Sleeper train, 14 hours.
Arriving at Guilin station.
Guilin Station on a rainy morning.
A Jade and Cultural Museum in Guilin City.
One of those karst peaks in the middle of the cityscape, Guilin city.
The Guilin Museum, which offers a bit on the customs and habits of the local minority peoples.
Inside the Guilin Museum, this placard features some circa-1980 propoganda about the harmonious culture shared by the Han and minority peoples of the region.
Inside the Guilin Museum, this sign is printed with the local Zhuang romanization system, different from the pinyin across the rest of the nation. That's one concession the Zhuang get as part of an Autonomous Region.
Bronze drums. Interesting sound.
City bus for 1 RMB.
Guilin's cental marketplace on a rainy day.
The center of Guilin's cental marketplace on a rainy day.
130-foot pagodas overlook Shan Hu, one of two lakes conjoined in the center of town, as seen from Zhongshan Lu.
A carving at the entrance to Xiangbi Shan, Elephant Mountain Park.
Tourists at Xiangbi Shan.
The whole Xiangbi Shan, which has become a symbol of Guilin City. The hole in the rock is not evident in this pic, but JUMP and...
Xiangbi Shan's arch, which has become a symbol of Guilin City. Supposedly, it looks like an elephant's trunk, thus the name.
A woman poses in the ethnic dress of the Miao minority who adorn themselves with silver, in front of Xiangbi Shan.
Zhuang girls perform an ethnic dance in the Xiangbi Shan park.
With a hand sickle, this man cuts the grass at Xiangbi Shan. Backbreaking work.
Xiangbi Shan Park also has a local wine museum. This is kinda gross. Kinda really gross. But in one bin are thousands of ants, fermenting ant wine. In this one are snakes and developed deer fetuses.
Guilin City from above.
The Li River, from above at Guilin.
Buddha carvings in old cave walls at Guilin.
Seven Star Park covers 1sq mile along the Li River, named after the 4 peaks on Putuo Hill and 3 peaks on Crescent Hill. Seen together, they appear to form the Great Dipper constellation.
Wild monkey at 7 Star Park. It hissed at nosy tourists.
Live Scenery in 7 Star Park
Scenery in 7 Star Park
A Tibetan Yak in 7 Star Park
Guilin Convention Center, with large candy store. Part of the tour.
Another view of Guilin from above.
Amazing natural rock formations in the Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan). Guilin's residents hid here during the Japanese invasions in the 1940's. Over 1,640 feet of tunnels with these forms and beautiful backlighting make this a must see. Deng Xiaoping came twice; Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon and Henry Kissenger all came too.
First meal in Yangshuo.
Dolls dressed like minority ethnicities in Yangshuo's night market. They're 2 for 30RMB, but they'll start the bidding at 1 for 45RMB.
A woman hand weaves outside of her shop.
Immediately upon arrival at the bamboo skiff dock, local women insist that the tourists buy flower crowns for 2RMB. They finally talk them down to 1.
The captain of the bamboo skiff.
Scenes on the Li River tour.
Scenes on the Li River tour. The smaller, middle peak is said to resemble a dolphin.
A popular island to stop on. Scenes on the Li River tour.
Supposed to be a hand. Scenes on the Li River tour.
Island flowers. Scenes on the Li River tour.
The big ferries from Yangshuo to Guilin ply the river. Scenes on the Li River tour.
A village along the way. Scenes on the Li River tour.
Along the way, business-minded locals sell foods they've cooked to the tourists at island stops. Scenes on the Li River tour.
This scene is replicated on the box of a popular brand of Chinese cigarettes.
A restaurant stop along the way. Scenes on the Li River tour.
This hill is called 9 Horse Hill. Apparently, enthusiasts of Chinese arts are supposed to be able to spot 9 horses on the hill. Zhou Enlai was able to spot 8; most are lucky to spot 1. A village is set up on the adjacent island.
Final stop -- the back of the 20 RMB bill, live.
Peasants join the bus ride back to Yangshuo.
One of Yangshuo city's main streets.
Scenes from bike touring around greater Yangshuo.
Asking directions. Scenes from bike touring around greater Yangshuo.
Tea fields. Scenes from bike touring around greater Yangshuo.
Small rice tiers. Scenes from bike touring around greater Yangshuo.
Moon Rock, on the left. If you climb up there, good view of the countryside below.
