Ten Mile Gallery: The Essence of Yangshuo’s Beauty

There’s a road in Guangxi, China, that doesn’t just lead somewhere—it is the destination. This is the Ten Mile Gallery, a stretch of highway between the town of Yangshuo and the village of Moon Hill that might just be one of the most breathtakingly beautiful journeys on Earth. It’s not a gallery with walls and a roof; it’s a living, breathing exhibition of karst majesty, curated by nature itself, with each turn revealing a new masterpiece.

Forget your typical museum visit. Here, the admission is free, the ceiling is the sky, and the masterpieces are millennia-old limestone peaks piercing the clouds. This is the heart of Yangshuo’s magic, the very essence of the beauty that has inspired poets, painters, and countless travelers for generations.

More Than a Scenic Drive: A Journey Through a Painting

The name "Ten Mile Gallery" is no exaggeration. This approximately ten-mile (16-kilometer) road is your front-row seat to the dramatic theater of the Yangshuo landscape. Traveling it, whether by bike, electric cart, or on foot, feels like moving through a classic Chinese ink wash painting. The mist often clings to the peaks, softening their edges and creating an ethereal, dreamlike quality that changes by the hour.

The Cast of Karst Characters

The true stars of the gallery are the karst formations, each with its own name and personality.

• Thumb Peak (拇指山): Perhaps the most iconic, this peak truly resembles a thumbs-up from nature, as if congratulating you on making it here. It’s one of the most photographed spots along the route.
• Shuttle Rock (穿梭岩): This formation sparks the imagination, its shape inviting stories and legends from a time long past.
• The Great Banyan Tree (大榕树 - Dàróngshù): A slight detour from the main road leads you to a towering, ancient banyan tree that is said to be over 1400 years old. It’s not just a tree; it’s a monument to time, its sprawling roots and vast canopy a popular spot for quiet contemplation and, thanks to a famous scene from the film Liu Sanjie, a must-see for many Chinese tourists.

How to Experience the Gallery: The Vibe is in the Vehicle

How you choose to traverse the Ten Mile Gallery profoundly shapes your experience. This isn't a place to rush; it's a place to absorb.

On Two Wheels: The Electric Bike Revolution

This is, without a doubt, the quintessential Yangshuo experience. The rise of the rentable electric bike (e-bike) has completely transformed access to the Ten Mile Gallery. They are quiet, easy to ride (even for beginners), and empower you to stop on a whim. The feeling of the warm breeze on your skin as you glide past rice paddies with those staggering peaks as your backdrop is pure, unadulterated freedom. You’ll join a steady stream of fellow travelers, all sharing the same look of awe. Pull over at a local farmer’s stall for a freshly peeled sugar cane juice or a handful of sweet local mandarins.

The Classic Choice: Bicycle Power

For the purists and the active traveler, a traditional bicycle is still a fantastic option. It allows for an even slower pace and a deeper connection to the surroundings. The route is relatively flat, making it accessible to most fitness levels. The satisfying burn in your legs becomes part of the memory.

On Foot: The Ultimate Immersion

For the truly immersive, walking a section of the gallery is a meditative experience. It allows you to notice the small details: the sound of water buffalo in the fields, the conversations of local farmers, the intricate play of light and shadow on the rock faces as the sun moves across the sky. It’s slow travel at its finest.

Beyond the Road: Tapping into Yangshuo's Tourism Hotspots

The Ten Mile Gallery isn't an isolated attraction; it's the central artery connecting to some of Yangshuo's biggest tourism hotspots. Any journey along it can be easily combined with these iconic stops.

Moon Hill (月亮山 - Yuèliàng Shān)

The Gallery’s natural terminus is Moon Hill, a peak with a moon-shaped natural arch piercing through its summit. A steep but manageable climb rewards you with one of the most famous views in all of China, looking back over the sea of karst peaks you’ve just traveled through. It’s a challenging yet incredibly rewarding capstone to the journey.

Impression Liu Sanjie

As dusk falls over the Li River, another kind of gallery opens. Impression Liu Sanjie is a monumental open-air theater production directed by the famed Zhang Yimou. It uses the natural karst formations as its backdrop and the river as its stage, with a cast of hundreds of local fishermen and ethnic minority performers. The show is a breathtaking spectacle of light, song, and culture that complements the natural beauty of the Ten Mile Gallery with a dose of human artistry.

River Adventures on the Yulong

While the Li River gets most of the fame (thanks to the image on the 20 RMB note), the nearby Yulong River offers a more intimate and peaceful experience. Bamboo rafting on the Yulong is a serene counterpart to the active exploration of the Ten Mile Gallery. Drifting silently down the calm, reflective waters, surrounded by the same stunning scenery, provides a perspective you simply can’t get from the road.

The Local Pulse: Supporting the Community

The beauty of the Ten Mile Gallery isn’t just geological; it’s also cultural. The road is lined with small villages and farms. Stopping to buy fruit from a grandmother at a roadside stand, or eating a simple lunch at a family-run nongjia fan (farmhouse restaurant) isn’t just a transaction—it’s a genuine connection.

This is where travel becomes meaningful. The local economy is deeply intertwined with the tourism the landscape attracts. By choosing to spend a few yuan on local goods and services, travelers directly support the families who have called this stunning place home for centuries. It’s a symbiotic relationship that helps preserve the area’s unique character.

A Living Canvas: The Unforgettable Essence of Yangshuo

The Ten Mile Gallery endures because it is more than a checklist item. It is an experience that engages all the senses. It’s the smell of wet earth after a rain shower, the taste of fresh pomelo, the sound of bicycle bells mingling with birdsong, the feel of the sun on your neck, and the utterly unforgettable sight of those green giants reaching for the heavens.

It represents a shift in how we travel—away from hurried tours and toward slow, self-powered exploration. It’s accessible, authentic, and profoundly beautiful. It is, in every sense, the essence of Yangshuo. It’s not just a place you see; it’s a place you feel, a living canvas that leaves its mark on your soul long after you’ve left its beautiful, ten-mile stretch of wonder.