Hiking to Damian Mountain and Xingping viewpoints near Yangshuo
On my last full day in Yangshuo, I went on another scooter trip—this time with the goal of climbing Damian Mountain, known for its iconic view of the mountains at a river bend. Across the river is Xingping, a village known for its “20 Yuan view”, and a ferry provides access. There is another great viewpoint. Further details and maps below.
Map of broader area
Map of Damian Mountain and Xingping
1. Turnoff from main road; 2. Ticket kiosk/parking; 3. Damian Mountain peak; 4. Ferry; 5. "20 Yuan View"; 6. Trailhead in Xingping; 7. Peak.
Located about 25 kilometers from Yangshuo, the ride to Damian Mountain took me through a different landscape: rolling hills and agricultural fields. In the distance, though, you could already see the pointy hills rising like the teeth of a saw. Eventually, the gentler hills gave way to sharper formations, and I arrived at Damian Mountain—an impressive karst peak. The climb is fairly tough (though moderate for seasoned hikers), taking around 40 minutes to reach the top. Despite the haze, the views were stunning.
After the descent, I headed to the river and took a ferry to Xingping, famous for the “20 Yuan view”—the scene printed on the banknote. There are also some great peaks nearby, including one right in town that I ended up climbing. It offered a different but equally beautiful perspective of the area.
Leaving Xingping, it was a long and not particularly scenic ride along a main road back to Yangshuo, where I caught another great view of the town from the bridge.






















































































































































































