Yangshuo is the unofficial convergence site of backpacker China. There's this pedestrian-only street, Xi Jie ("West Street") that is 3 blocks long, full of cafes, bars, clubs and trinket stalls to cater strictly to ole Whitey. You'll hear James Blunt in the cafes and Maroon 5 in the bars, and have your pick of pancakes, hash browns, pizza and burgers to remind you of home. More likely than not, you will run into someone you may have met earlier in your travels here. Our first night out, we ran into a Finnish girl (whom we first met while in Mongolia over a month ago), who was now travelling with a UK friend who was accompanied by a Canadian girl who ran into 2 French girls that were now running with a San Francisco couple. No joke.
... read more