Blogs from Yangshuo, Guangxi, China, Asia - page 49

After all the bus & train jurneys I really needed a break 'from it all' and spend the remainig day of my time in China in Yangshuo. I only did a river cruise which I wouldn't classify as too exhausting.... read more

I last left you in northern Viet Nam where I'd spent a great few weeks relaxing, meeting friends (and saying goodbye to others) whilst taking in the sights. Well I've now made it back into China - I'm currently in Chengdu which is in the south-west, waiting for a train to take me somewhere I've wanted to go for many years now - but more about that later. Determined to continue the theme of overland travel (so no flights to Oz) I re-traced my steps up to the Friendship Pass in north-east Viet Nam by taking a mini van and then taxi to the border. A lot more building work had taken place since I was last at the Pass and you no longer have to clamber over so much rubble which is a bonus when ... read more

Yangshuo is touted as a backpackers paradise. Away from the fast pace and congestion of the big cities, it's lies on the banks of the Li River about an hour south of Guilin. A place, it's said, where travelers can stop and rest for a few days or even weeks, relax and enjoy the scenery and culture. Maybe it's the lingering effects of my stomach issues or maybe the stifling humidity but I'm not that impressed. There is an odd haze (read smog) that curtains much of China. Almost as though the sun struggles through the morning, battling to burn off a heavy fog only to relent by midday and hang behind a shroud of gray for the afternoon. There for the is no blue in the sky nor any definition of clouds. It seems tobe ... read more

there's not really much to do when you arrive at half past two at the northern station in guilin. i took a taxi to get to the main train station, not a very busy place either at this time by the way. to my surprise the ticket office was open. so i went ther to buy my last ticket to shanghai. this time this was a pretty relaxed exercise. there was no crowd this time behind and besides me trying to get in front of me, pushing to get his hand into the counter to get a ticket before me. so i could take time to "explain" what i wanted and really got a decent ticket for the right time and in the right place for my final journey. still i had some time to wait ... read more

Yangshou Despite the overcast sky and slight drizzle of rain the cruise downstream the famous Li River was pleasant -chugging past craggy peaks and semi-submerged water buffalo doing what ever it is water buffalo do. A fitting journey to the legendary Yangshouz, which has been a backpacker hangout for many years. The whole gamut of western food is on the menu and we must admit that we indulged in our weakness. This was particularly spurred on by our last crappy meal in Guilin! Another attraction beloved of Chinese tour groups in Yangshouz, the 'Light Impression Show.' It has a cast of 2,000 people/actors and takes place on a lake surrounded by limestone karsts. The actors use flat bottom bamboo rafts to move around the lake, but it looks like they're floating on water. The choreography, lighting ... read more