingping follows the river and passes through rice paddies with unobstructed views of the peaks. Rent a bamboo raft at Fuli village for the most immersive experience.