Yangshuo Travel Guide Blog

Pudi Village

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:02:00 PST

Pudi? You mean Puyi? Fuli? Lipu? No, I mean Pudi! Few even in Yangshuo have ever heard of Pudi. It's not surprising as the village is tiny and quite a bit away from Yangshuo, 22km to be precise. In fact it is further than the nearby Puyi, which is 17km from Yangshuo but lies further east on the riverbank. The reason is that if you want to go overland to Pudi you have to take the long way around.

We bring you by motorraft to Pudi but you still have a short 10 minutes walk into the village

Fortunately our Pudi tour does the trip by motorraft, a very pleasant hour or so on the Li River. On arrival you can enjoy yourself in the village and have lunch with Jessie Lu's family. Many consider this little one day tour the highlight of their China journey!

Jessie's mom with other ladies in Pudi prepare rice cake

Sanjiang and Chengyang Chiao on bicycle

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:44:00 PST

In May 2011 I visited Yangshuo, as every year. It was my xth visit, really, I lost the count. This time however I also did some extra cycling: Yangshuo-Guilin-Longshen-Sanjiang and further back to Yangshuo.

WInd and Rain Bridge in Chengyang Chaio

I had been there several time but it had been a few years. Sanjiang had been changed, and so had Chengyang Chiao.


My bicycle at the Wind and Rain Bridge

It was fun to be back ...

Sanjiang and Chengyang Chiao on bicycle

Cycling with one arm and one leg

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:59:00 PST

Few stories have inspired me so much as Daishen's story. After an accident where he lost an arm and a leg he decided to make his life worthwhile again. He got a bicycle and....

Cycling with one arm and one leg

Yangshuo to Puyi

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:03:00 PST

Puyi used to be a a one street village about 17 km from Yangshuo. With the arrival of the highway connecting Guilin and Guangzhou, there are now two street. And the villagers of Puyi have a much easier way to reach Pingle, several kilometers south of Puyi on the other side of the river.

I believe it is still worth to visit Puyi, even though there is very little to do. The ride, either by bicycle or by canoe is worth the effort with some amazing scenery on the way. It is a nice day out in the Yangshuo countryside.

Puyi Village riverside

Miao minority people in south China

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:13:00 PST

The Miao minority people in south China have preserved a lot of their customs, not only in clothing but also in festivals with folk songs and traditions lost with other minority people in China. The Miao have spread all over south China, even to Hainan but there is no place where they have survived like in South East Guizhou. It seems the traditions here have been preserved the strongest. It might be because of the remoteness (and therefor the relatively lack of exposure to other influences) of many areas where the Miao nowadays live.

Truth is that a tour in the Miao minority area is worth the effort ....

Minority tour Guizhou

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:57:00 PST

Alright, here is the base information of the Guizhou leg of a tour we will post online tomorrow. The tour will take 14 days and show you the best of the best of Yangshuo, Pudi village, river cruise, bicycling and rafting and ... the real exciting stuff... not only Longsheng and Sanjiang but also several remote villages (which yours truly, who has been in that area 3 times didn't know) of Miao people. Sure, it won't be cheap, but it's a heck of a tour. Start reading here....

Minority tour Guizhou

Yangshuo Secret Garden Boutique Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:19:00 PST

The Yangshuo Secret Garden Boutique Hotelis certainly one of the more amazing hotels in the Yangshuo surroundings. Do not let yourself be turned off by the 7-8 km distance from Yangshuo town center, the hotel is worth to spend your time here.

Yangshuo Secret Garden Boutique Hotel

Yangshuo Village Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:03:00 PST

I have a few favorite hotels in Yangshuo. Each for different reasons. The Yangshuo Village Retreat is one of them and the reason is that here you get the very best price/quality hotel you can imagine. Had the hotel a swimming pool it would be 5 star. Service, food, location, you can't get it better than here.

Yangshuo Village Retreat
Book your holiday at Yangshuo Village Retreat

Standard room of Yangshuo Village Retreat

Surrounding of the Yangshuo Village Retreat

Yangdi Xingping river cruise

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:53:00 PST

People tend to think there is only one river cruise in Yangshuo. They're wrong. In 1996 when I first visited, yes, there was only the Guilin-Yangshuo via Xingping cruise, which at the time had only 2-3 ships a day, now 200 in the high season.

