Mysterious and ancient houses, hills of various shapes and sizes, suggestive environments: read the post and discover the charm of Yangshuo, one of the most famous areas in China.
The Yang in "Yangshuo" it is precisely that yang famous in the yin-yang philosophy in Taoism: positive, masculine and luminous element.
Yangshuo is one of the most famous areas in China because it boasts a natural karst landscape that will take your breath away. If you don't know the karst hills of Guilin and Yangshuo, no problem: take the image of a 20 Yuan banknote and look at the printed drawing.
The Western Way
Mysterious and ancient local houses, crossroads of different cultures. The Western Way (Xi Jie) attracts so many tourists from all over the world that the area is called "Global Village". People from different countries have moved here opening shops, cafes and restaurants creating an exotic flavor and making the city very international. (Starbucks ...)
How to get to Yangshuo
The best and most exciting way to get there is there Li River cruise directly from Guilin. Unfortunately, I cannot say anything about it as, due to flooding, the cruise was canceled.
We opted for the bus.
Guilin has two railway stations: North Station and South Station. The Yangshuo Bus leaves South Station every ten to fifteen minutes between 06:30 and 21:30. It costs around 10 CNY each person and the journey takes around one hour.
From the bus station you take a minibus to get to the countryside where the view alone is worth the trip.
The Yangshuo Hills
In the center of the region, along the Li River, which winds through the city, stand out hills of various sizes and shapes. The most famous are the Lotus Flower and Shutong Hill (Schoolboy Hill) formed by a stone of 10 meters which represents, in fact, the figure of a student.
A little further south it is located the Hill of the Moon: mountain with a natural hole in the center which, with the metaphorical sense of the Moon, makes it very romantic.
From the parking lot below we walked into the woods following the path and after about 800 steps, we arrived at the top from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the entire valley.
Bring water (especially in hot periods) to avoid dehydration and especially to avoid the street vendors you find at the beginning of the walk.
At the base of the Hill of the Moon found the Great Ficus, sitting in the shade of this centuries-old tree that has survived for over 1400 years, as well as for the coolness, is a great emotion
A swim in Sanjie Liu Park
Along the lower course of the Li River is the Sanjie Liu Park, where the film of the same name was shot: an evocative environment formed by crystal clear waters, green hills and ancient houses.
You can take a bamboo raft and take a nice scenic ride complete with a swim in one of the various natural pools. The area is teeming with young people especially on weekends.
An unforgettable hotel in Yangshuo
From Yangshuo you can decide to return to Guilin but we decide to sleep here in a typical hotel: sleeping in this hotel was an unforgettable experience.
The hotel is completely built in wood and lit almost exclusively by typical red lanterns. The view from the balcony is that of the countryside in these parts: a plain abruptly interrupted here and there by sharp mountains.
Despite being a typical Chinese hotel, the kitchen offered excellently executed menus and international dishes.
The dinner, consumed in the patio surrounded by a stream, was accompanied only by our chatter and the sound of a lute coming from inside the forest, I let you imagine the atmosphere.
A dream…
