Moon Hill, Yangshuo

Moon Hill (月亮山 Yuèliàng Shān) is a karst ridge about 8km south of Yangshuo town with a hole punched clean through it — a natural arch roughly 50 metres wide, left behind when the roof of an ancient cave collapsed. From the road it reads as a crescent; walk around it and the crescent waxes and wanes as your angle changes, which is where the name comes from.

The climb is a stone staircase of around 800 steps, shaded most of the way by bamboo and scrub, taking 25-35 minutes if you are reasonably fit. At the arch there is a flat platform underneath, a few drinks vendors, and a view down over the Yulong River valley: rice paddies in geometric patches, peaks receding into layered grey, and thin roads with scooters buzzing along them.

Entry has been consistently cheap — around ¥25 ($3.50), sometimes bundled into a Ten-Mile Gallery (十里画廊 Shílǐ Huàláng) combined ticket, so if you have already bought a combo, check whether Moon Hill is included before paying again.

Two honest notes. First, the arch itself is more impressive from below on the approach road than from standing under it. Second, the underside of the arch is a world-class sport-climbing wall, and if you visit midweek you will likely see climbers working routes overhead — worth watching for ten minutes.

Combine it with a countryside cycle and it makes a satisfying half day.