3rd to 7th of October 2015
3rd of October
Why Yangshou? It is actually a famous village (compared to the size of the cities in China) or a small city (for our European standards), hidden between the hills and offering magnificent landscapes.
After the boat trip on Li River, we reached the city in the afternoon.
I am always amazed when you bargain the price for a tuk tuk in China without knowing the distance but the most impressive is that in the most cases the drivers don't know it either... after a small tour we (the driver and us) managed to find the hotel. It was a new hotel with a lot of bamboo decoration (it needs to keep the surrounding style), with a balcony with a view over the hills and a swimming pool. Unfortunately we were not very lucky to try the pool as the weather was getting and cloudy and then rainy the next two days ...
We went for a dinner and surprise: one of the traditional dishes was snails. Quite funny because last time I have eaten was long time ago in France (usually served with garlic within small a herb cream). Well here they were delicious too a bit more spicy.
4th of October
We woke up and were again surprised by the rainy weather... we needed to switch the hotel to a hostel (Monkey Jane's guesthouse) where we are about to meet Catherine's friends. We also met over there the Dutch guys and the French mate from the day before. The good part about this hostel was the rooftop where every night there was a party with the special drink: snake blood and eating its heart. Quite a brutal operation ... not a big fan at all killing an animal for the fun...
We spent the day walking around Yangshou as the weather didn't allow us a big trip. It is indeed small but quite impressive with all the clouds "crushing" on the hills.
In the night we met Cathrines friends, went for diner and finished the night at the rooftop where we basically spent the next nights.
5th of October - The caves & hot springs
Again, it was rainy... after a breakfast/lunch the best solution was found: going to the hot springs in the caves nearby Yangshou. We took swimming suits and left.
It took us 30min drive to reach them and as they were closing around 6pm we speeded it up to visit the caves... really beautiful inside actually. The Chinese government has done a good job by enlightening all the spaces with different colors.
While walking it was becoming increasingly humid... since the moment we have heard people screaming... we approached and then we saw it ... the hot springs! it was looking like a big swimming pool where the water was was mixed with brown soil... we got our swimming suit on and went in ...and inside, except getting dirty :), we were floating ... very strange feeling.
We spent few hours there chilling until basically the guards kicked us out.
Why Yangshou? It is actually a famous village (compared to the size of the cities in China) or a small city (for our European standards), hidden between the hills and offering magnificent landscapes.
After the boat trip on Li River, we reached the city in the afternoon.
I am always amazed when you bargain the price for a tuk tuk in China without knowing the distance but the most impressive is that in the most cases the drivers don't know it either... after a small tour we (the driver and us) managed to find the hotel. It was a new hotel with a lot of bamboo decoration (it needs to keep the surrounding style), with a balcony with a view over the hills and a swimming pool. Unfortunately we were not very lucky to try the pool as the weather was getting and cloudy and then rainy the next two days ...
We went for a dinner and surprise: one of the traditional dishes was snails. Quite funny because last time I have eaten was long time ago in France (usually served with garlic within small a herb cream). Well here they were delicious too a bit more spicy.
4th of October
We woke up and were again surprised by the rainy weather... we needed to switch the hotel to a hostel (Monkey Jane's guesthouse) where we are about to meet Catherine's friends. We also met over there the Dutch guys and the French mate from the day before. The good part about this hostel was the rooftop where every night there was a party with the special drink: snake blood and eating its heart. Quite a brutal operation ... not a big fan at all killing an animal for the fun...
We spent the day walking around Yangshou as the weather didn't allow us a big trip. It is indeed small but quite impressive with all the clouds "crushing" on the hills.
In the night we met Cathrines friends, went for diner and finished the night at the rooftop where we basically spent the next nights.
5th of October - The caves & hot springs
Again, it was rainy... after a breakfast/lunch the best solution was found: going to the hot springs in the caves nearby Yangshou. We took swimming suits and left.
It took us 30min drive to reach them and as they were closing around 6pm we speeded it up to visit the caves... really beautiful inside actually. The Chinese government has done a good job by enlightening all the spaces with different colors.
While walking it was becoming increasingly humid... since the moment we have heard people screaming... we approached and then we saw it ... the hot springs! it was looking like a big swimming pool where the water was was mixed with brown soil... we got our swimming suit on and went in ...and inside, except getting dirty :), we were floating ... very strange feeling.
We spent few hours there chilling until basically the guards kicked us out.
6th of October - the 20 Yuan bill back side
The day we came for has come: visit the 20 yuans back side landscape.
I have been keeping a new bill of 20 yuans for 2 weeks so I made sure that it is in my pocket before leaving.
We were again a bit unlucky as the weather was still cloudy and it was rainy a bit... well no choice anymore we had to go! In the hostel it was explained to us that we need to take a local bus to Xingping village. It was a small village with preserved all houses and a small port from where all the "bamboo" were leaving to approach the site. We decided to approach it walking.
After 20 min walking we started to see picture spots for it... I was trying to compare my bill but it didn't look like or maybe the clouds were hiding the horizon.
