Rising from the mists of the Li River, the limestone karsts climb skyward. It is the land of dreamers and dragons, of painters and poets—it is the breathtakingly beautiful Yangshuo County, China.
On the northern border of Guangxi Province in southern China, one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth will leave you spellbound. It is an area long-renowned for its natural mystique and traditional ancient villages, and has been a mecca for tourists, backpackers and adventure-seekers for decades.
From the city of Guilin, one can board a boat and wind lazily between the peaks to the much smaller city of Yangshuo. (This is a fairly large boat and ranges from comfortable to VERY comfortable.)
This beautiful river voyage takes approximately four hours, with most boats supplying food and drink that vary with the price of the ticket.
For the more adventurous, however, there are bamboo rafts that can be hired once in Yangshuo, enabling one to float down the Li River tributaries (such as the Yulong River).
We found this float especially serene and beautiful—something NOT to be missed.
Just know that these narrow, shoddy vessels would represent the other end of the riverboat spectrum: consisting of a seat for two and a beach umbrella tied to a stick in case of rain.
It’s perfect.
Also know that water frequently comes up through the raft and soaks your feet, so flips are better than shoes.
There, now you’re ready.
Hiring a scooter (or a bicycle) and leisurely riding through the rice paddies is another must. These shimmering fields surrounded by dragon’s tooth mountains are so otherworldly, it made us want to stay outside all day!
We just couldn’t get enough.
And the best part was: the more lost we got, the more beautiful it all became.
*Here it might also be mentioned that if your desire is to ditch your scooters and cross a river on a barge (accompanied by men carrying live roosters in mesh bags) to visit a ancient village devoid of foreigners, then one should make sure there is a way back across the river, allowing for the eventual reclamation of the aforementioned rented scooters.
Ok, back to the city…
In the town of Yangshuo itself, there are several things to keep you occupied: great shops and restaurants, live music, delicious street food, and a massive evening light show (in one of the largest outdoor theatres in the world).
And, though coming to life with lights and vendors in the evening, Yangshuo has maintained the style of its ancient city roots, preserving the layout of its centuries-old walking streets, creating a beauty unparalleled in its historic centre.
A week later, now back in Guilin, it was time to catch a flight. But before doing so, a few MUSTS that include (and are mot limited to): Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and the Sun and Moon Pagoda.
Each of these wonders deserves a few hours of meditative and contemplative attention.
Yes, a piece of us stayed. But we also took a little with us.