Laozhai Hill, adjacent to Xingping's old town wharf, offers the best elevated view of the Li River landscape from close range. The ascent follows stone steps cut into the karst rock through a bamboo grove — about 300 steps, which takes 20 to 30 minutes at a comfortable pace. The summit terrace looks north and south along the river, giving you the full visual context that boat travel at water level doesn't provide.
The hill is best climbed at sunrise or just before sunset. In the morning, the river mist that pools between the peaks lifts gradually, and the light hits the karst towers from the east. In the evening, the same peaks turn orange and then purple as the sun drops behind the western ridgeline. Photography is the most popular activity, but you don't need a camera to justify the climb — the view is simply good, in the uncomplicated sense that some landscapes are good.