A better choice, in my opinion is the Yangdi-Xingping cruise. This cruise takes the best part of the Guilin - Yangshuo route. And even better, you have to do it in the early morning. Yup, get out of bed at 6, do the cruise at 7 to about 8.30 or 9AM and than have breakfast. You want the karst mountains magic? This is your chance... and trust me, there IS magic around here.

Yangdi Xingping river cruise

Early morning at the Li River on the way to Xingping

Our new guide Ping

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:15:00 PST

There's in fact no need to introduce Ping to you. Ping has been working with us for a long time on adhoc base. Now she's doing more and more tours with us. Needles to say we're happy with her. Why? Simple, she's good, she's fun and our clients acknowlegde that too...

Born under the shadow of Moonhill, Ping knows more about Yangshuo than you can imagine. And she's never tired of telling more stories too....

Ping, our new guide in Yangshuo

Ping, here trying to solve a bicycle problem

An alternative road to Puyi via Fuli and Yangfenchang

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:15:00 PST

It keeps me surprising that everytime I visit Yangshuo I keep finding new roads. In this case, when I cycled it, I realized I had cycled it many years ago. I had totally forgotten this area for years. Fortunately a friend in Yangshuo reminded me about the road and on an early November day 2011, I did the track again. And with quite a good feeling, it was truly beautiful!

An alternative road to Puyi via Fuli and Yangfenchang

Cycling to Sanjiang in south China

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:06:00 PDT

Earlier this year in May I re-visited Sanjiang and Chengyang Chiao. It was my 3rd or 4th visit in over 10 years time. And although much had been changed, it was still beautiful, although it had been heavily commercialized. I still recommend to visit, it's so different from other places in China...

More about cycling to Sanjiang and Chengyang Chiao

Xingping to Guilin, the back road by bicycle

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:01:00 PDT

There is a road, not a good one, leading directly from Xingping to Guilin on the east bank of the Li River. Few travel it. You need your own transport as there's no public transport (although in a couple of years there might be a train riding through this part of China). It's not a very long journey but the road is partly rough, and there's a few nice hills and scenery along the way. I can recommend it very much...

Xingping to Guilin, the back road by bicycle

Yangshuo restaurants and bars

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:48:00 PDT

What happens when you come to Yangshuo? The basics are a place to sleep and food. Fortunately both are plentiful. Let's have a look at my favorite restaurants. Some serve local (cloud 9), some western (Rock & Grill), some both (7th Heaven, Kelly's, Mimosa). Here's why you should choose either one of them.

Yangshuo restaurants and bars

Exclusive Minority Tour in Guizhou, travel the hard road in China

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:37:00 PDT

When Jessie Lu showed me her photos of a tour she organized in Guizhou I thought I would know what to expect. After all, I had backpacked twice and cycled several times through this area, I thought I knew. I was wrong!

Jessie went deep into the Dong minority areas and found a treasure chest. Here life, it seemed, was less touched by the 21st century. No gimmicks, just what people have been doing all the years... being what they are: minority people and keep the traditions alive. See for yourself:

Exclusive Minority Tour in Guizhou, travel the hard road in China

Longsheng is famous for the rice terraces

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 23:48:00 PDT

Longsheng is famous for the rice terraces, but it is in fact Ping An where you have to be. Here you find the famous Longji Rice terraces. It's a spectacular sight, the whole year through although in the wet season, let's say June, it is at its most spectacular. See for yourself:

Longsheng is famous for the rice terraces

Kelly's Guesthouse in Xingping

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:22:00 PDT

Kelly's Guesthouse in Xingping is a new little cozy guesthouse in Xingping old town. The rooms are comfortable and have good views over the town and surrounding area. Should you visit Xingping, stay at Kelly's Guesthouse. I've stayed here 2 nights, was great.

