China trip - Guilin Yangshou

Updated: June 14 2006 by chikhing

Just came back from tour and dragon boat racing in China, all I can say is that this has been an enriching and fullfilling experience.

Guangzhou
10 of us took a tigerair flight to Guangzhou 4 days before the main group is due in Miluo on the 26th. The flight took about 4 hours and it was not as bad as we though it would be, just remember to bring your own drinking water and a nice travel pillow. Bayun (White Cloud) airport in Guangzhou looks pretty impressive with a very high ceiling and a canvas roof. This smart design allows the airport to make full use of natural light and cut down on eletricicity bill. We took a airport express, which cost about RMB 17 to the guangzhou train station and met up with Bryan's (B1) relative who is working in Guangzhou. We went to this resturant for some cheap and very nice food. The servings are HUGE and everyone left the resturant with a very full stomach.


HUGE plates!


Guangzhuo Station



Trying to reach the train.
The train ride was much better than expected. The beds are comfortable and the cabin are air conditioned and patrolled regularly by cabin attendances. This made the 12 hour train ride to Guilin a pleasant and restful journey.


How comfortable do they look?


Byran disturbing Mei.

Guilin
Arriving at Guilin 6am in the morning, we were surronded by tour guides, bus drivers and taxi drivers asking if we want a ride to yangshou, the next logical destination for most tourist. The original plan was to take a River Cruise down the Li River at zhujiang wharf. One local chinese guide told us that the zhujiang wharf is meant for tourist and most locals will take the ride from Wangpofong wharf instead and quoted us RMB240 for a bus ride to the wharf plus the cruise tickets. We called the wharf on our own and found that ALL tickets are SOLD OUT. No doubt, the local tour agencies have bought all the tickets and we really have no choice but to take the package. After a bit of bargaining, we reduce the total cost of the package by RMB 10, we had a quick breakfast of Guilin Noodles and off we go!!


Guilin noodles

Li River Cruise.
The cruise started at about 10am and there was a looooong queue to the boats. We hardly see any other tourist expect for the few of us. The river cruise took about 4 hours and lunch is served on board.


In an outing with SAFRA, we always ordered extras.

Everything about the cruise was good except for the damn weather. It was raining non-stop from the moment we arrived in Guilin. According to the cruise guide, this is one of the best weather to take photos here as we will see a more misty and cloudy side of Guilin. Yea right, with rain drops keep hitting my lens, a lot of my photos did have a wet feel to thing, sigh.


Misty Guilin

Yangshou
Yangshou is a small town located in Guilin and best known for it's spectacular scenery and bamboo rafting. We had a good time walking aroung Yangshou shopping for food, sports apparal, and snapping photos.


Steamy hot bun in the market place.


One of the many modes of transport.


Fresh Soya Bean anyone?


Slaughtered chicken


Dangerous play

Again, the rain and the high tide prevented us from trying out the bamboo rafting. Tough Luck!!


Bamboo raft site

We found a nice hotel and 10 of us squeezed into 2 rooms, budget, budget. Some of the more memorable moments in Yangshou are:

1. Riding on a eletric scootor, it's easy and fun and we had two days of great fun exploring the country side with it. We were given a choice of bike and a electric scooter, we are glad that we chose the scooter.


May1 on an electric scooter


Bikes for rent

2. Moon River Cave mud bath. Once in a lifetime experience, go for it!!


Mud bath!!

3. They have KFC in yangshou!! Did I mentioned that Yangshou is sort of like a small town in the middle of a hilly area?

4. If you missed Boat quay and Clarke quay while you are there, visit West Street!!

5. No Traffic lights! Yes, the town is that small.

6. Our honest, knowledgable, omnipresent but never intrusive tour guide.

7. Li ning brand sporting apparal. Very affordable and the quality is good too.





1. Too touristy, imagine paying RMB 1 for taking photo of someone's water buffalo.


The RMB $1 water buffalo shot.


Close up shot of the owner of the buffalo

2. West street is too developed, hoping for something more 'authentic".

3. The damn weather, rain and rain.

We left yangshou on sunday evening, 28th May via bus to Guiling station and took a sleeper train to Milou and meet up with the main group there.