Baishui Crag
5a – 6a+ · 4 routes · limestone · French
- Approach 6 min — flat riverside path from the road bridge; the wall is visible from the parking
- Best season September to January and March to May. A reliable option in wet weather.
- Published
- Updated
Baishui is Yangshuo's beginner crag and the best place in the region to learn to climb outdoors. The wall is short, the grades start at 5a, the holds are large, and it is a five-minute walk from the road.
Why it works
The routes are 12 to 18 metres on generally positive limestone, with generous bolting and comfortable ledges for belaying. Most lines are between 5a and 6b, which makes it easy to climb a lot in a day without ever feeling overwhelmed.
The base is flat and shaded by trees, so it is also comfortable for a group with non-climbing partners, and there is river access for a swim at the end of the day.
Season
Baishui faces south-east and dries faster than the big walls. It is the reliable option in December and January when other crags are seeping, and it is a sensible morning crag in the shoulder seasons before the sun becomes too strong.
In the wet months it can still be climbable when everything else is dripping, simply because the wall is short and gets airflow.
Facilities
There is a small cafe at the road end during the season, which sells water and simple food. Toilets are basic. Most people arrive by scooter from Yangshuo, about 20 minutes away.
Routes · 4
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Hold types jug · pocket · slab
Open beta
Twelve metres of big pockets on the left end. The route most people in Yangshuo climb first.
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Hold types pocket · sidepull · crimp
Open beta
Sustained pocket wall above the river path. Small but positive holds all the way; a good first lead.
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Hold types slab · smear · mantle
Open beta
Slab section on the right end. Limestone friction is different from granite — keep your weight on the toes and stay relaxed.
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Hold types pocket · undercling · jug
Open beta
The hardest line at the crag. Steeper than the rest with one undercling move that catches people out.
Crag ethics
Crag ethics
This is the crag where most local guides teach. Keep the base clean, do not monopolise routes with top-ropes all day, and share the wall.
