Missed out on the last parties? No worries, we’ll let you compensate with our extra-high event-density for the rest of October:

First, there will be a “Birthday Party” on October 22nd, followed by a Halloween themed Movie Night on October 29th and finally, finally a real Halloween Party on October 31st.

Click here to read our newsletter with more details.

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The first rays of sunshine are peaking through the clouds and temperatures are finally back in the double digits. What better way to celebrate than go pick some of the first strawberries of the season?

Those of you that subscribed to our newsletter (hint, hint) had the chance of joining us and the Sunny Hiker Group last Saturday to the strawberry fields in Daxu. If you missed the tour or had to work, here are some photos:

Last monday we took a car to Huangyao, which is about 200km away from Guilin. We started early in the morning so we were lucky enough to arrive before the hordes of tourists.

Huangyao is a well preserved, around 1000 years old settlement. As many others it has already been blessed with being discovered by mass tourism which lead to a rather hefty entrance fee of RMB70 per person. Still, I would say it was worth the money.

Inside the compound, Huangyao is way better than other places like Yangshuo or Daxu. Of course there are little stalls selling fake antiques and Mao-Bibles, but it is much more laid back. Nobody tries to pull you into their shops. I bought a traditional dress for my little daugther and paid only RMB 20 without much bargaining.

Should you go there, remember to bring some snacks. While you can get pickled veggies and cooked eggs easily, there are not many restaurants. (Actually, we saw only one).  To finish this rather short report, here are some photos: (For more photos please visit our Huangyao Photo Gallery)

The German speaking “China Observer” reported that from now on it will be possible to get “on-arrival” tourist visas in Guilin Liangjiang International Airport.

This is, if true, good news for last minute tourists who don’t have time to shuffle to the Chinese embassy in their home country to apply for a visa. The maximum duration is limited to 30 days. It is not known if these on-arrival visas can be extended by another 30 days like “normal” Chinese tourist visas.

To get the visa you need to take a visa application form, a passport photo with white background and a copy of you passport (+ the passport of course) with you.

The “Port Visa Office” at the Airport is open the whole day:

Tel: +86 0773 2845053
Fax: +86 0773 2845053

The visa fees are CNY 130 for group tours and CNY 160 for single travelers.

source: http://www.china-observer.de/index.php?entry=entry100117-084010