Written byCycleQuest Editorial TeamField tested
Ridden in the field by CycleQuest China riders or guides.
Two stone arches built in the Ming dynasty sit on the upper Yulong River, and most visitors to Yangshuo see at least one of them from a bamboo raft. Seeing both from a bike is easier than it looks. Our Y6 loop links Yulong Bridge and Fuli Bridge in 22 km, with 123 m of total climbing and no categorised climbs, starting and finishing at our shop in Xiatangzhai village, which sits on the river itself.
This guide covers what the ride is actually like, where you will have to get off the bike, how it differs from our longer Y5 loop, and when an e-bike makes sense. It is written by the team that runs the route as a guided half-day tour and rents the bikes it is ridden on.
Before you ride
Quick answers
How long is the Fuli Bridge loop?
22 km with 123 m of total climbing, starting and finishing at our Xiatangzhai shop. Allow 3–4 hours with photo stops.
Is it hard?
No. It is the easiest of our Yangshuo routes by the numbers, with no sustained climbs. You will walk the bike over the steps of Yulong Bridge.
Do I need an e-bike?
Not for the distance. Pick one if you want to ride in summer heat, carry a child seat, or add a detour without watching the clock.
Can I ride it without a guide?
Yes. Rent a bike at our shop and ask for the Y6 GPX track. Riders who prefer not to navigate can join our T4 half-day tour, which follows the same river and both bridges.
Route Overview
The Y6 loop is the short, heritage-focused ride on the Yulong. From our shop at No. 126 Xiatangzhai Village you head upriver past the bamboo-raft landings to Yulong Bridge, continue to Fuli Bridge on the upper river, and loop back to Xiatangzhai. Because the shop is already on the river, there is no town traffic to clear before the scenery starts, which is why we start our Yulong River rides here rather than in town.
The Two Bridges
Yulong Bridge
Yulong Bridge gives the river its name. The single stone arch dates from 1412, in the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty; the balustrades were added in 1870. It is roughly 60 m long and stands about 9 m above the water, and it is crossed by stone steps rather than a ramp. The steps keep cars off it, which has helped preserve it. It also means you cannot ride across: dismount at the foot of the steps and walk or carry the bike over. On an e-bike, turn the assist off before you lift it, and if you are on a heavier bike, a second pair of hands on the steps helps.
The bridge sits at the head of the bamboo-raft run, so expect a crowd of rafts underneath and people on the deck taking photos, especially from mid-morning. There is no entrance fee.
Fuli Bridge
Built of dressed stone in the same Yongle period, its single arch is about 30 m long and 10 m high, with an old tree at each end. On a still day the arch and its reflection close into a full circle, which is why it is the most photographed bridge in the valley. It has been a Guangxi provincial protected monument since 2017.
Fuli Bridge is around 12 km from Yangshuo town and has its own raft landing. Arrive early or late in the day if you want the reflection without people on the deck.
How It Rides
Most of the loop follows the riverside bike path and concrete village lanes between rice fields, with karst peaks on both sides. There is nothing on Y6 that counts as a climb in our route data: the 123 m of gain is spread across short rises on the lanes, not a hill you will remember.
What slows you down is not gradient but people and terrain at the stops:
- The steps at Yulong Bridge. The one place everyone walks.
- Raft landings. Xiatangzhai, Yulong Bridge and Fuli Bridge all have working raft piers. Expect people crossing the path with paddles and life jackets; ride through at walking pace.
- Narrow sections. Parts of the path along the water are only wide enough for single file. Pull fully off the path to take photos.
Y6 or Y5: Which Yulong River Loop?
We run two loops from the same shop, and they cover different parts of the river.
| Y6 Fuli Bridge loop | Y5 Yulong & Jinbao River loop | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 22 km | 34 km |
| Elevation gain | 123 m | 231 m |
| Climbs | None | 1 (max 5.6%) |
| Via | Xiatangzhai, Yulong Bridge, Fuli Bridge | Yulong Village, Longcun, the Jinbao River and Longtan village, back via Ten-Mile Gallery |
| Traffic | Bike path and village lanes | Mostly quiet; moderate to heavy on the Ten-Mile Gallery section |
| Best for | Heritage, photography, families | More countryside, a little more riding |
If you have one half-day and want the classic stone-bridge views, ride Y6. If you would rather spend the time in villages and fields away from the raft crowds, ride Y5. With a full day and an e-bike, you can ride both from the shop with a lunch stop in between.
E-Bike or Regular Bike?
The distance does not require a motor. Most reasonably active adults can ride 22 km of flat river path on a regular hybrid or mountain bike. An e-bike earns its place when:
- It is summer. From June to August the valley is hot and humid, and pedal assist keeps the effort low enough to enjoy the stops.
- You are carrying a child. We fit rear child seats to our e-bikes, and the motor makes the extra weight a non-issue.
