What Lonely Planet said: Seasoned travellers to Guangxi used to make Yangshuo their base, but many of these veterans now gripe about Yangshuo's lack of authenticity – ‘too many tourists’, they complain. And they’re right: the town, once peaceful, is now a collage of Chinese tour groups, bewildered Westerners, pole-dancing bars, bad traffic and the glue that binds any tourist hot spot together - touts. Outside of town, however, the karst landscape is surreal. Take a bamboo-raft ride or cycle through the dreamy valleys and you’ll see.
I was there: January 11, 2013 - January 12, 2013
Cameras used: Canon EOS 40D, Samsung Galaxy Note
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| Me at Big Banyan Tree scenic area |
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| The Big Banyan Tree famous for being a shooting location of classic Chinese musical Liu Sanjie |
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| Close-up of the tree |
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| Scenery at the scenic area |
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| Cold, misty day at Yangshuo |
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| A farm at the scenic area |
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| A pavilion at Dragon Gathering Pool |
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| Another pavilion near the pool |
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| The Dragon Gathering Pool is actually famous not for the pool but for the cave system there. The caves are lit and part of the tour is a cruise and a short trek inside the caves |
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| Jianshan Temple |
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| Censer at the temple |
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| Yangshou is well-known for the Li River that flows through beautiful karst landscape that inspired ancient Chinese paintings |
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| A covered bridge beside Li River |
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| 'Bamboo' rafts and cruise boat at Li River |
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| Karst formation at Yangshuo |
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| Cormorant fisherman |
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| The Cormorant is trained to catch fish. The bird can't swallow the fish as there is a ring around the neck |
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| Impression Liu Sanjie is a nightly show by famed Chinese directr, Zhang Yimou |
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| The musical extravaganza shows village lives and features Liu Sanjie's legendary love story |
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| The shows are filled with 'Mountain' songs by Zhuang people |
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| Lot's of shopping and nightlife in Yangshou |
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| The hotel with one hell of a view |
