Yangshuo – We’re lastly In China!

even though Hong Kong is technically part of China, we still hadn’t felt like we had been to the genuine China yet as well as were truly looking ahead to crossing the border.  We were on the very effective metro line to take us from downtown Hong Kong to the border town of Schenzen.  Not a location you truly want to spend much time in.

It’s a prominent location to opt for knock-off purses, shoes as well as clothes.  There was some hassle there however it wasn’t as well bad.  After browsing around for somewhere to purchase bus tickets, we lastly discovered a safety and security guard who comprehended our hand gestures as well as waved at us to comply with him.  We shown up at the bit bus ticket stand as well as the woman told us the cost from Shenzhen to Yangshuo, 320 RMB (about $50).

We were shocked at the high cost however she stated that it’s the may holiday in China as well as likewise that the safety and security guard gets a compensation for bringing us there!  Are you kidding me?  We weren’t as well pleased about that so we went to the next booth as well as ended up getting a ticket (without paying commission) for 260 RMB, much better.

The overnight bus that pulled up around 7:00pm was remnant of the ones we utilized to take in Laos as well as Vietnam, only somewhat better.  We lucked out as well as had ground level beds that were just long sufficient for us to lay down with our legs bent out into the aisle.  I felt poor for the people who had to sleep on the upper bunk with nothing however a seatbelt to hold them in as we went flying over bumps during the night.

Nick getting comfortable on the overnight bus to Yangshuo
We shown up in Yangshuo at 5:30am during a torrential downpour.  All we might believe was “great, just like the Philippines”.  We checked into our home-stay, Yangshuo culture House, as well as went to bed in a truly good room.  We awoke 5 hours later to sun beaming in our window, as was the situation for the next 3 nights we stayed there!

The place of this home-stay is awesome, set just outside of town down a little alleyway where regional people sit around playing cards as well as having tea.  guy play the Chinese version of a violin while youngsters whiz by on bikes, with lovely red lanterns hanging from the homes above their heads.  The owner, Wei, as well as his household were so friendly as well as the home-stay was lovely.  It included 3 home-cooked meals a day.

Breakfast was simple, toast as well as mango, banana, Chinese apple as well as oranges.  Lunch was fried rice (which we were never around for) as well as dinner was a large spread of numerous different Chinese dishes:  wonderful as well as sour chicken, grilled stuffed peppers with pork, sautéed snow peas with garlic as well as ginger, stir fried beef with peppers as well as onions, completely cooked pumpkin…and the listing went on.  It was an all you might eat affair as well as everybody sat around the table gabbing as well as choosing food from the communal dishes with their chopsticks.  We certainly looked ahead to our dinners each night.

streetside BBQ
having a street-side dinner as well as beers

Besides the delicious food, we were in the lovely area of Yangshuo to see the countryside.  This part of Guangxi province is understood for its spectacular landscapes dotted with limestone karsts rising from the earth.  similar to those discovered in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & the Philippines; however, we have never seen so numerous in one place.

The karsts stretch for as far as the eye can see in all directions.  We chose that the very best method to see the countryside as well as the karsts up close would be to rent bicycles as well as head off.  We got ourselves a extremely fundamental map as well as made our method towards the countryside.  We rode along the Yulong River, with farmland, into little villages, past guy fishing along the banks of the river as well as along silent back roads.  We rode for about 3.5 hours before calling it a day.  It was about 30 degrees as well as we were so extremely hot that we came back to town, inhaled a couple of Gatorades as well as went for an afternoon nap.  A excellent very first day in Yangshuo.

our very first day of cycling with the countryside of Yangshuo
crossing the river

taking a quick break from cycling
a guy “fishing” in the river – utilizing a cars and truck battery to fry the fish!

a regional lady cycling with the villages
views around Yangshuo countrysidebeautiful rice paddies as well as karsts in the distance
The second day was spent the exact same way, however this time we wished to see a few of the common touristy things in the area.  We went to see Moon hill as well as the Banyon Tree.  This day was the actual holiday day as well as the primary roads were packed with regional traveler buses, minibuses, cars, motorbikes as well as bicycles.  We were brave as well as weaved our method in as well as out of the traffic, ringing our bit handlebar bell constantly!  We ended up at the Banyon tree, a 17 meter high tree with a trunk measuring 7 meters around!  It was planted over 1400 years back as well as is set in the middle of  a park with the Jinbao River on one side.

the massive, old Banyon Tree
they never listen to the signs!!

