Yangshuo's outdoor scene was pioneered by Western climbers and guides who came for the karst and stayed. We trained in that lineage — and today we put English-speaking, internationally certified local guides on the rock, in the caves and on the rivers with you. Real skill, real safety, intensity dialed from first-timer to expert.
Years on this terrain mean we know it cold — which crag suits a first-timer, which canyon runs clean after rain, the village path to a three-valley viewpoint no tour bus reaches. That local knowledge is the difference between a real adventure and a checklist.
On a countryside trip, a farmer once waved our group in for lunch — no menu, no show, just a family table and an open invitation. That kind of access comes from being local, not from a brochure.
Real Yangshuo adventure —
run by the people who live here.
Yangshuo Wildways started in 2012. We grew up alongside the Western climbers and cyclists who, from the early 2000s, made Yangshuo home and built its outdoor scene. They taught us — candidly and generously — both how to guide safely and what international travelers actually want, and we built this company to carry it on.
We run every trip the same way: start with what the karst offers, set the intensity to the people in front of us, and keep groups small. Certified guides, properly maintained equipment, and the local judgment to make the right call when conditions change.
"You book us, you get us — a certified local guide who knows the ground. No subcontractors, no script."
Tony and David have spent years leading real adventures in Yangshuo — not packaged tours. Travel with Yangshuo Wildways and you get their training, judgment, and on-the-ground experience, every step of the way.
Tony co-founded Yangshuo Wildways and leads instruction and safety across the team. He's spent years leading outdoor groups, holds an intermediate climbing-instructor rating from the China Mountaineering Association, and is an internationally certified ski and snowboard instructor (PSIA, CSIA, CASI). With advanced wilderness first aid (WAFA), he sets the training and safety standard every guide works to.
"Proper training is what lets us say yes — to a kid's first harness and to a climber's hardest line."
David leads the outdoor side — climbing, via ferrata, caving, canyoneering and hiking — for everyone from families and first-timers to experienced climbers. A certified rock-climbing instructor (CMA) and wilderness first responder, he sets the intensity to match the group and knows the crags, routes and quiet trails worth your time.
"The best paths are the ones no one has paved for you yet. We spend our time finding them."
These aren't just words — they shape every decision we make in the field.
We hold the same international certifications as guides in the Alps and Rockies. No shortcuts, ever.See our safety standards →
Maximum 8–10 participants per guide. Your pace, your questions, your experience — never diluted by group size or a fixed script.
Climb a karst tower, drop into a canyon, or take an easy guided walk — same certified guide, intensity set to match your group. Beginner-friendly when you want it, genuinely challenging when you're ready, and plenty that kids can join.
A meal in a farmer's home. A conversation in a village that isn't on the map. We design encounters, not observations — so you leave with stories, not just photos.
Certifications earned through real training — not purchased. Each one represents a specific skill set that keeps our clients safe.
Advanced wilderness first aid at the international level. On a cliff face or in a remote canyon, our guides handle any medical situation.
Wilderness Medical Associates International
Certified LNT instructors. We follow the seven internationally recognized principles to minimize environmental impact on every outing.
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Every harness, helmet, rope, and carabiner meets UIAA and CE international standards. Inspected regularly and replaced on schedule.
UIAA & European CE CertificationYangshuo, Guilin
Guangxi, China
Yangshuo sits at the southern end of the Li River, surrounded by hundreds of limestone karst towers. It is widely regarded as one of the world's most spectacular natural environments and China's premier outdoor adventure destination. We're based right on West Street — the center of Yangshuo's traveler scene.
