West Street, Yangshuo

Even though Yangshuo can be considered part of "rural China," the town has a history of generating a large number of tourists each year (over 100,000). So much so, since the 80s, the oldest street, which is about 1400 years old, developed into the tourist hub. West Street has been known as a foreigners haven. Local food, mostly western food, bars, and souvenir shops are all along the street to attract tourists.

We grabbed a ride each night to West Street to have some dinner. Before I get into the meals, here are some photos of the scene at West Street.

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Getting Lost

In planning this trip, Alvin told me, "Let's rent some bikes in Yangshuo and get lost!" On our last day, we unintentionally did just that. We got lost, with a map. Our plan was to bike along the river and visit the local villages. Thanks to Alvin's proficiency in Mandarin and to helpful locals, we eventually found our way along the river. We came across a small limestone cave and Mushan Village, where the houses date back to 500 years ago.

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Sunset in Xing Ping

While walking through Xing Ping we saw the sky starting to change colors, so we hurriedly ran to the river to enjoy the sunset. Sunsets have become one of my favorite sights to do when traveling around the world. It's so unique in each city and on each day. To see the sun drop behind these mountain formations and reflect on the river was breathtaking.

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Osmanthus Wine in Xing Ping

Along our walk through Xing Ping, we passed by an osmanthus wine factory, where they produced and sold local osmanthus wine. Osmanthus trees and flowers bloom in the fall in this area, when I heard is a beautiful time of the year to visit. Aside from tea flowers and in desserts, the osmanthus flowers are also used to produced wine.

It's a sweet wine, as sweet as a dessert wine but not as thick and heavy. This particular batch that we tasted was so smooth, light, and refreshing! We promised the ladies of the factory and ourselves that we would stop by before they closed. Unfortunately, we got there just after it closed! We bought a few cheaper bottles in the market across the street - it was just not the same. It was rough and cheap tasting. Next time I encounter a variety of osmanthus wine, I'll definitely invest in a quality bottle.

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A Walk Back in Time in Xing Ping

After lunch, we arranged for a hotel car to drive us one hour north to the town of Xing Ping, which still has structures over 500 years old! And, the locals still live in this dwellings! We visited a fishing village, where Bill Clinton and his family visited in 1997. (Speaking of former President Clinton, it was his birthday yesterday and I found his birthday wish very inspiring.)

For the rest of the afternoon we enjoyed leisurely walking through Xing Ping amongst the tourists and locals alike.

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