Few places in China offer as many opportunities for adventure as Yangshuo.

Hiking: The region offers great possibilities for hikers. Easy trails without demanding much physical effort. There are three routes proposed by this site, located in the peaceful countryside far away from mass tourists, with photos and detailed maps.

Bike tours: Yangshuo offers wide-ranging choices in bike tours. The map 'Around Yulong River' will help you to discover the region by your own. The classic route from Yangshuo is to ride for Moon Hill. The scenery on the way is spectacular. There is an itinerary proposed by Chinahighlights.
Rent a bike : At the entrance of Xijie, there are a lot of bicycles for rent. A good mountain bike is Y10 a day. Ask for a raincoat during the raining season, it's free of charge. Everybody speaks more or less English.
Find a guide: In Xijie(West Street), there are quite a few women and young men who would show you photographs of the bike tours and propose their guide service for around Y80 a day. Read a traveler's experience for such a guided bike tour at CNN TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS.

Boat Excursions:
Li river cruise: The traditional route from Guilin to Yangshuo is too expensive and noisy. I took the route and I would not recommend it to any independent traveler. An alternative is to take a cruise from Yangshuo to Fuli, or catch a return cruise in Yangshuo to Xingping and Yangdi. If you visit the fishing village near Xingping by boat, you can enjoy the most beautiful part of Li river scenery. (see Xingping.)
Rafting on Yulong river: From Yulong Bridge to Gongnong Bridge on Yangshuo-Wuzhuo highway: Y150-Y200 per bamboo raft accompanied by two locals who row you down the river and help to pass 28 rapids (dams). Worth a try if you are not tight in money, it offers a different view over the Yulong valley from walking and biking.

Climbing: Craggy hills rise vertically two to three hundred meters from the ground, offering innumerable choices for rock climbers. For more information, visit:
www.chinaclimb.com “Chinaclimb is located in the heart of rock-rising-out-of-the- mist country. Whether you've never climbed before or are a Lynn Hill guru of rock, we'll give you a transcendental experience. Our guides are some of the best climbers around. Our safety standards are stringent. Our tours are spectacular. Chinaclimb rocks!”
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat has quality climbing equipment available, and is licensed by the China Climbing Association. Some of the best spots include the following (Name / Location / Level of Difficulty):
Copper Door / Directly opposite Mountain Retreat and probably the most popular pitches in the area / 5.10
Moon Hill / Five Minutes from Gaotian Village / 5.12
Gold Cat Hill / Opposite Butterfly Park / 5.08
Thumb Peak / Next to Butterfly Cave / 5.10.

Cave-exploring:
Buddha Cave: Y80, close to Moon Hill.
Water Cave: Y120, around 6km after Moon Hill.
Dragon Cave: Y35, close to Moon Hill.
I am not a fan of cave exploring. Besides, the adventure costs a small fortune. In Xijie, many people would propose to you such an adventure with photos in one of the above-mentioned caves in the region. To have an idea in advance, go to visit Watercavecafe.

In the town of Yangshuo:
Xijie: Enjoy a doing-nothing atmosphere, accompanied by a bottle of beer in a cafe, watch pedestrians passing in front, chat with a charming waitress. Shopping : Xijie disposes a lot of shops of local products, Chinese paintings, and antiques. However, after 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Xijie is packed with mass tourists who came on shore in Yangshuo after their famous notoriously expensive Li river cruise. They disappear around 5 o'clock.