Moon Hill

Day 13 (4th April 2011)

The weather looked dreary with a light drizzle early this morning. However, I was quite determined to go to Moon Hill. On the way, I stopped at a restaurant to have breakfast. While eating, the light drizzle turned into a shower. There was no way to go to Moon Hill now. I would be soaked to the bone if I were to do that and so I returned to the hostel.

At 1:15 p.m. the weather improved. I got ready to go to Moon Hill. The sky was overcast but I took the chance to go there, hoping that the rain would not return. Today would be my last day in Yangshuo and if I did not make it, I would have missed Moon Hill.

What a difference 10 days made? There was an obvious difference in the "cherry" trees, with the leaves having grown larger. The yellow bloom of the Yew Chai flowers had almost disappeared too.

From earlier bicyle rides on the same road, I had not bother to take photos of some tourist spots along the way. This time, I decided to do so just for the record.

On the way back from Moon Hill, I decided to take as much of the scenery at Gongnong Bridge. I could only imagine what it was like without all those buildings and man-made structure. It could have been very much more beautiful.

The scenery on the way back to Yangshuo was as gorgeous as always.

On reaching the town, I turn into Guanlian Road. There was not much to see here.

That evening, more time was spent at the riverfront of Binjiang Road. This was my last chance to take more photographs of the waterfront before I returned to Guilin.

Some time was also spent at the small night market at the intersection of Diecui Road and Pantao Road.

Back to Yangshuo

Day 12 (3rd April 2011)

The return visit to Yangshuo was met with unexpected surprises.

The spot at Guilin Train Station/ bus terminal where I got on the bus to Yangshuo the first time has a bus parked there but it was locked. There were a few people milling around, expecting the driver to come anytime. After a lengthy wait and with the driver still missing, I went across the road to the bus terminal where the Yanghuo to Guilin bus terminated. There was no Yangshuo bus. I came back again and shortly later, I overheard that the Yangshuo bus was departing from the other end of the station.

Here was the first surprise. A long queue had already formed for the bus to Yangshuo. Fearing that it would take too long to wait for the bus, I began to have doubt. Should I go to Yangshuo again? As I was hesitating, the queue got longer. It was about 9:40 a.m. already. I decided to get into line and within minutes, the queue doubled in length.

Two buses came in succession, and I went for the second bus, doubting whether I would be able to get a seat as I was well behind the queue. I was turned away together with 3 - 4 hopeful passengers in front of me. The first bus was still able to take in more people and I went over to the first bus. I was lucky enough to get on board.

On reaching Yangshuo, I did not see the hostel touts I encountered the first time. Time must be good that they did not have to solicit for guests or they could be having lunch.  I went in search of accommodation at other hostels. Here was surprise no. 2. Fawlty Towers Hotel rate was RMB200. It was a real shocker. It could not be that expensive! I went to the hostel just behind and the rate was RMB150 for a dilapidated room. What happened to the cheap hostel rooms in Yangshuo? I decided to go back to Sons of West Street Hostel again. The rate was now RMB150, more than doubled from the RMB65 I paid a few days earlier. The fact had finally begun to sink in. This was the rate during the holiday season. I realised only then that I was in Yangshuo during the peak period, i.e. during the Qing Ming Festival holidays. There was regret. I should not have come but continue to stay in the RMB70 room in Guilin. Then again, I would be wasting time in Guilin. Going back to Guilin might see me getting a hostel room which had climbed in prices too. After asking for a discount, I was offered a rate of RMB140 per night as I was a "former" guest of the hostel, for two nights' stay. I took it after some hesitation.

Outside, the weather did not look too good. I had originally planned to cycle to Moon Hill that afternoon and to Xingping the following day. With the light drizzle, it was not a good idea. As a result, a good part of the afternoon was spent in Yangshuo itself.

The first destination was to Binjiang Road, to the section which I had not gone before. This was the pier where the big cruise boats from Guilin came to berth. Cruise boats came and went.

Next, it was exploring other streets.

Guilin Seven Star Park and Seven Star Cave

Day 11 (2nd April 2011)

Today, I would be going to the Seven Star Park. The day earlier, the owner of the eatery behind the Happy Hotel has advised me to take bus no. 10 to go to Seven Star Park. Bus after bus stopping at the bus stop near the Guilin Train Station/ bus terminal was full. I then decided to take a tuk tuk to go there. As usual with the people in the trade, the sales promotion followed after I got into the tuk-tuk. He was not that persistent and soon, I was off to Seven Star Park.

At the ticket counter at Seven Star Park, upon payment of RMB90, a receipt in duplicate was issued. From there, I had to go to another counter to get my ticket by exchanging it with one copy of the receipt. The other copy of the receipt would be collected at the entrance to the Seven Star Cave if I decided to go in.

Seven Star Park is a very large park. There were many spots for photography, the main ones being the waterfalls and the cave.

(Download this 1,599 x 1,066 px map)

After the visit, I took bus no. 11 back to the hostel.

There were not many places of interest to me in Guilin. Tomorrow, I would be going back to Yangshuo. I would explore Moon Hill and those streets which I did not do so in the earlier visit. I would also like to go back to Binjiang Road, my favourite street one last time before leaving Guangxi for good.