Good day, everyone! Welcome back to my blog.

If you've been following along with my adventures in Guilin from part 1 (click here), then you've probably eagerly anticipating this post.

Well, the wait is over!

Here's comes part 2 of my Guilin trip.

This time, I'll be exploring Yangshuo 阳朔, a charming town nestled near to Guilin city.

Yangshuo is a small county located southeast of Guilin city, about 65 kilometers from the city center.

It has a long history, dating back over 1,400 years to the Sui Dynasty.

Known as the "heavenly hometown of travel on earth", Yangshuo is famous for its stunning scenery.

Many travelers are drawn to its idyllic countryside views, beautiful Karst hills, and peaceful landscapes along the Li River, which resemble traditional Chinese paintings.

We spent two nights there, and let me tell you, the overall experience in Yangshuo was very relaxing.

We enjoyed our 2 nights here, even though the hotel accommodations weren't as comfortable as those n Guilin city, because being a small, the options were limited.

Nevertheless, we still had a great time overall. 

Without further ado, let's follow me for the 3 days 2 nights in Yangshuo!

Welcome to Yangshuo! :)

After nearly an hour and a half drive from Guilin city, we finally arrived in Yangshuo!

Before began our day in Yangshuo, we first enjoyed a tasty wild mushroom hotpot 野生菌火锅.

It was especially nice to have hotpot on a cold day, made us feel extra cozy and warm.

As I've mentioned before, joining a tour group in China is always a good idea.

They arrange a variety of delicious dishes on the table, and there's always an abundance of food to cater to everyone needs. 

Trust me, everything on the table in this picture is more than enough for 13 people. :)

Hotpot pairs perfectly with some cold beers.

After enjoying a satisfying lunch, we kicked off our first activity in Yangshuo with the Li River Cruise 船游漓江.

I had looked up different stars of the cruise, and it seems like we went with a 3-Star cruise. 

But honestly, it wasn't too bad even though it was 3-Star.

The cruise provided clean environment, good air-conditioners, and comfortable seats.

They even offered us tea while we were on board too!

Well, you can also order some snacks like peanuts by paying for them. 

At the beginning of the journey, we sat by the window and were treated to stunning views of the scenery outside.

Information was provided by the guide over the microphone, and we could hear the guide pointing out the highlights along the river, offering interesting insights and explanation as we sailed along. 

The landscape is decorated with striking hills, steep cliffs, magnificent caves, and quaint farming villages, all framed by the presence of bamboo lining and surroundings. 

After about 20 minutes sitting inside the cabin, we were allowed to go up to the upper deck to take in the view.

The weather provided a cool breeze on the top deck, which for me was much more comfortable than sitting inside the cabin. 

 

Standing on the deck lets me get a better view of the beautiful natural scenery up close.

Btw, this is the outfit for my 3rd day in Yangshuo. 

It's wonderful to meet everyone from the trip.

认识大家也算一个缘分, 希望有机会可以再和大家一起出游! :)

Sandra asked for a group photo with us, so here you go! #hehe

With a total cruising time of about an and a half, it wasn't overly lengthy, but it was certainly sufficient to take in all the sights we had hoped to see along the way. 

Overall, the cruise trip was very enjoyable!

We had an early dinner, and the dinner at we had Yangshuo on the first night wasn't very special.

But our tour leader brought along Gui Hua Wine 桂花酒 for us to try.

It smelled nice and didn't taste too strong.

I actually liked it, and brought a bottle back to KL to share with my girl friend. :)

After dinner, we decided to purchase additional tickets to attend the local show called Guilin Romance 桂林千古情, at the Guilin Romance Park.

Our tour package did not include the show ticket, so it was optional for us.

Since everyone in the group wanted to go, we also decided to join by paying RMB250 per person. 

The park is impressively large, which surprised me because I initially thought it would be a small theater like the one I've seen in other cities in China.

However, as we walked around trying to find the theatre, we discovered many other attractions that we could enjoyed.

What's more, many of these attractions were actually free to access, even the face-changing show 变脸表演 was also free to watch in the public area.

Even though we had already paid for one show ticket, we were fortunate to catch another show with an earlier start time before the Guilin Romance show.

We watched The Earthquake 大地震 show first, and it turned out to be a very touching story.

The show shows how a big earthquake destroy things like houses falling down and landslides.

And it's actually based on a true story and shows how much the Chinese people care about helping after an earthquake.

Here comes the Romantic Show of Guilin 桂林千古情, directed by Qiaoling Huang, Chairman of the Board of Songcheng Performance, a company involved in various projects related to the tourism performing arts industry.

The show consists of 5 parts, all of which are truly amazing.

The visual were stunning, and the decorations appeared incredibly lifelike.

I also appreciated how the show utilized the entire space, where you found yourself turning around or looking up for some of the experiences.

I would recommend this show for those who enjoy watching performances. :)

这里拍张照留恋 :)

After the show, we headed to Yitian West Street 益田西街, which is conveniently located just across the bridge from our hotel.

Yitian West Street is the oldest street and also the busiest area in Yangshuo, dating back over 1,400 years.

It's located at the center or Yangshuo County.

Since the 1980's, it has been a place where Eastern and Western cultures meet.

It's also known as the largest center for foreign languages in China.

The street is busy with many restaurants serving different types of Chinese food.

I enjoyed walking along the lively street and trying local dishes over here.

Besides, there are also shops selling souvenirs, local items, clothes and accessories that provide a rich shopping experience to the visitors.

We actually passed by West Street on our way to the Li River Cruise in the afternoon, so we got to see in both during the day and at night.

Comparting the two, I found that West Street looks much prettier at night, with more people around, and also the lighting makes the street look even more vibrant and lively.

