Guilin : Part 3 - Cycling in Yangshuo

11022011 - We were going for a bicycle ride around Yangshuo. In Yangshuo, it is said cycling is a must. Plus with the cold weather, I did not feel tired at all. Although I did end up with a very bad cough. So bad I feel like I am coughing out my lungs. 

We rented a tandem bike for RMB20. My friend could not cycle, so tandem bike it is. :-) It was a bit difficult initially to synchronise the pedaling. But we managed. And we cycled for 6km to Moon Hill. 

We cycled back and on the way, stopped to see the Big Banyan Tree. I didn't understand the significance of the Banyan Tree, until the receptionist at the inn explained that a movie was shot at that location, where the main characters met under that tree and fell in love.

The humongous banyan tree! The scenery in the Park was gorgeous. In fact, everywhere in Guilin is beautiful. If you didn't know, Guilin is also known as 'Heaven on Earth'.

It tasted like tapioca without any fillings. We bought it because we were in need of hot food! It costs RMB3 for 2 pieces.

See the pathway for cycling? It is huge! I feel so safe cycling in Yangshuo. But it was a bit difficult because in Malaysia, we drive on the left side of the road, while in China, it's on the right side. So, I had a bit of difficulty cycling around the roundabout. I had to look left and right many times!

And our next destination (after returning the bike to the inn) was Longsheng! We took a bus back to Guilin to take a bus to Longsheng. Despite the bus being seated with passengers, the aisle is still empty. So, to cater to more passengers, the bus operator placed stools on the aisle to allow passengers to sit during the 1.5 hour journey.

In Guilin, we were not sure which bus station to go to. We were misled the first time and not many people know which bus station that caters for Longsheng.

We asked various people how to get to the bus station that sells tickets to Longsheng. One told us it's just 5 minutes walk. Another told us is 20 minutes' walk. We got confused. So, we spoke to the entrance operator at the train station, and mentioned it's 5 minutes' walk.

Couldn't understand a single word on the board. So, I asked the person behind me. He doesn't know. When it was my turn, I asked the ticket operator, and she mentioned that Longsheng's tickets were sold at another bus station which was 20 minutes' away.

We were asking around for directions how to get there, but got more confused. It got more frustrating when the taxi drivers charged prices of RMB30. Finally, decided to take the motor-taxi which cost RMB20.

Apparently, it is the Qin Tan Bus Station we have to go to. We managed to get the 3.30pm bus. It was a 2.5 hour bus ride to Longsheng, and we called the inn owner that we were going to be later than the originally planned 5pm. Thankfully, the inn owner was kind enough to pick us up at the bus station in Longsheng because he happened to be in town!

Bus station in Longsheng where the inn owner picked us up.

After an hour drive, we reached Ping'an village. Cars stop here and it was a 20 minute walk to the inn. And the reason to visit Longsheng was to see the Dragonback Rice Terrace!

At night, we warmed ourselves by the fire. But still not very effective. Still cold...