Yangshuo Karst Peak Forest Draws Summer Visitors

Tourists gathered at Xiyang Mountain in Yangmeiling Village, Putao Town, Yangshuo County, Guangxi on August 2 to admire the region’s iconic karst peak forest scenery, captured in drone photographs released by Xinhua News Agency. The images, taken by Xinhua photographer Jiang Keqing, show visitors taking in the dramatic limestone towers that rise from the surrounding countryside, a landscape that has made Yangshuo one of China’s most celebrated natural destinations.

A UNESCO World Heritage Landscape

The peak forest visible from Yangmeiling Village is part of the Guilin Karst, which was inscribed as a component of the South China Karst UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in June 2014. The Putao Peak Forest, located in Yangshuo’s Putao Town, is specifically recognized within the World Heritage property for its distinctive tower karst formations - isolated, steep-sided limestone peaks rising from flat plains. According to Wikipedia, the Guilin landscape has long been celebrated for its combination of “green mountains, clear waters, spectacular caves, and beautiful rocks,” with the area recognized as one of China’s Ten Major Scenic Attractions.

The karst formations themselves are the product of millions of years of limestone dissolution, creating a landscape that international karst researchers consider the global reference for peak forest (fenglin) geomorphology. The scenic interaction between the natural limestone towers and the agricultural villages scattered throughout the valley creates what Chinese state media describes as a “poetic picture” that draws visitors from across the country.

Thriving Summer Tourism

The August 2 visit comes during China’s peak summer tourism season, when Yangshuo typically sees its highest visitor numbers. The photo feature, originally published by Xinhua and subsequently republished by CCTV and Guangming Daily, is part of a broader pattern of state media coverage highlighting the region’s tourism vitality.

The same day, a related photo story showed tourists riding bamboo rafts along the Yulong River scenic area in Yangshuo, also photographed by Jiang Keqing and published by People’s Daily Online. Just over a week earlier, on July 25, a “Dragon-Phoenix Parade” event on the Yulong River in Baisha Town drew large crowds to witness bamboo rafts linked into golden dragon and phoenix shapes illuminated with fireworks, as documented by Sina Photo.

Building a World-Class Tourism Destination

Yangshuo’s appeal extends beyond its natural scenery. The county has been designated as a “Tourism High-Quality Development Pilot Zone” within Guilin’s broader strategy to become a world-class tourist city. According to China Daily, Yangshuo has implemented tourism standardization across multiple sectors, developing 26 national, industry, local, and group standards. These efforts have earned the county recognition as a National Tourism Standardization Demonstration County.

The county has also diversified its tourism offerings. Yangshuo now hosts over 70 independent climbing areas with more than 1,200 certified climbing routes, earning recognition from the International Federation of Sport Climbing as “Asia’s most complete natural rock wall training base.” Low-altitude tourism, including hot air balloon and airship experiences, attracted over 650,000 visitors in 2025, generating more than 200 million yuan in revenue.

A Landscape of Enduring Appeal

The continued flow of visitors to Yangshuo’s peak forest reflects the enduring appeal of a landscape that has inspired poets and travelers for centuries. The famous phrase “Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven” (桂林山水甲天下), coined by Southern Song dynasty official Wang Zhenggong over 800 years ago, remains as apt today as when it was first written.

As summer tourism continues to peak, Yangshuo’s karst landscape - recognized by UNESCO and celebrated by generations of visitors - stands as a testament to the natural beauty of southern China’s limestone terrain. With ongoing investment in tourism infrastructure and standardization, the county appears well-positioned to maintain its status as one of China’s premier natural destinations.