Villages Surrounding Yangshuo To experience some authentic village life, check out some of the popular options close to Yangshuo. Often people combine visits to some of the villages. For example, it is easy to visit Yangdi and Xingping by doing the fabulous hike along the Li River between these two villages. A visit to Fuli can easily be combined with Liugong and/or climbing Moon Hill on a bicycle ride. And consider visiting Jiuxian and Baisha market on your way to Dragon Bridge . Remember also that in the area surrounding Yangshuo there are hundreds of villages and hidden valleys, those listed here are just a few of the better known ones. Xingping Originally named XiPing ( 熙平 ), Xingping has a history that spans several hundreds longer than Yangshuo, being settled around 265 AD in the Three Kingdom period. Historically Xingping was not only the administrative base for the Yangshuo region but it also played an important role as a base for revolutionaries fighting the Manchurian rulers of the Qing dynasty as well during the conflict with the Japanese. Xingping is smaller and less touristy than Yangshuo. Retaining much of its old world, ancient ambiance its streets of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture make it a wonderful place to explore and wander. The beautiful old Wu Sheng Temple which now houses the Treasures Museum is just one magnificent example of Xingpings classic ancient buildings. The surrounding area is well known for its magnificent karst scenery and is one of the reasons why people travel to Xingping from Yangshuo and Guilin . The stretch of river between Xingping and Yangdi is said to be the most stunning and is also where you will find the scene which has been immortalized on the 20 yuan bank note. Many legends and fables have been inspired by this famous landscape, for an introduction check out our Li River page. To get a fantastic view of the town and surrounding area follow the path up to the Birds View Pavillion. If you get all the way to Xingping then seeing the section of river between here and Yangdi is an absolute must do, whether it be by a motorized bamboo raft, boat or on a hike. Xingping has a colourful local market where farmers flood into town to buy and sell tons of fresh produce and various other essentials. Market days in Xingping fall on days of the month with 3,6 & 9. (3 rd , 6 th , 9 th , 13 th , 16 th etc) Located on the Li River around 25 kilometres from Yangshuo. There are several different routes to get to Xingping by bike from Yangshuo, alternatively local buses depart regularly and usually take 30 to 40 minutes. Boats are also available for the journey back down river to Yangshuo. Fuli Originally named after the abundance of Litchi trees, old Fuli town (previously 伏荔村 ) has a history stretching back some 1300 years to the Tang dynasty. Called Huangdao Jie during the Song Dynasty its name was changed to its current form in 1926. Stepping into its labyrinth of streets lined with stone houses will not only take you back in time but also give you the opportunity to see the local fan painting. Renowned as the number one fan painting town in China , Fuli is an excellent place to see this traditional local craft in action. Situated right on the Li River the village has a couple of interesting gates, one of these is the ancient Kuixing Tower which also offers great river views. The Mazu temple is an unusual find and is said to be the only one of its kind away from the coast as the goddess Mazu is the protector of the sea. Temples and sites of worship dedicated to Mazu can now be found throughout the world as trade and migration from Fujian province has evolved over the past 1,000 years and is where Tian Hou (Mazu) reportedly lived during the Northern Song Dynasty as a mortal on Meizhou Island. The Li River in the Fuli district has plenty of names and legends that relate to its beautiful limestone karst landscape. Located on the Fuli side of the river towards Yangshuo, Dong Lang Mountain has the interesting attribute of having several distinct looks when viewed from different directions – from the south east it looks like a female, from the south it looks like an old man and from the north east it looks like a warrior. Located only 8 kilometres from Yangshuo, Fuli is a great for a mornings exploration on market day. However caution should be practiced when visiting the market as there have been a number of reports of pick-pocketing. Fuli market operates on days of the month with 2, 5 & 8 in the date. (2 nd , 5 th , 8 th , 12 th , 15 th etc) Local buses depart regularly or consider cycling. Baisha Baisha village is famous for its cumquats and production of stone however it doesnt really have the atmosphere of the other villages mentioned. A visit on market day is worthwhile and it is very close to the beautiful Dragon River scenic area. Market days are on days of the month with 1,4 & 7. (1 st , 4 th , 7 th . 11 th , 14 th etc) Baisha can be reached by following the main Yangshuo-Guilin road, however a much more pleasant journey is to cycle via the countryside and perhaps combine a visit to the ancient Dragon and/or Fuli Bridges which are quite close-by. Dragon bridge dates back to the Ming dynasty and is constructed with stone. Some 9 metres high and 5 metres wide, legend has it that a student once wanted to go to the capital city for an exam however he was unable to cross the Dragon River due to a flood. As he cried in disappointment the daughter of the dragon appeared and turned herself into this bridge to help the poor student. Fuli bridge is located a little further upstream from Dragon bridge. Also constructed in the Ming dynasty the bridge has a height of 10 metres which makes it the highest single stone bridge in the Yangshuo area. Yangdi Yangdi is a small village on the banks of the Li River approximately 46 klms north of Yangshuo. Sometimes it is referred to as Yangti ( 羊蹄 ) as there are two mountains which are visible from the town that purportedly resemble 2 sheep legs. It is the starting point for a fabulous hike along the banks of the most beautiful section of Li River that ends in Xingping and takes around 5-6 hours crossing the river several times. Direct buses to Yangdi and Xingping depart regularly from Yangshuo. Located in the beautiful Dragon river valley Jiuxian is an ancient village with its roots in the Tang dynasty. Formerly known as Xian Gui Cun, scores of Ming and Qing dynasty houses in good condition remain throughout the village giving visitors a great opportunity to get a taste of the intricate beauty associated with these architectural styles. One of the most well known structures is Li Shi Zongci (Li Ancestral Hall) and the old 3 metre high city wall, of which around 800 metres still stands.. This is a great place to stop off on a ride out to Dragon bridge. Moon Hill The village of Moon Hill has gained in popularity due to its famous karst namesake towering nearby. It seems to be a stopping point for many of the large Chinese tour groups and the town now has a small street of souvenir type shops and stalls. Perhaps there are better places to visit for that authentic “old China ” village experience. Its namesake though, is definitely worth stopping for. With a height of around 380 metres this unusual limestone formation offers fabulous vistas for anyone who climbs the 800 or so stairs to the crescent moon shape that sits near the peak of this famed karst. Not my words,text is from Malcom , Magnolia Hotel :)
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 03:09:45 +0000