Yao Mountain

Yao Mountain (Yaoshan) is the highest hill in the Guilin area at about 909 metres, in the Yaoshan Scenic Area on Yaoshan Road in the Qixing District of Guilin, Guangxi, China, to the east of the city. Its name is linked to the Yao people and to a legend of an emperor who, according to local tradition, visited the mountain. The hill is covered in forest, and visitors can reach the summit by cable car, by chairlift or on foot, and can descend on the Xiangshan alpine slide, a toboggan-style track that winds down the slope. Entry costs about 50 yuan, and the cable car costs about 60 to 100 yuan depending on the option, which should be confirmed on Trip.com. Children under 1.2 metres enter free. The area opens from about 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and a visit takes three to four hours with the ascent, summit walk and descent. At the top, viewing platforms look over Guilin city, the Li River and the karst hills that fill the horizon, and the air is cooler than in the city, making the mountain a relief in summer. The forest paths and temple remains near the summit offer short walks. Clear weekday mornings give the best visibility, and autumn brings colour in the forests. Haze, cloud and rain can hide the view entirely, so the weather forecast is worth checking. Weekends and public holidays bring queues at the cable car and the slide, and midday is the busiest period. Bus 31 or 56 reaches Yaoshan, and a taxi from the centre costs about 35 to 45 yuan. Because it lies a little outside the city, the mountain is quieter than central attractions, and photographers often come for sunrise or late afternoon light across the valley.