Yangshuo

Just an hour from Guilin by bus, Yangshuo has, along with Dali in Yunnan, become one of those legendary backpacker destinations that most travelers hear about long before they even set foot in China. Set amid gorgeous limestone pinnacles, it’s not as quaint as it once was, but Yangshuo is still a great laid-back base from which to explore small villages in the nearby countryside.

With its Western-style cafes, Hollywood movies, Bob Marley tunes and banana pancakes, Yangshuo may not seem like the ‘real China’, but who cares? It’s a great spot to relax, see the scenery and grab a good cup of coffee-the perfect antidote weeks or months on the road. Don’t make this your first or second stop coming from Hong Kong. Save it for after knocking around Guangzhou or Guangxi for a spell.