We arrived into Yangshuo having no idea what to expect of China, and were astounded by the karst rock scenery, the gorgeous lanes, the Li river and the food! Yangshuo has a chilled out feeling, strolling through the quiet lanes during the day, browsing for souvenirs. But once evening rolled around out came the LOUD pumping music, the food stalls and people jammed in like sardines. You can buy intestine kebabs, octopus cakes, and grilled cockroaches to try. The Li river is simply stunning, whether you are cruising by boat, walking or swimming. We took the '20 Yuan note ' tour along the river...which was really a glorified photo shoot but amazing scenery none the less. Just a few km's south of Yangshuo, you'll find moon hill which if you can brave the 880 steps, rewards you with views of the surrounding area. Closeby, you can walk through cave systems and take an underground mudbath/spa afterward. There is a not-so-exciting Big Banyan Tree and opportunities to raft the river or cycle the local countryside. We spent two days exploring this stretch of road but you could probably cram it into one! We absolutely loved our week in Yangshuo and would recommend it to all. The language barrier is intense with no english spoken or written. If you choose to visit be sure to download an offline chinese translator service and have addresses written in chinese to show taxi and bus drivers before you arrive. It's easy to underestimate the effect of blocking most american websites. It's tricky to navigate without google maps, to research without google search, and to keep in touch with home without g-mail or facebook. If you rely on these services, you would do well to download a vpn before arriving in China. This lovely lady was our boat tour guide on the Li river. English wasn't her strong point...
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