Hello from the town of Yangshuo beside the Li river. We have spent an idyllic few days cycling here, stopping off at Long Sheng, Guilin and Xing Ping. Long Sheng, being sited close to the iconic Longji rice terraces, was a mecca for tourists. One hotel that we checked out was fine, but overpriced, and worst of all, the entire second floor was given over to a young, predominantly male, mostly English, party of travellers. Sensitised as we were by weeks in tourist wilderness, they appeared loud, brash and arrogant in attitude. As we toured the streets, restaurant owners called out "hello" and "english menu". No doubt there were english prices to match; such is the effect of western tourism. We fled in dismay to the back streets where, just a few turns away from the
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