Trip Advise: Yangshuo

The awe-striking surroundings make Yangshuo a picturesque village. The place is regularly visited by European tourists nearing the end of their visit to China, as the place offers spectacular river cruises and remote bike routes for a relaxing break. This tiny village is borders Guilin, and experiences a huge population swell during the summer breaks, multiple times of its original number.

Rides on bamboo rafts are available on River Li, and they are one of the major attractions for visitors. The relaxing slow cruise takes you through rows of gigantic hills creating a stunning landscape. And if you are prepared to haggle, you can enjoy the ride for just 40RMB per person.

Moon Hill, a village near Yangshuo has retained more of its authenticity, despite being one of the main tourist attractions near Yangshuo. It is only a bike ride away and again is a very popular activity amongst the tourists. You are able to climb Moon Hill itself, which is the distinctive hill with a moon shaped perforation on it. This shape has been caused by air erosion over a very long period of time. If you are not into riding bikes, you can also get there by bus that leaves regularly, and takes approximately 40 minutes to get there. Note: The climb can be quite steep and might not necessarily be suitable for young children or elderly people.

The final attraction that should not be missed is the cormorant fishing technique. This is a traditional method of fishing, along with fishing nets, which is mainly kept alive by the older local fishermen. You are also able to take photographs with these birds at the river bank, for a mere 5RMB (50p).

Tai chi excercises are also one of the many popular activities within the village. Most hostels/hotels offer day courses early in the morning.

By: Tahsina Smith

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Tahsina Smith is a wedding photographer in Hampshire. You can see some of her China travel photographs and tips in her personal blog www.tahsina.co.uk, and examples of her Bournemouth wedding photography in her wedding blog.