Yangshuo County
Yángshuò (阳朔) is a small town in Guangxi Province, China. Surrounded by towering karst peaks, bordered on one side by the Lijiang River (漓江) it is easily accessible by bus or by boat from nearby Guilin. Over the years, it has become popular with foreign backpackers as a place to unwind.
Layout
The town borders the Li river on one side, and is situated on a small plain between a number of karst peaks. Two main roads run away from the water and form the central part of the town, Chinese Street and West Street (西街). Most foreign-oriented businesses, such as hostels, hotels, and entertainment venues, are situated on West Street.
Activities
Visitors to Yángshuò often swim in the Li river, climb one of the many nearby karst peaks, hire a bicycle for a trip through the karst scenery or simply relax in the town itself, which is largely devoid of vehicular traffic. Additionally, there is a butterfly zoo near the town and a number of cave systems. Yángshuò is also China's foremost venue for rock climbing, with around 190 bolted routes and several companies offering guiding and equipment hire. Interestingly, nearly everybody in Yángshuò can speak english (which is quite uncommon in China) - even elder generations. This appears to have come about due to the high level of tourism.