Xingping town

Xingping Old Street: The historic sites here can be found in Xingping Old Street and Fishing Village about 2 km (1.3 miles) from the town. Xingping Old Street is a one-kilometer long stone street lined with old brick buildings and assembly halls like those of many different provinces. The old banyan tree, which needs as many as eight people's outstretched arms to encircle it, and Guandi (General Guan Yu) Temple which was built in the Qing Dynasty both tell the long history of the town.

Nine-horse Mural Cliff: It is a famous place you can see when cruising the Li river.This hill is named because of the natural shape resembles nine horses in different positions on the cliff. There is a beautiful legend about the horses on the mountain: It is said that a herdsman from the heaven who brought his horses to Lijiang River. It is so happened that an artist saw those horses and wanted to draw them. Unfortunately, the horses were so scared of him that they ran into the cliff and never came out again. People say that it is hard to point out the exact image for each horse because the horses were from heaven. It is also said that anyone who can recognize all nine horses will be the Number One Scholar. This place has always been popular with poets, scholars, painters and travelers. For instance the famous scholar Ruan Yuan in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) visited here five times when he was the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. Premier Zhou Enlai also visited here and it is reported that he was able to recognize and identify all of the nine horses. Perhaps on your visit to Mural Hill you might also be able to identify all nine horses and be the next Number One Scholar. It is really a place worths appreciating.

Fishing Village: When the former US president Bill Clinton and his wife visited here, they highly praised the village and were deeply attracted by the residences. This old village is a great place to go and see the way that local people used to live their lives before their town became world famous. Rich in culture and tradition, you can see all that Yangshuo used to be. Grandparents taking care of the kids, mothers washing in the river and fathers maintaining the town or working in the fields. 4 kilometers from the centre of town, you feel like you have actually stepped back about 100 years in time.

Yellow Cloth Shoal : The Yellow Cloth Shoal lies about 60 kilometers away from Guilin city. It's about 500 meters downstream southward from the Mural Hill. Peaks are steep and the river is wide and quiet and a huge yellow flagstone lying under the still waters can easily be seen. The area gets its name from the huge flagstone at the bottom of the shoal.

It has become very attractive to tourists because the water here is extremely clear and calm and is a natural mirror making perfect images of the peaks in this area. The Shoal is escorted by seven peaks at both sides of the Li River resembling seven fairy ladies. A legend tells that the seven peaks are fairy girls from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene, they stayed here and become the peaks .Green bamboo, lofty peaks and the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular scene.

Many Chinese paintings and poems use these scenes and tourists run out of films for their cameras. This is the best place to appreciate the reflection of the peaks in the water. .

- Pomeloes: First introduced to this area around three hundred years ago at the end of the Ming Dynasty, this highly visible fruit is slightly larger than a western grapefruit. In addition it peels very easily and is much sweeter than you might expect. While they become ripe in October, try to choose an old tree for the very best tasting examples.

- Oranges: A local variety, favored in and around Baisha town, look for glowing colors and shiny rinds, especially when they come into season in November.

- Horse Chestnuts: Anybody visiting Jin Bao Town during October is in for a very special surprise. Try them fresh, roasted in charcoal or perhaps stuffed into a succulent duck's breast.

- Persimmon: Westerners might find this fruit sickly sweet if eaten fresh. Alternatively wait until winter when your can try the pressed, sun-dried version which is much tastier. Also popular in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural cure for indigestion.

Local Handicrafts

- Fans: Hand-painted, decorative fans are one of the most popular souvenirs to take home, especially for those visiting Fan Street in Fuli, where many local artisans specialize in this ancient art. - Chinese Landscape Painting: Yangshuo has always been a magnet for painters and a very definitive style has evolved over the years. Who could head home without at least a couple of delicately brushed scrolls in their case to liven up the office wall? - Embroidered Decorative Balls: Hugely popular in Japan where they are known as Temari, these delicate balls of thread actually originated in China. Sometimes made for ornamentation, the Zhuang people usually used them as love tokens

- Chinese Landscape Painting: Yangshuo has always been a magnet for painters and a very definitive style has evolved over the years. Who could head home without at least a couple of delicately brushed scrolls in their case to liven up the office wall? - Embroidered Decorative Balls: Hugely popular in Japan where they are known as Temari, these delicate balls of thread actually originated in China. Sometimes made for ornamentation, the Zhuang people usually used them as love tokens

Market days Xingping:3, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19, 23, 26 and 29 of every month