- You want to add on. Combining Y6 with part of Y5 or a detour into the villages is far more comfortable with assist.
A note on terms. In Yangshuo, “e-bike rental” often means a step-through electric scooter (diànpíngchē) from a roadside shop. What we rent is a bicycle with an electric motor that assists while you pedal, sized to your height, with a helmet included. Our Yangshuo shop rents Fnix 27.5 e-bikes from $43 per day; regular bikes, kids’ bikes and a rear child seat ($10 per day) are on the Yangshuo rentals page. For licences, the 25 km/h rule and how deposits work, see our guide to renting an e-bike in Yangshuo.
Riding With Kids
Y6 is a good first ride for families. It is short, it has no climbs, the stops come every few kilometres, and the bridges and rafts give children something to look at. Two things to plan for: an adult needs to handle the child’s bike as well as their own on the Yulong Bridge steps, and the raft landings need a firm hand on younger riders.
Smaller children ride in a rear child seat; older children can take a 20-inch or 24-inch kids’ bike from our fleet. Tell us ages and heights when you book so the right bikes are ready.
Best Time to Ride
- Best months: March to May and September to November, when temperatures are comfortable for a half-day ride.
- Summer (June–August): hot, humid and the wettest part of the year. Ride early, carry more water than you think you need, and expect showers.
- After heavy rain: the Yulong rises quickly. Low riverside sections can flood and raft operations may be suspended. Message us on the morning of your ride and we will tell you what the path is like.
- Time of day: start before 9:00 for a quieter Yulong Bridge, or finish late afternoon at Fuli Bridge for low light on the arch.
Practical Notes
- Navigation: Google Maps works poorly in mainland China. Ask for the Y6 GPX track when you collect your bike and load it on your bike computer or phone, or use AMap (Gaode).
- Payment: small shops and cafés in the valley expect Alipay or WeChat Pay. Carry some cash as a fallback. If you have not set up Alipay yet, see our Alipay guide.
- Water: carry at least one full bottle. Ask at your route briefing where the drink stops are on the day.
- What to wear: sun protection, sandals or trainers you do not mind getting dusty, and a light rain layer from April to September.
- Hotel delivery: if you are staying in Yangshuo town, we can bring the bikes to your hotel for a 60 RMB flat fee each way.
Self-Guided or Guided?
Self-guided suits riders who are comfortable following a GPX track and handling the bridge steps themselves. You pick up at the shop, get a route briefing, and ride at your own pace. One guest from France who rented an e-bike for the day described the handover simply: everything was well explained, and she could choose a route with maps and follow the GPS to the scenic points.
Guided is our T4 Fuli Bridge Yulong River Tour: 3–4 hours on the same river and both bridges, $100 per guest, family-friendly. It includes a professional cycling guide, a bike fitted to your size, helmet and lights, one-day accident insurance, water, recovery drinks and an energy bar, a rain jacket, hotel pickup and return from partner hotels in Yangshuo, and three free photos per guest. Choose it if you would rather not navigate, are riding with children, or want someone to handle the steps and the raft crowds.
Who This Route Is Not For
- Road cyclists looking for a training ride. Y6 is short and stop-start. Try our Xianggong Mountain loop (96 km, 1,194 m) instead.
- Riders who want to avoid people entirely. Yulong Bridge is one of the busiest spots in the valley. The quieter river is on the Jinbao River section of Y5.
FAQ
How long does it take to cycle to Fuli Bridge?
The full Y6 loop from our Xiatangzhai shop to Yulong Bridge, Fuli Bridge and back is 22 km. Allow 3–4 hours in total with stops at both bridges; the riding itself is the smaller part of that.
Can you ride a bike across Yulong Bridge?
No. The bridge is crossed by stone steps, so you walk or carry the bike over. It takes a few minutes.
Is the Fuli Bridge ride suitable for beginners and children?
Yes. With 123 m of total climbing and no categorised climbs, it is the easiest of our Yangshuo routes. Children can ride in a rear child seat or on a kids’ bike from our fleet.
Do I need an e-bike for this route?
No, but it helps in summer heat, with a child seat, or if you want to add distance.
Is there an entrance fee for Yulong Bridge or Fuli Bridge?
Yulong Bridge has no entrance fee. Bamboo rafting on the river is a separate paid activity booked at the raft landings.
Where does the ride start?
At the CycleQuest China shop, No. 126 Xiatangzhai Village, on the Yulong River. Hotel delivery from Yangshuo town is available.
Ride Yulong and Fuli Bridges with CycleQuest China
The simplest way to ride this loop is our guided half-day T4 tour: bikes fitted, guide and hotel transfers from partner hotels in Yangshuo included, and both bridges on the route.
- See the T4 Fuli Bridge Yulong River Tour — 3–4 hours, $100 per guest, family-friendly.
- Prefer to ride on your own? See the bikes at our Yangshuo shop and ask for the Y6 GPX track at pickup.