rafting…bamboo style

Bamboo rafting in Yangshuo. A must do or else you are seriously missing out. More amazing Guilin peaks. Water that is as warm as the air. And a guide that knows two words in English. Beer and tip. That’s ok. We weren’t there for the conversation.

…Oh yeah. And a water fight. International water fight. When there are people from every continent floating along together, giving no thought to race nor status before they aim and fire, you can have nothing but the best water fight ever. Which I believe would solve all world conflicts. And if you don’t want to get wet…you should’ve stayed on the bus.

Lets say…

…you are in Guilin. And you want to get to Yangshuo. How do you get there? …A Li River Cruise, of course. Why? Because I can’t think of any other way you would want to go. And because I can’t think of any reason you would want to miss all this…

…Yes. Amazing. I know.

Ahhh Guilin….

Like I said…I couldn’t get enough of Guilin and the amazing terrain. A few other do-not-miss-this-the-next time-you-are-in-Guilin include:

Elephant Trunk Hill

A popular place since the times of the emperors because of the rock that looks like an elephant drinking from the river. I also love how it looks like a refection of a moon on the water. 

Seven Star Park

Our first encounter with pandas in China.

Do You See the camel?…

Fubo Hill

(It’s the tall rock in front. Named for a Chinese General)

Reed Flute Cave…

…is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years. It is over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into melodious flutes. It is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes. Inside, there are more than 70 inscriptions written in ink, which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty. These aged inscriptions tell us that travelers from all over China and the world have been visiting this cave in Guilin since ancient times. Beautiful!!!

Guilin

Week three took us to Guilin. The moment we stepped off the plane the outdoor enthusiast in me and I were ready to call this place home. It was love at first sight and we could not get enough of the exquisite and picturesque landscape that surrounds this little town of 1.3 million in southern China.

The Presidential Palace

In Washington DC you have the White House. In Nanjing, it is the Presidential Palace. Not only was this the Office of the President of the Republic of China before the republic relocated to Taiwan in 1949, but also a significant location during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Thus the gold throne and the marble boat.

PS. I’m back and reporting from my bed that feels softer than I remember it. But it feels so good to sink into it at the end of the day. Jet lag hasn’t been too bad as long as I am moving. If I remain idle for too long I may start to nod.