Yangshou Bike hireage

Posted by Team NZ (467 days ago)

Can anyone confirm estimated cost and are bikes with kids seats available or should we take ours with us?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Meiguoren (466 days ago)

We rented a bicycle, seems like it was 10 RMB for a few hours but I can't remember. The first trip, we rented off the street and didn't need a child seat. The second time, we stayed at Yangshuo Mountain Retreat and rented their bicycles (I think maybe even paid a bit higher price than off the street rate.) The child seat they supplied was a wooden thing which gave our kid "fanny fatigue" after a few hours. Seems like we found a piece of cardboard somewhere along the way and believe it or not fashioned that into something to make the seat a bit more comfortable.

(I am based in Guangzhou)

Posted by Team NZ (466 days ago)

Thanks Meiquoren. Mental note take small cushion. Can I ask you what was the mountain retreat was like? We are thinking of staying there or at Li River Retreat. Any opinions?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Meiguoren (466 days ago)

Whether you will like YMSR, in my opinion, depends on what you are looking for in your Yangshuo experience. The first time I stayed a a hotel right on West Street and we were in the hub of town activity, which was nice. There are restaurants, small shops, hawkers everywhere. But if you live in HK, perhaps you don't need the "getaway to the West." It's very touristy, and the boats let off hoardes of tourists every day at noon who have to run the guantlent of aggressive hawkers. (If you live in HK, you won't even find the stuff unique.) But, it's nice to be downtown in the evening. On the other hand, YMSR is out in the "boonies" so to speak, very quiet and peaceful in almost surreal surroundings right along a small part of the river. The staff is wonderful, and they have a decent little restaurant. Plus, it's really only about 3 or 4 km to town in a taxi. So, you can go to the retreat itself and never have to see the town, or go there if you like. They will call a taxi for you, and then getting back you have to look a bit for one that will take you. The staff arranged a private boat tour for us, as well as rented bicycles and found a guide to take us on the back country roads. We were very happy staying there. The rooms are lovely, but make sure you are placed in the older, main lodge and not in the new wing which is not as nice.

(I am based in Guangzhou)