We finally reached the point ! We were close enough to see the landscape even if there were clouds.We did it ! Mission complicated !
As it started again to rain we went to a restaurant with a terrace offering a nice view over the hills and the river. It was perfect timing for lunch and wait for the rain to stop. An hour later the weather got better and we left back to Yangshou. Once arrived the weather was already sunny...We had few hours before the sun goes down and as the guys were visiting other sites, we decided to book an electric scooter and visit the surroundings. I think that was a great idea (even if in China it is not the best choice to drive a scooter). Indeed, having the opportunity to stop where we want and just enjoy a spot: priceless.
It was so good that it has been decided to go for a scooter trip in our last day.
The day we came for has come: visit the 20 yuans back side landscape.
I have been keeping a new bill of 20 yuans for 2 weeks so I made sure that it is in my pocket before leaving.
We were again a bit unlucky as the weather was still cloudy and it was rainy a bit... well no choice anymore we had to go! In the hostel it was explained to us that we need to take a local bus to Xingping village. It was a small village with preserved all houses and a small port from where all the "bamboo" were leaving to approach the site. We decided to approach it walking.
After 20 min walking we started to see picture spots for it... I was trying to compare my bill but it didn't look like or maybe the clouds were hiding the horizon.
We finally reached the point ! We were close enough to see the landscape even if there were clouds.We did it ! Mission complicated !
As it started again to rain we went to a restaurant with a terrace offering a nice view over the hills and the river. It was perfect timing for lunch and wait for the rain to stop. An hour later the weather got better and we left back to Yangshou. Once arrived the weather was already sunny...We had few hours before the sun goes down and as the guys were visiting other sites, we decided to book an electric scooter and visit the surroundings. I think that was a great idea (even if in China it is not the best choice to drive a scooter). Indeed, having the opportunity to stop where we want and just enjoy a spot: priceless.
It was so good that it has been decided to go for a scooter trip in our last day.
7th of October - Shangri La & scooter escape
In the morning we went to the rent shop and booked the scooter for whole day. It is quite good for an electric engine it could go up to 60km without recharging.
The destination: Shangri-La, not the hotel but nearby there was a park which has been marked by a star. After getting lost for a bit and especially loosing Kennedy for a bit longer, we managed to get all in the parc.
An interesting fact for me: paying a student fair. Travelling with students is always a good idea.
The entrance was including a boat trip; it was including a small ceremony of local dances (I guess they were trying to look like a bit the native Americans...) but most of all it was offering a wonderful view on the hills.
We then visited the parc: an old restored house and a small museum where we could see the wood work. Quite a nice morning actually.
In the beginning of the afternoon, with Cathrine, we left for Yangshou as we had to go back to Guilin. However, we enjoyed a bit the off roads by only following a not very accurate map... again a WONDERFUL IDEA ! It was really great even when loosing the directions because behind this there was again another amazing view. Almost no body on the road only us and the nature! All the beauty for our eyes ! I think this is a day I am not ready forget...
We stopped for a lunch and came back few hours later in Yangshou. We dropped the scooters and left for Guilin where we had to spend our last night... quite sad... I would have stayed a day or two longer...
In the morning we went to the rent shop and booked the scooter for whole day. It is quite good for an electric engine it could go up to 60km without recharging.
The destination: Shangri-La, not the hotel but nearby there was a park which has been marked by a star. After getting lost for a bit and especially loosing Kennedy for a bit longer, we managed to get all in the parc.
An interesting fact for me: paying a student fair. Travelling with students is always a good idea.
The entrance was including a boat trip; it was including a small ceremony of local dances (I guess they were trying to look like a bit the native Americans...) but most of all it was offering a wonderful view on the hills.
We then visited the parc: an old restored house and a small museum where we could see the wood work. Quite a nice morning actually.
In the beginning of the afternoon, with Cathrine, we left for Yangshou as we had to go back to Guilin. However, we enjoyed a bit the off roads by only following a not very accurate map... again a WONDERFUL IDEA ! It was really great even when loosing the directions because behind this there was again another amazing view. Almost no body on the road only us and the nature! All the beauty for our eyes ! I think this is a day I am not ready forget...
We stopped for a lunch and came back few hours later in Yangshou. We dropped the scooters and left for Guilin where we had to spend our last night... quite sad... I would have stayed a day or two longer...
In conclusion, i was truly amazed by Yangshou.... such a piece of natural beauty! No words can describe it ! Totally worthy trip!
Impossible not to mention the people who contributed to the good mood: Susanne (the Danish friend of Cathrine), Lucas (damn I really liked this Australian mate), Vanessa, Alex, Kennedy (the U.K. Reps) and Peter (the Canadian mate).
Impossible not to mention the people who contributed to the good mood: Susanne (the Danish friend of Cathrine), Lucas (damn I really liked this Australian mate), Vanessa, Alex, Kennedy (the U.K. Reps) and Peter (the Canadian mate).