Day 11 Mountains and Music

Up with the roosters (literally), fog enveloped our mountain hotel as we got ready and ate breakfast before we made our way down the hill. It was busy by 8:30am, traffic of people and horses making their way up and down the narrow path. We all made it through the market to the bus down without spending any money! Then after a 30 minute ride to our own bus that held all our luggage, we started for Yangshou.

This is a totally different landscape than what we have seen northern parts of China. On this first day of spring there is even some blossoms on the trees and the fields are green unlike the brown grass of Beijing and Xian.

The trip was about 2 hours, by then we were into a new landscape of the karst hills. (just like in Tikki Tikki Tembo!) (see pictures and google for more info) We saw orchards of kumquats and flooded rice patties. Then we stopped for lunch outside Yangshou. Of course it was another wonderful feast.

After lunch, off we went to the Li river for a boat ride on a “bamboo” raft. The Li river is wide and slow moving……in summer we think it would be full of these little rafts and larger cruise boat and kayaks and the traffic on the water would be as bad as the traffic in the streets complete with horns. Our big “highlight“, besides the beautiful scenery, was when we stopped at a little outcropping of gravel shoreline where we were accosted by a swarm of “river fishermen” who plunked hats on our heads and a large bamboo pole with 2 large real cormorants on either end as soon as our feet hit the ground. Then demanded payment after the fact and quickly produced already printed and laminated pictures of each of us who had been “assaulted”. This was way more than the usual market tactics and even our guide was annoyed and gave them hell (or so we thought because we couldn’t understand what she was saying!) The second stop was a little island that had a photo shoot spot of the karst mountains that are used for the 20 yuan note.

Pam and the Cormorants

Karst hills

Then finally off to our hotel to be reaquainted with our luggage and a quick rest before dinner (do you get the idea we are being well fed?). After dinner we were taken to a spectacular light and sound show right on the river with the mountains as a backdrop. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world, holding up to 3500 people. The director of the production was the man who put together the Beijing Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. Then back to the hotel to pack for our trip to Guilin.