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From Wikitravel

Karst mountains around Xingping

Xingping is a town within Guangxi Province, China. It is located approximately 27 kilometers upstream from Yangshuo on the Li River. The town was initially settled in 265 AD, and was the regional centre for Yangshuo County until Yangshuo was settled in 590 AD. Like Yangshuo, Xingping is surrounded by great examples of Karst scenery, with one particularly prominent peak overlooking the village from the southern end of the shoreline against the Yi River, which is topped with a lookout which can be climbed too with relative ease by those with an adventurous spirit and a head for heights.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By bus

• Minibuses from Yangshuo can take you into Xingping for ￥5.50. These buses leave the main bus terminal in Yangshuo up until 7PM.
• Tourist boats visit Xingping from Yangshuo regularly, and passage can be arranged on one of these boats, if you'd prefer a more scenic route.

[edit] Get around

The majority of Xingping is relatively flat, with the exception of the peaks surrounding, and can be easily accessed on foot. This is the preferred option within the town itself, and it can be transversed in about fifteen minutes.

Alternately, some stores in town can arrange bicycle hire if you would prefer to cycle around and see the area. However, the few places to rent bicycles (there is one place across the street from the bus station, and a few hotels, and the hostel, This Old Place), often rent out bikes in bad shape. All bikes should be checked before renting.

Consequently, trails and country roads are difficult to navigate on the measly land cruisers offered.

[edit][add listing] See

Typical Xingping street

• Bird's View Pavilion, (From the Southern end of the waterfront, walk towards the Japanese Gardens and then follow the walkway). This pavilion, perched on the Karst peak on the Southern end of the waterfront on the Yi River gives a spectacular view of both the town of Xingping and the distinctive surrounding scenery. The climb is a bit challenging in sections, and comprises of 1159 steps taking you to an altitude of 220 metres above the town. The small pavilion at the end of the climb is a welcome spot to relax, although the habitual dropping of rubbish is quite noticeable in the immediate area surrounding it. Views further south on the river are possible by scrambling over the rocks behind the pavilion near the telephone tower, but this can be quite slick and risky and is not recommended unless you are quite at home on rocks and at heights. Free.  edit
• ¥20 Point, (10 minutes walk). The landscape on the ¥20 note is just outside Xingping, You may think that the Chinese are looking for money from you when really they are pointing this out. You can take a photo from the exact same spot as this picture. Free  edit
• Lotus Cave, (30 minute bicycle ride North from Xingping). While not a great cave to explore (any cave in the Yangshuo/Guilin area is much better), the bicycle ride to and from is quite pleasant. Relatively free of traffic, and well-paved by GuangXi standards, Lotus cave is locate on the southeastern edge of a beautiful valley. 45RMB/person  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Li River Boat Trip. Take a boat trip along the most famous parts of the Li River for an hour and a half. These small boats are much more enjoyable that the large cruise ships that cruise by and far cheaper. Bargin hard. ¥80 for 2 people.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are a number of semi-permanent market stalls near the waterfront, all selling quite similar goods - pashmina scarfs, jade sculptures, books with photos from the Yi River, etc. As tourist traffic from Yangshuo increases, expect these savvy marketeers to start inflating their prices to match. Good bargains can be had, as with most of China, but only by those who educate themselves on the real value of the goods, and who have the skill and experience to haggle for the right price.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• This Old Place Cafe, (Walk up the main street from the waterfront until the first intersection - take the left and then the first right). This cafe, which is linked to the Hostel by the same name, offers a good range of Chinese traditional dishes, as well as some more Westernised versions (like Sweet & Sour Chicken without bones!). The staff are extremely attentive, lovely and go out of their way to make you comfortable and welcome. And interesting feature of this restaurant is the pond and washbasin between the bar and the bathrooms which is open to the sky - very unique and cool.  edit
• Love Landscape Restaurant, Rongtan St. (betwixt the bus station and This Old Place). An interesting little place with a limited English menu, LLR has very few vegetable dishes, but quite a few beef, chicken, or pork dishes. What is memorable about this place, though, is twofold. Firstly, just in front of the restaurant on a little patio, the management keeps live animals for consumption, including, but not limited to, Li Jiang fish, quail, chickens, ducks, and bamboo rats. Secondly, try their Snake wine, which is sitting in a huge jug also on the front porch, for just 5 yuan/glass.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Local Guangxi LiQuan beer should cost about 4 or 5 kuai in local stores

• Local Jiu Place, Rongtan St (Literally 3 or 4 doors up the street from This Old Place). Sells local Osmanthus wine (of varying strengths) for very little money. The extremely nice sales girl even speaks a little English and offers a couple of free tastes from the large jugs.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• This Old Place Hostel, 5 Rongtan St (From the waterfront, head up the main street (Rongtan St) - it is located on the left after the small rise), ☎ +86 773 8702887 (topxingping@gmail.com), [1]. checkout: 12 Midday. This hostel, located a short distance from the Yi River, is a great find. The staff are amazing, and speak great English, are very personable, friendly and welcoming. The rooms are a little small (at least the dorms), but are quite comfortable. Larger double rooms, with river or mountain views, are available for a higher rate. A small kitchen offers wood-fired pizzas (￥38) for dinner, which both warms the room on cool nights and is a welcome bit of comfort food when so far from home. This hostel is a member of Hostelling International, and discounts are available for members. From ￥30 for Dormitory beds.  edit

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

• Yangshuo - A very popular town on the Li River, full of foreign and Chinese tourists, bars, restaurants and in the middle of some beautiful karst scenery.

Take note that even though it is in between Yangshuo and Guilin, buses to Guilin always by-pass Yangshuo first. There are no buses that go directly to Guilin from Xingping. Bus fares to Guilin via Yangshuo usually cost 15.5Y.