Travel to Yangshuo with MyChina.com

Yangshuo is a small town of 300,000 people or so. Although it is no match for the grand metropolitan cities of China with their million of residence and crowded streets, it has become over the years a lively tourist area and a perfect location for hikers and backpackers. If you like beautiful landscapes and the feeling of green grass under your feet, the area offers many options for day trips or camping.

Places to See and Things to Do in Yangshuo

When you reach the area of this town, remember that it is quite different than the hotel and shopping-mall filled cities. It does have plenty of restaurants and shops, but it is more of a vacation city than a modern tourist place. The city itself has less temples, ancient shrines and museums that bigger cities, and the best way to visit it is to consider it "base camp" from which you can explore the area. So when you come to this special part of China, be ready to be active. The views around the town and the villages around it are extraordinary with impressive limestone hills, and there are many options for the adventurous traveler.

The caves in the limestone hills make fascinating explorations. Beginners in this field should join guides tours and the more experienced ones can collect all the information they need in the local relevant shops. Rock climbing options in the area are also plentiful, ranging from easy, bsic climbing ruits and all the way to professional level.

The area that stretches along the Li River is called Yangdi-Xingping offers great hiking trips and fun, yet somewhat hectic, river cruising. Along the road travelers will meet small old-fashion villages, beautiful fields and story-like bamboo forests that offer great opportunities for explorations. The walk isn't hard and grownups can probably finish it in 5-7 hours of pleasant walk.

Another magical place fit for travelers is the Yulong River valley. Again, this peaceful area is dotted with farms and local villages and if you choose not to use the rafts, you can have wonderful daytrips along the river, and use the several stone bridges to cross it when you like. Another fun way of enjoying the wonders of this valley is on bicycles.

For more information regarding the town of Yangshuo, try travelchinaguide.com or chinavista.com.