In Guilin itself, entertainment tends to focus around traditional opera and theater. Visitors to restaurants and hotels are often entertained with opera and ballad singing, whether they like it or not in a friendly atmosphere. If you prefer a professional performance, try the theatres along Jiefang Xie Lu Rd. You can buy tickets for most shows at the door at a cost of RMB30 to RMB50 per person and they generally last for one hour.

If you are seeking something a little more lively, then the bars and cafes in Yangshuo are more laid-back with opportunities to meet young people. This small village actually gets quite lively at night and the bars and restaurants around here stay open well into the early hours of the morning or until the travelers get weary! In Guilin itself, there is one trendy club, Dada Hui, at the corner of Yiren Lu Rd and Zhongshan Lu Rd. This place is usually filled with travelers and local Chinese listening to loud music. There is an RMB15 cover charge.

There are a few bowling alleys, swimming pools and sports centers dotted about the city and if you really want to get fit, the best thing to do is to hire a bike and cycle through the countryside. The sights around Guilin and Yangshuo are at their best seen from a bicycle seat!