Back in Yangshuo - after 34 years

 


I first visited Yangshuo in 1991, drawn by its iconic landscape of karst hills. Back then, starting from Guangzhou, it took a full day to get there, taking an overnight boat followed by a bus. This time, also from Guangzhou, it took just a couple of hours on a high-speed train. (It wasn’t the fastest, cruising at around 240 km/h compared to the 350 km/h Shanghai-bound trains.) The scenery turned into the familiar hilly landscape around Hezhou, about 100 kilometers before Yangshuo. The best view was just before Yangshuo Station—set high up, offering a sweeping panorama. The station is about 30 kilometers from town, so you need to take a bus from there. 

As expected, Yangshuo has changed dramatically over these 34 years. It’s now a large, spread-out town—nothing like the small village I remembered. It’s quite touristy, with the rise of domestic tourism, but still stunning. After settling into my hotel room—with a balcony and a great view—I headed back to the river then climbed a small hill. I’d always wanted to return to Yangshuo, and finally, I did! 




















































































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