Yang Shuo 阳朔

We had bought boat tickets that cruised down the Li Jiang 漓江, the famous river with all the famous hills. The boat ride and the bus ride cost RMB 225 in all. It was expensive. Subsequently, we were also ‘convinced’ to take an afternoon tour with that same tour agent and we spent another RMB 100 for that. The entire thing was a HUGE mistake! The boat ride was so commercialized. The commentator was so expressionless as she explained the attractions along the river. The scenery of small little hills was nothing compared to the majestic mountains of Meli Snow Mountain or Huang Shan, that we weren’t really that impressed. Forgive me, but when they say 桂林山水甲天下, I do not fully agree. Sure its nice and unique, but not the best! After 2 hours of hanging around and photo snapping, mc and I finally went back to our seats and we fell asleep. Oops! Eventually, the 4 hours boat ride was completed.

The Yang Shuo Tour

Taking some electric tram (RMB 10) – shows how commercialize this place is – to a carpark to board the bus. The bus was full of people. The first place they brought us was to some temple and it was very very tourist again. Even MC who was a Buddhist was turned off, because of the number of times they asked the tourist for money. We then went to a Banyan Tree 榕树 garden where they filmed the Liu San Sisters 刘三姐 story. Then there was the drive through of the Moon Hill 月亮山, which the tour guide said we had to pay additional fees if the bus was to stop and let us down to take pictures. Finally, we went to a Salt cave. In total, we went to 5 different attractions in 2 1/2 hours. It was a whirlwind tour that had no meaning, no significance and no joy at all. Moreover the tour guide was as crappy as all the other guides – expressionless and dull.

After the tour, the guide dropped us and some others who wanted to stay in Yang Shuo nearby (which was like 3 km or more away from Yang Shuo town). Pissed form the tour and hungry, we made our way to the town. On the way, some auntie approached us again and we agreed to go see the accommodation that she recommended. It was not a bad place. Greet Guest Hotel 迎宾旅店 (773-8821544). It cost RMB 85 for the room. The auntie who brought us there also told us that she could bring us sightseeing the next morning. We could rent a bicycle and she would being us around. She was nice lady and we followed her the next morning. She asked only for RMB 20, but we gave her RMB 30 instead for her efforts. Shi Yuan Ji 石元季 (137 6871 5006) Our intial plan was to return to Guilin in the afternoon and get tickets to go to Guangzhou, but as the morning passed, we enjoyed the serenity of the place and decided to stay later till around 4 pm before we headed back to Guilin to get our tickets. Anyhow, dinner was at a nearby eating congregation place. Lots and lots of stalls, and we simply picked one. The dishes were delicious. Yang Shuo Beer Fish 阳朔啤酒鱼! Yum! Other dishes were just as good.