Yangshuo's Free Viewing Platform, Home to the Most Poetic Sunset of the Li River

When the setting sun dyes the karst peaks into a green landscape painting, this free viewing platform is staging a sunset spectacle even more stunning than Xianggong Mountain—no climbing, no crowds, the Li River's dusk unfolds here like a living "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains." 🗺️ Complete Guide to Sunset and Sunrise 🌄 Ultimate Cost-Effective Route Afternoon: Rent an electric bike on West Street → Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains Viewing Platform (reserve spot before 5:00 PM) → Wait for the sunset over the peaks → Take the sightseeing bus back Evening: Impression Liu Sanjie live show → West Street beer fish late-night snack 🏞️ Classic Panoramic Route Additional experiences: Yulong River bamboo rafting → Ten-Mile Gallery cycling → Laozhai Mountain overlooking the Li River’s big bend → Xingping Ancient Town for a 20 RMB background photo 📍 Complete Guide to the Viewing Platform ▎ Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains — A Free Feast • 180° unobstructed viewing platform, every shot looks like an ink wash masterpiece • 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM is the golden hour, when the peaks are bathed in amber light • Hidden perk: Try traditional green tangerines at the entrance stall (2 RMB each, a great thirst quencher) ▎ Xianggong Mountain Alternative Recommendation ✅ Coffee shop terrace at the mountain base: free sunrise view of the sea of peaks ✅ Laozhai Mountain pavilion: free panoramic view of the Li River’s first bend (20-minute climb required) 🛵 Transportation Tips ▎ Round Trip Options • Viewing platform → parking lot: must take the sightseeing bus (10 RMB per person, no lights on the night road) • West Street round trip: electric bike preferred (30 RMB/day, stop and shoot anytime along the way) ▎ Safety Reminders Parking Lot No. 3 is 3 km from the viewing platform; avoid walking at night Village roads have no lighting; traveling in groups is recommended 🍊 Flavors Amidst the Scenery ▎ Viewing Platform Snacks • Entrance green tangerine stall: sour wild fruit platter (green mango + guava + plum) • Sightseeing bus stop: mugwort rice cake (1 RMB each, a heartwarming snack) ▎ Authentic Yangshuo Flavors ✅ Master Chef’s Beer Fish: fresh Li River fish stewed with local beer ✅ Skinny Rice Noodles: marinated rice noodles + pot roast + sour long beans ✅ Moonlight Tea White: osmanthus latte (new shop at the foot of the viewing platform) ▎ Secret Delicacies • Riverside farmhouse: bamboo tube chicken (cooked with mountain spring water, fragrant and fresh) • Ancient town old shop: pine flower sugar (century-old craft, sweet but not greasy) 💡 Hard-Earned Tips 📅 Best Season September to November, clear skies with little fog Avoid National Day peak; weekday afternoons have half the crowds 📸 Photography Bring a telephoto lens to compress the layers of peaks Prepare a phone clamp (fix on the stone railing of the viewing platform for time-lapse shots) 🎒 Gear Non-slip shoes (stone steps on the viewing platform can be damp) Portable fill light (for face lighting before and after sunset) 💰 Costs Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains: free admission + 10 RMB bus fare Xianggong Mountain alternative: 38 RMB coffee with unlimited viewing time When the last golden ray passes over the green spiral peak, you realize the green in "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" is not paint, but the Li River sunset singing in harmony with the karst for a thousand years.