| Action Asia: Adventure Capitals - All-star karst Monday 31 March 2008 Adventure Capitals - All-star karst For those that want to do more than sit and gaze at the classically
Chinese landscape of Guangxi province, this little town has all the answers Victor Paul The fairytale clusters of karst in eastern Guangxi province make it an
archetypal Chinese destination and one that attracts tourists by the busload.
The city of Guilin is the centre of this tourism, but those looking for a more
active experience turn instead to the south, to the much smaller town of Yangshuo, where a burgeoning adventure scene has developed over the last decade. Thousands of tourists pass through Yangshuo daily - mostly Chinese
day-trippers who arrive in boats from Guilin 80km upriver - but these are of
little consequence to adventurous types as most tourists travel in groups
around a limited circuit, making them easy to avoid. Indeed, cycle 15 minutes
out of town, and you'll find empty gravel roads and farmers' paths meandering
beside rice paddies, connecting small quaint villages. These trails are great
for hiking and cycling, while the rockfaces looming above will excite even
seasoned climbers. The area's mass tourism appeal has meant that the infrastructure is
good though. West Street, the pedestrian-only heart of the small town, is lined
with hotels, shops, restaurants, bars and travel agencies, and thronged all day
by tourists. They visitors come from far and w...
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