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Bottom line: Start with Route 1 if you are new to scooters. Route 2 is the sweet spot for most travelers. Route 3 is only for confident riders with a full battery and a full day.
Route overview
🟢 Easy
West Street Loop · 10 km · 2–3 h
Flat roads, rice fields, and karst backdrops. Perfect for beginners and families.
🟡 Moderate
Yulong River Loop · 25 km · 4–5 h
Villages, bamboo rafts, and the Moon Hill viewpoint. Plan a lunch charging stop.
🟠 Epic
Xingping Loop · 45 km · 6–7 h
20-yuan viewpoint, Xingping old town, and the Li River. Full battery required.
Route 1: Easy West Street Loop 🟢
Distance: 10 km · Time: 2–3 hours · Difficulty: Easy · Best for: First-time riders, families with older children
Route: West Street (西街 / Xījiē) → Ten-Mile Gallery (十里画廊 / Shílǐ Huàláng) → Yulong River bridge (遇龙河桥 / Yùlóng Hé qiáo) → Return.
Highlights: Flat country roads, rice paddies, and iconic karst peaks in the background. The morning light around 7–8 AM is exceptional, with little traffic.
Tip: The main Ten-Mile Gallery road has tour buses. Use the parallel village backroads for a quieter ride.
- 'On a test ride in April 2026, we took the back road parallel to the main Ten-Mile Gallery route. At 7 AM, we didn't see another vehicle for 15 minutes — just mist rising from the rice fields and farmers starting their day.'
Route 2: Moderate Yulong River Loop 🟡
Distance: 25 km · Time: 4–5 hours · Difficulty: Moderate · Best for: Riders with some experience who want depth
Route: West Street → Jima Pier (骥马码头 / Jìmǎ mǎtóu) → Jiuxian Village (旧县村 / Jiùxiàn cūn) → Gongnong Bridge (工农桥 / Gōngnóng qiáo) → Moon Hill (月亮山 / Yuèliàng Shān) → Return.
Highlights: Bamboo rafts on the Yulong River, the old stone houses of Jiuxian, Gongnong Bridge, and the Moon Hill limestone arch.
Charging stop: Many guesthouses and restaurants in Jiuxian Village let you charge while you eat. Plan a lunch stop there.
- 'During our July test, we stopped at a family-run restaurant in Jiuxian Village for lunch (¥25 per person / ~US$3.50). The owner let us charge the scooter for free while we ate. Battery went from 45% to 80% in 45 minutes.'
Route 3: Epic Xingping Loop 🟠
Distance: 45 km · Time: 6–7 hours · Difficulty: Epic / Advanced · Best for: Experienced riders with a full day
Route: West Street → Xingping (兴坪 / Xīngpíng) → 20-Yuan Viewpoint (二十元人民币背景 / Èrshí yuán rénmínbì bèijǐng) → Li River (漓江 / Lí Jiāng) → Return.
Highlights: The famous 20-yuan banknote scenery, Xingping old town, cormorant fishermen along the Li River, and rural Guangxi backroads.
Warning: This route is long with mountain sections. Start with a 100% battery, ride in Eco mode when possible, and do not attempt it with an older scooter.
- 'This route tested our battery management. We started with 100% at 8 AM, reached Xingping with 55%, and had 12% left when we returned to Yangshuo at 3 PM. We rode in Eco mode for the last 10 km. A newer scooter would have handled this more comfortably.'
Real rider notes
- Start early (7–8 AM) to avoid midday heat and tour-bus traffic on the main roads.
- Amap (Gaode) offline maps are more reliable than Google Maps for rural lanes.
- Always carry the rental shop's WeChat number and a photo of the scooter's license plate.
- Rain ponchos are sold at most rental shops for ¥5–10. Buy one before you need it.