Today, you will cycle a total of approx. 20 miles (32 km) beginning with a ride out of the city alongside the bamboo-lined Li River and through the peaceful village of DaXu. See displays of local rural life as you ride along charming old streets. Stop at the village of CaoPing and have lunch at a local restaurant (included) where we'll feast on seasonal local specialities. After lunch we have some climbing to do! The rewards are spectacular as we take mountain roads high over the Li River and surrounding karsts for expansive views. After our intial climb the cycling gets much easier as we fly down newly built roads and along a wide valley of rice fields before emerging in Xingping town. Xingping is an old Ming Dynasty era village and boasts some fine streets worth exploring to see architecture that is rapidly disappearing in China. We stay tonight in a secluded hotel and eat tonight in the old town. Stay: Water & Cloud Inn

The Daxu Old Town (大圩古镇) is situated on the east bank of the Li River, 23 km (14.3 miles) southeast of Guilin City. With a history of more than 1000 years, the town was originally built in the early Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126) and ranked No. 1 of the four renowned ancient towns in Guangxi Province as early as 600 years ago.