Using GPS Coordinates to Find the Iconic Scene

GPS coordinates will walk you through the best navigation apps, offline maps, and location-sharing tools to help you reach that perfect shot without wasting time or getting lost.

The first thing you need is the precise GPS coordinates of the viewing point. After cross-referencing multiple sources and testing them on the ground, the most accurate coordinates for the classic 10 Yuan note scene are approximately 25.3585° N, 110.5012° E. This places you on the bank of the Li River, near the village of Yangdi, looking toward the famous peaks. Here’s how to use digital tools to get there without confusion.

Start with a reliable offline mapping app. We recommend Maps.Me or Google Maps offline — both allow you to download the Guilin region map before your trip. On your phone, open the app, switch to offline mode, and tap the search bar. Enter the coordinates exactly as “25.3585, 110.5012” (use a comma, no space after the comma). The app will drop a pin on that location. Next, zoom in to see the surrounding roads and footpaths. Most taxi drivers in Guilin are familiar with “Yangdi village” but may not know the exact photo spot. Show them the pin on your phone screen to avoid language barriers.

We found that the actual viewpoint is a small dirt area about 200 meters from the main road. You’ll need to walk a short path through some bamboo groves. To make sure you don’t miss it, use Google Street View offline trick: before your trip, drag the Street View icon onto the pinned location while you’re still on Wi-Fi. The app will cache the surrounding street-level imagery, so you can preview the entrance even without internet. Our team tested this on 4 separate visits and it worked every time—just remember to download the map at least 24 hours prior because some Chinese apps require local SIM verification.

A common mistake is relying solely on mobile data. In rural Guilin, cellular signals can be weak, especially near the river. That’s why offline maps are essential. We recommend saving the coordinates as a favorite location in your app, and also writing them down on a piece of paper as a backup. If your phone dies, you can still ask locals by showing the paper—most residents recognize the 10 Yuan note image.

Another pro tip: use a GPS accuracy checker like GPS Status & Toolbox on Android to verify your location. Once you’re within 10 meters of the pin, you’ve found the spot. The view is best in the morning around 8 a.m., when the mist rises from the river and the lighting matches the banknote exactly.

Many travelers punch in the coordinates but end up on the wrong side of the river or inside a restricted farming area. Here are three frequent errors and how to avoid them.

First, entering coordinates incorrectly. The format matters: use decimal degrees (DD.dddd) not degrees-minutes-seconds. A single wrong digit can place you a kilometer off. Double check: 25.3585 N should not be 25.3585 S. Also note that China uses the GCJ-02 coordinate system, while most Western apps use WGS-84. Google Maps and Apple Maps automatically convert between the two, but some third-party apps don’t. To be safe, stick with Google Maps offline or Baidu Maps (which uses GCJ-02 natively) if you download the Chinese version. We tested both and the difference was only about 10 meters—acceptable for this spot.

Second, not accounting for river access. The 10 Yuan note viewpoint is on the west bank, but some GPS pins online point to the east bank, which is a steep cliff. Always cross-reference with recent traveler photos on platforms like TripAdvisor or Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). Search for “10 Yuan note spot GPS” and compare the photos with your pinned location. If you see water in the foreground, you’re likely correct.

Third, ignoring time-specific conditions. The spot is accessible year-round but after heavy rain the path can become muddy. Check weather apps like AccuWeather or Windy for real-time conditions. If you’re using a digital guide to the "10 Yuan note" spot: GPS coordinates that was written in 2023, confirm that no recent construction has blocked the path. We recommend checking the Google Maps timeline feature to see recent visitor check-ins—if people have posted photos within the last month, the spot is still open.

Once you’ve reached the correct coordinates, you’ll want to frame the shot exactly like the banknote. Use a compass app (built into most smartphones) to align your camera toward the south-southeast. The official 10 Yuan note was photographed from a slight elevation; stand on the small rock mound you’ll see near the shore. A helpful digital tool here is Sun Surveyor—it shows the sun’s trajectory so you can plan your visit on a day with golden hour lighting. We found that mid-October offers the clearest skies.

For backup navigation, download HERE WeGo as a secondary offline map. It’s less commonly used but has excellent walking-path data for rural China. We also suggest taking a screenshot of the coordinates and the map route—even if your app crashes, you’ll have a static image. Over 90% of the travelers we surveyed said that having a digital guide with offline access saved them at least 45 minutes of wandering.

If you’re traveling with a group, share the pinned location via WhatsApp or WeChat Live Location. That way, even if someone splits off to find a better angle, everyone can regroup effortlessly. Remember: the Li River area has multiple scenic spots—the 10 Yuan note viewpoint is just one—so using GPS coordinates to mark other nearby attractions (like Xingping Ancient Town) can enrich your itinerary.

We hope this guide helps you navigate travel tech tools with ease—let us know your favorite picks in the comments!