Yangshuo, China

Yangshuo is paradise. You feel like you are walking through an ancient Asian painting. The sweeping rivers, drastic mountains, and short people in straw hats are all beautifully set against a backdrop of vivacious green rice fields. It’s not a place to be missed.

We rented a couple of pedal bikes and cruised around the countryside. They offer motorbikes, but our legs were craving some activity after the long train ride. We hitched rides on bamboo rafts and watched the fisherman tend their cormorant birds with rings around their necks. We filled up on tangy pomello fruits and waved to workers in the fields. It’s like a living postcard.

Tip: You have to get into the countryside. Find some sort of transportation and go. It really doesn’t matter where–every direction is stunningly beautiful.

Tip: Pass on the big river performance. It was pretty cool, but not worth the time and money.

Visiting Yangshuo, China with Kids

If your kids like to ride bikes, this place is a dream. As you get out on country roads, there is virtually no traffic–unless you count carts being pulled by watercows.

Tip: West Street (Xi Jie) in Yangshuo is fun but touristy. It’s alluring to shop for all the cheap trinkets, but really don’t spend much time there.

Tip: Xi Jie is also extremely crowded. I only had one other person to keep track of at the time and we managed to get separated. Keep close track of the kiddos.