Kelly's Guesthouse in Xingping

Cycling the back road to Xingping

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:14:00 PDT

An interesting option to travel to Xingping is using a little used road on the west bank of the Li river. It's a scenic road but you have to expect a few little climbs. Should you want to cycle this road, make sure your bicycle is in good condition. If you rent one, check tires, gear and brake. But it's a fun day out in the Chinese countryside.

The back road to Xingping

Bicycling to Putao, Jinbao, Gaotian and back to Yangshuo

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:55:00 PDT

It's a full day out in the countryside around Yangshuo. No, you will not travel the ordinary paths everyone does, instead, you will visit an area little visited by travelers. This page described the road leading from Putao via Jinbao to Gaotian and back to Yangshuo. Nowadays the whole road is in excellent conditions, which makes enjoying the landscape and passing villages more fun.

Bicycling to Putao, Jinbao, Gaotian and back to Yangshuo

Sanjiang and the Wind and Rain Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:38:00 PDT

Nowadays Sanjiang is no longer a place to me missed. Up to a few years ago I would have recommended to skip Sanjiang and immediately travel to Chengyang Qiao. No more. Sanjiang has it's own attraction, but that doesn't mean Chengyang Qiao is to be skipped. ON THE CONTRARY!

Visit both the city Sanjiang and Chengyang Qiao and learn about the Dong culture with its long traditions, Wind and Rain Bridges and Drum towers. It's worth to spend time here.

Sanjiang and the Wind and Rain Bridge

Sanjiang to Rong'an

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:58:00 PDT

Sanjiang sees it share of tourists these days and with good reason. However, travelers always come from Guilin (a few come from the Guiyang/Kaili direction too). Few if any goes south in the direction of Liuzhou. Too bad as this is a nice road. It's certainly nicer to cycle this way back to Guilin/Yangshuo than to cycle the same way back. Here's why.

Sanjiang to Rong'an

Xingping to Guilin, the back road

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:18:00 PDT

It's a scenic journey and one that is made for cyclists. You will leave Xingping on a good road, but soon it changes to a gravel road. For the most this is not too difficult riding. There's some hills but they're never difficult nor steep or high.

It's a pleasant journey and if you have a bicycle... go for it. And no, there's no public transport available. You can book a taxi to explore.

More about the road from Xingping to Guilin

Guilin Attractions: Qingshitan Reservoir and Dam

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 01:48:00 PDT

One Attractions around Guilin is the Qingshitan Reservoir and Dam. It's seldom visited by tourists, also because there's no public transport to the dam. Still, it is a nice place to hang out a day. There's a restaurant in the middle of the north part of the lake and there's some boats for rent to explore the lake itself.

Personally I think it's beautiful. But hey... who am I ... see for yourself:

More about Guilin Attractions: Qingshitan Reservoir and Dam

8 days tour around Guilin

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:46:00 PST

A new season in Yangshuo is at the point of starting. Therefore we have a brand new 8 days tour around Guilin available. The tour includes the best of Yangshuo combined with Longsheng, Ping An, Sanjiang and yes... with Pudi too!

8 days tour around Guilin

Links for 2011-01-29 [del.icio.us]

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST

The Future of Pangkor and the Pangkor mainland
Is the time of paradise for Pangkor and the Pangkor mainland gone, or is it just begun?

What to do in Yangshuo

noreply@blogger.com (peter) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:50:00 PST

Yangshuo has much to offer, plenty to do, even though cycling around town and the karst mountains is still one of the most popular things to do. But there is a lot more. This page offers a review of the different things to do:

What to do in Yangshuo

Links for 2011-01-19 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 PST

Organized bicycle tours Asia
Organized bicycle tours Asia including charity and culinary tours in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar (Burma)

Links for 2009-05-01 [del.icio.us]

Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Bicycle adventures book & DVD auctions
Bicycle adventures book & DVD auctions

Links for 2009-04-30 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT

How To Organise a Long Distance Bicycle Tour
Short but effective explanation what you have to do and what to think about when starting a bicycle journey

Links for 2009-04-28 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT

About me, the writer of Yangshuo Travel Guide.com: Peter van der Lans

Links for 2009-04-23 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT

7 Star teahouse in Yangshuo

Links for 2009-04-15 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Map of Perak
map of perak