Guangzi: Yangshuo and Long Ji

Our last province visited in China, Guangxi,was in many ways the most scenic given its alien-like landscape. The "postcard perfect peak and paddy field landscape" is really karst formations concentrated along the Li and Yulong Rivers and scattered among the plentiful rice fields. Our timing was impeccable for it was the harvest season, ,which made for golden fields and more interaction time with the friendly farmers as well as unseasonably warm days later chilling into more Fall air.

Given the area's reputation for beauty, we made our stay a healthy 11 days- allowing for long, restful reading days by the river as well as time to enjoy the area and local villages through biking, hiking, jogging and simply wandering. The Yangshuo Town, like most discovered gems in China, was crowded with tourists, overloaded with tempting shop fronts and bustling with cafes. We split our time between here and the countryside- for the quietness of the outdoors and the pleasant exchanges with the locals was the heart of Yangshuo we most enjoyed.

Having been in China for over five weeks at this point, we found food we will miss and dishes we hope to recreate at home. Monday, we took a cooking class here in small village of Chaolong, making 5 dishes and then eating our feast for lunch. For sure, a highlight for Christy and admittingly great fun for Dion as well.

With the extended and active time in the area, there are no shortage of pictures we wanted to share:

Classic pictures of Yangshuo and the limestone karst formations that make the area famous

On our walk the first day, these farmers invited us over for some watermelon

Which led to helping them cut the rice stalks.

Working in the rice paddies with a farmer who puts his hard earned money into his silver teeth.

Cooking class in Yangshuo where we learned how to use a Wok, making Cashew Chicken, Beer Fish, Stirfried garlic greens and eggplant.



Scenes along the Yulong River during our bike tour, passing though villages, and culminating with a hike to the peak of "Moon Hill" shown above. Christy catching a break at the top of Moon Hill- justifiably wondering why we can't take the "short or easy route" sometimes.


Christy beating Dion (the sore loser), yet again, at Double Solitare

Photos of our 18k hike from Langdi to Xinping. This included three river crossings, twice on established boats and once bargaining with a farmer for a ride across on her bamboo raft. This route is thought to have the most picturesque views of the Karst formations along the Li River.

Locals along the way: farming, preparing one of our favorite street foods, rolling a smoke, serving a trail guides (kids) and making Christy look big yet again.

Christy with Chun Lee, the Front Desk Supervisor at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat. Chun Li is a remarkable young lady, self taught in both Chinese and English. She suffers from OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) also known as brittle bone disease. The owner of our Retreat started a charity organization called The China-US Medical Foundation to help patients in Mainland China that suffer from this genetic mutation. We were so touched by Chun Li's strength and this organization's mission, that we wanted to help spread awareness in the little way we could, on this blog. We encourage you to check out their website: http://www.china-usmedical.org/. Very inspiring and touching, to say the least.

An aerial picture of the Yangshuo area, captured during a balloon ride by a German & British couple we befriended while at the mountain retreat. Gives a good feel for the incredible topography of the area.

Hiking up to our guesthouse in the village of Ping an, located in the Long Ji Rice terraces located a 3-5 hour bus ride northwest of Yangshuo.

Christy debating whether she'll have ham that night with her fried rice.

Pictures of the rice terraces during our day long hike through the organized contours of the Long ji mountainside.

The map of our final route through China: September 20th - November 3rd