It's always interesting to see the different designs of Starbucks in different cities.

For supper, we opted for McDonald's.

Every country has its own specialties at McDonald's, so it's worth trying at least once. 

Good night Yangshuo!

This is the hotel room we stayed in at Yangshuo Elite Garden Hotel 阳朔万丽花园大酒店

Before booking the tour package, I actually checked the hotel information because I am very particular about hotel details.

Our tour company in KL mentioned that it's not easy to find a decent hotel with a convenient location in Yangshuo due to limited options.

So, Yangshuo Elite Garden Hotel is considered a good choice in the city.

I found that they were right; the hotel is conveniently located opposite West Street, where we can easily grab suppers and coffee in the morning.

The room wasn't too bad either; it was clean and spacious, though the design was quite old with wood construction. 

Once again, thanks to Travel Recommendation for providing stable wifi throughout my trip.

The device was very convenient, it was light, the battery lasted longer, and it even had a built-in VPN, which allowed me to access WhatsApp, Google, IG and FB anytime I wanted

I highly recommend you guys checking it out if you're traveling to China.

As Yangshuo is considered a small county, the dishes there are also simple, nothing super fancy.

The dishes served on the table are more like ones you'd find in a village, 所谓的家乡菜.

Yulong River Bamboo Rafting 玉龙河竹筏 is one of my favourite activity in Yangshuo.

Despite the cold weather during the 40-minutes outdoor journey, I found it was enjoyable and interesting.

Even having experienced a cruise before, I still appreciated the charm of this smaller, more picturesque river on the bamboo raft.

Here's my outfit for day 4 in Yangshuo, which also to be one of my favourites. :)

There were fewer people compared to the Li River Cruise, and I'm not sure if it was because we visited during the low season, but that morning, we were the only visitors, which made the Yulong River trip even more special. 

Bamboo farting offers a leisurely journey along the river, with beautiful scenery on each sides.

Lasting about 40-50 minutes, the tour takes you through valleys surrounded by small mountains and a clean river.

The ambiance is serene and tranquil, with only sounds of the rafting and the river filling the air, making it peaceful experience.

We are lucky to catch the Cormorant Fishing Show 鸕鶿捕魚 live on the river.

The Cormorant is an intriguing bird known for its ability to dive deep underwater and remain submerged for extended periods.

While submerged, it hunts for fish, seizing them with its beak before resurfacing. 

During the trip, I also tried the bamboo rafting, but I found it was difficult and physically demanding.

I couldn't even move from the starting point.

The bamboo stick itself was very heavy, making it challenging to push through the water and propel the raft forward. :)

During our Yulong River trip, we were accompanied by Liu San Jie, who serenaded us with traditional Liu San Jie songs, and also our bamboo raft rider skillfully navigated the river, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey for us all.

Well done to her being our Liu San Jie during our bamboo rafting adventure. :)

Arrived at Guilin Lipu Lijiang Bay 桂林荔浦漓江湾, another highlight in Yangshuo.

It is renowned for its picturesque landscape, earning the title of "water among mountains, mountains within mountains, and Guilin's formost bay amidst rivers and mountains."

It is often referred to as the "Jiuzhai" within caves.

I would recommend visiting this scenic area before you leave Yangshuo, it is definitely worth your time and you won't regret it.

Continue reading to discover what awaits you in this scenic area.

We began our adventure with a serene motorboat tour to soak in the stunning scenery along the Lipu River.

The mountain looks like the shape of a hand. :)

The Lijiang Bay is quite big, as we strolled along, we reached a large temple adorned with vibrant and diverse flowers surrounding its exterior.

We also had an artificial dragon boating experience at the Lipu River.

The most exciting spot is the Tiangong Cave 天宫岩, which is basically a network of underground caves.

When I first went inside, I was amazed because the reflection scenery was incredibly special and beautiful.

The Tiangong Cave is a karst cave created by the horizontal splitting of fault rocks, forming a massive, low-lever flat rock ceiling.

It's exceptionally rare and breathtaking worldwide.

Often dubbed the "Jiuzhaigou in the cave", it features a smaller cave within it, traversed by an underground dark river, boasts a colossal karst cave waterfall measuring 10 meters in height and 20 meters in width.

Legend has it that the cave was once home to the fairy Ganoderma. 

When I explored the cave, it looks like a bunch of connected tunnels and rivers, showing off amazing natural beauty.

Inside, there were sharp rock formations hanging from the ceiling and rising from the ground, making the place feel mysterious.

The best part was the peaceful ground where you could see the cave's reflection in the clear water.

Following our visit to Tiangong Cave, we rode a cable car to the mountaintop.

We got to the golden bridge where the floor was made of glass.

It was exciting but at the same time also a bit scary because we could see right down to the ground.

And it was very windy and freezing cold up there on the mountain top, where my face felt frozen, and the wind blew my hair very strongly.

From the top, we can see a good view of Yangshuo.

After 2 days in Yangshuo, we went back to Guilin one day before we flew back to Malaysia.

On the last day in Guilin, our tour leader took us to a Dong people village 侗族村.

If you've read my previous blog about the shopping stops included in the tour package, this visit is consider one of them.

The Dong people are famous  for their silver accessories and ornaments, which they believe improve health.

It was a good visit to learn about the history and culture of the Dong people, and see their traditional houses and daily life.

However, when they began selling their products, it became uncomfortable.

I was actually interested in a silver comb, but was taken aback when I knew it cost RM1k or more, so I decided not to purchase it.

Lastly, a big thank you to our tour leader, Jay from Airlink Travel Agency and our China tour guide, Xiao Jie