yowyowyow

Yangshuo, Yangshuo

Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by yoyo in Guangxi

We spent more time in Yangshuo (Guangxi province) than in any other place during my hole trip. Buying all the gear in Hong-Kong, we were able to go rock-climbing everyday, without renting anything. Everyday the weather wasn’t too cold or rainy. Yangshuo was like a brake, a timeout from travelling, but still on the go. We didn’t move anywhere (same bad for a month), but we were still out there. Experiencing China’s wonders. We met so many different people in Yangshuo, travellers coming through, climbers staying in, and locals, living their lives in changing China. We met a group of Chinese climbers, who invited us to drink with them that night. The fact only one of them could speak some English did not seem awkward to anyone. We met a family of locals, living in a small village outside of town. The parents couldn’t be from a further generation from their children. All in all, stating in one place for so long allows you to see different aspects of the country you are travelling to.
About Yangshuo itself, well, it’s awesome. The countryside, full of small “finger” mountains and beautiful rivers, make for great bicycle rides and walks. The combined walk-bamboo-boat-ride betweem Yading and Xinping, which goes through the place where the 20 Yuan bill was painted is very nice (although extremely touristy).
The local villagers live of their ground and rivers, fishing with nets or Cormorants, and growing rice in small paddies.
Yangshuo is, fir a good reason, a prime tourist attraction, for locals and foreigners alike. Being who I am, and preffering to stay of the main attractions, we didn’t go to any of the paid for sites, except from Moon-Hill (to which we went for climbing, and snuck around the gate).
Local expats say that te Chinese goverment is building a toll-gate for the hole area, just outside the city boundaries. Visitors will be charged to enter the scenic area. This might hurt the climbing scene there in the not so far future. Construction is already apparent.
Either climbing or site-seeing, Yangshuo is a beauty. Enjoy it.

Tags: blogsherpa, China, Guangxi