| Yangshuo has been known as a backpacker haven | | | | crowd. Sporting occasions often bring out the best of |
| since China re-opened to tourists in the early '80s. | | | | spirits. |
| Originally, tourists arrived from Guilin on the Li River | | | | There are a huge number of options for budget |
| Cruise and stayed only for a few hours before | | | | travelers both inside town and out. Many of the |
| returning to Guilin by bus. Yangshuo was only a | | | | guest houses listed in guidebooks as on West Street |
| traditional market town with no facilities for food or | | | | are gone now. Sadly that has turned into a street of |
| accommodation. That has all changed, and although | | | | boutiques. Look on the side streets and alleyways |
| the Attraction is as strong as ever, this is now largely | | | | and check out plenty of options before committing. |
| because there are services - and quality ones at that. | | | | Avoid touts especially if arriving bus bus. One |
| What is the attraction of Yangshuo? | | | | enterprising pair pay drivers to drop you out of town |
| Put simply, Yangshuo lies at the heart of an area of | | | | and then lie to you about where you are. If in doubt, |
| outstanding natural beauty. It is surrounded by | | | | walk until you find the real bus station (just beyond |
| mountains of an fantastic shape, known technically as | | | | the traffic circle). |
| karst formations. These inverted U shapes dot the | | | | Cycling is hugely popular and rightly so. It's a great |
| landscape as far as the eye can see, with several | | | | way to see the countryside. Good mountain bikes |
| peaks right in the heart of town. Many are can be | | | | cost about 30 RMB per day, older ones for as little |
| climbed for amazing views out over the gorgeous | | | | as 10. Maps are available, though you can just feel |
| countryside. That's the biggest draw by far. | | | | free to explore. A guide is useful only if you want to |
| What services are there in Yangshuo? | | | | learn more about the countryside as you go around. |
| Yangshuo now abounds in food and accommodation | | | | Bamboo rafting on the Yulong River has become |
| options. | | | | popular but expensive. A new option is to take a |
| You can get pretty much anything to eat from | | | | powered bamboo raft on the Li River. These can be |
| Turkish kebabs to French cuisine, with the recent | | | | arranged so as to pick you up from a bike ride. |
| addition of a Sushi Bar. The Chinese Food is not too | | | | Yangshuo does not have an airport or train station. |
| bad either, whether you eat in one of the tourist | | | | You need to go to Guilin for those. There is an |
| restaurants or in a local snack shop. Guilin rice noodles | | | | Express bus service from the bus station. Take this |
| are famous all over China, though the locals will tell | | | | as it is only a tiny bit more expensive and much |
| you that the local variety are just a bit better. Many | | | | safer. Many bags have been slit on the local buses. |
| restaurants offer exotic foods for you to try, | | | | So, how long should I stay? |
| including dog, snake and bamboo rat. | | | | That's nearly impossible to answer. 2 days is probably |
| There are plenty of good bars. These will stay open | | | | an absolute minimum. Some of us have stayed for |
| so long as they have customers spending money. | | | | much longer than that. |
| That's great if you do find yourself part of a happy | | | | |