Yangshuo County

Infobox Settlement
name =Yangshuo County
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settlement_type =County
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translit_lang1=Chinese
translit_lang1_type=Simplified
translit_lang1_info=阳朔县
translit_lang1_type1=Traditional
translit_lang1_info1=陽朔縣
translit_lang1_type2=Pinyin
translit_lang1_info2=Yángshuò Xiàn


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image_caption = The town of Yangshuo from a nearby karst peak. The Li River can be seen in the background. The Li River is visibly polluted at most times.


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map_caption = Yangshuo County in China


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = China
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Guangxi
subdivision_type2 = Prefecture
subdivision_name2 = Guilin
seat_type = County seat
seat = Yangshuo Town
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area_total_km2 =1428
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population_total =300000
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timezone = China Standard
utc_offset = +8
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latd=24 |latm= 47|lats= |latNS=N
longd=110 |longm=30 |longs= |longEW=E
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website =http://www.yangshuo.gov.cn/
footnotes = Yangshuo County (zh-stp |s=阳朔县 |t=陽朔縣 |p=Yángshuò Xiàn) is a county in Guilin, Guangxi Province, China. Its seat is located in Yangshuo Town. Surrounded by karst peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River (漓江) it is easily accessible by bus or by boat from nearby Guilin. Over the years, it has become popular with foreign backpackers.

Layout

The town borders the Li River on one side, and is situated on a small plain between a number of karst peaks. Two main roads run away from the water and form the central part of the town, "Chinese Street" ("Dei Chui Lu") and "West Street" (西街, "xi jie"). Most foreign-oriented businesses, such as hostels, hotels, rock climbing companies, restaurants and entertainment venues, are situated on West Street or the pedestrian only Xian Qian Street which runs between Chinese and West Street.

Activities

Visitors to Yangshuo can swim in the Li River or the cleaner Yu Long 遇龙河 (Dragon River), climb one of the many nearby karst peaks or hire a bicycle for a cycling trip through the karst scenery. Additionally, there is a butterfly cave near the town and a number of cave systems. Yangshuo is also China's foremost venue for rock climbing, with around 300 bolted routes and several companies offering guiding and equipment hire. With mountain biking and kayaking becoming more popular, Yangshuo is becoming an adventure sports centre as well as a stop on the traveller's trail.

Most of the original culture of the town has been absorbed into the tourist industry. For example, you can "rent" a fisherman with cormorants to watch him go fishing with them. You can also "rent" local women, in traditional ethnic dress, to pose for photographs.

Rock climbing

Rock climbing in Yangshuo was first put on the map by American climber Todd Skinner who visited in 1992 establishing a number of classic lines such as "Moonwalker" which traverses the famous Moon Hill arch.

Much of recent climbing history has been influenced by the establishment of the Australian owned company Chinaclimb in 2001. Other companies that have contributed include Karstclimber, X-Climber and Spiderman Climbing.

There are around 200 routes documented in the current edition of the Paul Collis Yangshuo climbing guidebook, a number that continues to grow almost daily. The majority of these routes have been established by visiting foreign climbers or expatriates residing close by. While most routes are single-pitch bolted sport climbing routes, a growing amount of multi-pitch sport routes are beginning to appear as climbers venture above the first anchor. There is also great potential for traditional climbing.

There are numerous locations to climb around the Yangshuo region, with most easily accessible either by hiring a bicycle, public bus or taxi-van. The most famous of these crags is Moon Hill with several 5.13 graded lines first climbed by American Todd Skinner in 1992. Other crags of note include Low Mountain, Twin Gates, Baby Frog, The Egg, Bamboo Grove and Wine Bottle cliff. All of these are well documented in Paul Collis' guidebook available in most climbing shops in Yangshuo.

Landmarks

*Li River
*Moon Hill
*Yulong River

ister cities

Yangshuo has city partnerships with the following cities and/or regions:
*flagicon|USA Since 1994: Morehead, Kentucky, United States
*flagicon|USA Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

Trivia

* Did you know that the picture on the back of the 20 yuan bill is taken at the Li River near Yangshou?

External links

*wikitravel
* [http://www.yangshuo.gov.cn/ Official website of Yangshuo County] [http://www.ianandwendy.com/OtherTrips/ChinaVietnamCambodia/China/Yangshuo/slideshow.htm Photo tour of Yangshuo and the Li River]
* [http://www.allchinanet.com/china_travel/guiling_gallery.shtml Photo Gallery of Guilin, Li River, Yangshuo Town, and Longsheng Terraced Rice Field]
* [http://www.chinabackpacker.info/dest/d1.html Yangshuo for backpackers]