“Lifechangingtravel” just reviewed the list of world’s most threatened tourist sites.
For Yangshuo they had the following to say:
“Now the town attracts more than three million visitors a year – more than it can easily sustain,” the magazine stated.
However, there are steps those on a gap year in China can take to ensure their visit does not have a detrimental effect on the locale, it added.
These include hiring a bicycle and pedalling through the nearby hamlets, hiking through the mountains or rock-climbing, rather than using too much transport.
We have one more suggestions to give: Don’t go there at all!
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Seriously, why does everyone want get on a cramped, overpriced tourist boat, get carted down the Li River while getting the membranous blasted out by the obnoxious tour guide explaining sites through his megaphone? When arriving in Yangshuo you’re directly greeted by an armada of hawkers, beggars and looky-looky people that will follow you on your whole trip.
The city itself, while situated in a REALLY beautiful setting, doesn’t have much to offer either… that means, except you want to buy bags full of souvenirs.
<end of rant>
Yes, you could rent a bike and escape to the country side, but why not directly go off the beaten track and visit something less spoiled by modern mass tourism?
There are so many places around that are worth a visit: Xing’an, Daxu, Xiong Cun, Liang Jiang, just to name a few. You will get less hawkers, better food and a real glimpse at country life in China.
I lived in Yangshou for three years & not once did I do the tourist boat trip. I travelled short distances on the Li river many times, but always by raft or on a local delivery boat.Always enjoyable.Around town I used local transport, a bike or back of a moterbike. The biggest hassel with Yangshou is the continual need of hawkers to overcharge. They do this to anyone who is not a local, Chinese or not.
Comment by jeanie — March 18, 2010 @ 15:15