Around The World In 72 Days - Li River Photo Spectacular

Maybe you have own or have seen some piece of art that looks like this.

If you have then, then let us suggest you come somewhere like this.

 

Welcome to our photographic exploration of China's Li River where we will have you screaming 'Li me alone' by the time you are done.

 When you are in China, nothing beats a break from the massive crowds then a nice bucolic ride down a river like the scenic Li.

Just you and the river, serenaded by the musical sound of your Chinese pitch woman (who never stops throughout your 4-hour journey).

"Stop with the sarcasm. Get on with the pictures."

Around The World In 72 Days - Guilin/Longji Rice Paddy Terraces

The Guilin-Yangshuo area is an 'A' list area known for its extreme physical beauty with a combination of exotic natural limestone carved mountains and ethereal mists. If you've ever seen Chinese water colors of the area, you know exactly what I'm talking about. They are quintessential art associated with China. Wife was very excited to have the opportunity to do some photo shooting here.

On Friday, we went to the Longji Rice Terraces. It takes a good hour and a half to drive from our base in Guilin to the Longji mountains where the rice paddy terraces are located. Various minority (non-Han Chinese) ethnic groups migrated to these hills after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty (ending in the mid-14th Century) to escape the chaos of the inter-dynasty times. To survive, the developed agriculture on the hill sides.

Our Guide - Bai Yi (or Lily). She was a wealth of information, sung us various folk and romantic songs, and was a GREAT restaurant recommender.

Some 'on the road' shots 

At Ye Olde Pit Stop

 

We reached our first stop before the mountain climb.

AGGH Tour Buses

 

 Our Pooh Lee Shah Guide team - "Didn't we tell you 'Private Tour' in China means only you and 10,000 others?"

 Obligatory Water Flowing Picture

Along the way we stopped for lunch at a local place noted for cooking rice and chicken in a traditional way. They put the food in a bamboo tube, seal it. Farmers took the uncooked food and cooked it over a fire so they had a meal while they were out doing work. (Details of this Meal will be in our Mega Gastronomy post).

 

Matriarch Proprietress of the restaurant

 The Proprietress in person with 2B

 This ethnic group was known for the women never cutting their hair.

What!

 They washed using a special shampoo. You take the water you use to clean rice. You let it rest and ferment for a week. Then you boil it. It is supposed to make your hair stay dark and lustrous and not get in all knots when washed.

 Special 'Comforter Cleaning' laundry shot

 We reach our stop before the last ascent up the mountain and see...

...MECCA!

 Clearly marked, accessible toilets

The road to the rice paddy terraces is very steep. The last section is done in electric golf cart type vehicles.

While this is a very picturesque area, the weather was not cooperative at all during our trip. We did the best we could under the circumstances.

Friendly fellow tourist from Sinkiang in Western China

 

Arriving at the base for viewing

Study of the Terrace Rice Paddies

Local Farmer

Local Farmer's Wife

Village Cemetery Decorated from Recent Ancestor Worship Holiday

 World Wide Web Special Feature

 SIGNS OF THE WORLD

I am not sure what a 'Warni Slippery Surface' is but I think it is dangerous.