We walked with the river to great off as well as had our picture taken by some curious regional people.  We discovered the people in Yangshuo to be so friendly.  everybody states hi as they walk past as well as even though they don’t speak English, they will try their hardest to assist as well as response concerns if needed.  After our quick Banyon break, we were back on our 10 speed bikes, dodging fumes as well as other cars as we made our method to Moon Hill.  We parked our bikes, gotten a couple of waters as well as headed in to see the limestone cliff with a natural moon shape carved out of it.  quite cool.  We believed we were just there to look at it from a distance however we soon realized we were really implied to climb to the top of the cliff to get a very first hand view.

view of Moon hill from the bottom

So, up 800 rock-cut stairs we went.  We were dripping, as well as I imply dripping, sweat.  It was beyond damp as well as it was 33+ degrees that day.  The hike to the top was completely worth it though, the views were fantastic.  We might look out all around us as well as see mounds of karsts jutting out of the ground, as well as in between them were little villages, it was great.

Nick starting the extremely damp hike as much as the top of Moon Hill

made it to the top of Moon Hill
view from the top of Moon hill – countryside as well as all the karsts in the distance

Needless to say, the descent was much easier.  We hoisted our exhausted legs back on our bike as well as set back to Yangshuo.  We discovered a fantastic bit location to have lunch; steamed as well as fried pork dumplings dipped in a soy as well as chilli sauce, ideal lunch spot!  It was so great that we ended up eating there a couple of times.

woman making our much-loved pork & veg dumplings

mmm, delicious dim sum as well as dumplings being steamed
Our third, as well as final, day in Yangshuo was much like the ones before:  wake as much as a delicious fresh breakfast, rent a bike as well as head off!  this time we were going in a different direction, over to the Li River as well as across to the village of Fuli.  This was by far the very best trip yet.  There was barely a cars and truck on the road, it was silent, the scenery spectacular, the villagers along the method were so kind.  It as a extremely peaceful day.  We stopped along the river at a bit cafe for a drink as well as to great down before making our method even more along.  We really ended up missing the turn off for Fuli (which isn’t unexpected as nothing is written in English) as well as for that reason ended up in some extremely rural villages, with some excellent sights.  women were panning for snails in the river, water buffalos were cooling off in the muddy water as well as farmers were walking their buffalo down the streets.  Yep, we definitely didn’t mind that we had to backtrack to Fuli.

local people searching for snails
we’re the only tourists around for miles

haha, thumbs up!
stunning rice paddies on our method to Fuli

We took a bit ferry across the Li River to the town of Fuli, understood for its hand-crafted fans.  The bit lanes were full of shops with guy as well as women applying their painting skills to hand-crafted silk fans, skills that have been passed down from generation to generation.  We browsed around before heading back to Yangshuo in time for our homemade dinner to be served!

our bit ferry boat to take us across the Li River to Fuli Villagehand made fans drying out in the sun, Fuli Village
That night we satisfied some excellent people, Jeanette & Nic, a couple from England who have been travelling for 3 years, half of which was spent cycling across countries!  They were so upbeat, positive as well as easy-going as well as it was a enjoyment to chat with them.  They have no plans as of yet as well as are still enjoying being on the road.  They were a true inspiration.

The next morning we dragged our aching bodies out of our warm bed as well as hopped on a regional bus to take us on the one hour journey to the City of Guilin.

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