Travels in Yangshou: Bamboo Rafting and Yangshou at Night – Redo

Last post I talked about our subpar experience on a bamboo raft and overstimulating night out in Yangshou; well, our last full day, we were given an unexpected chance to do it again.

We set out that morning with the sun shining overhead, our first sunny day of our four-day stay. Our destination was a 30-minute Didi ride away, to Fuli Ancient Town, also on the Li River, but further east from where we stayed. Our hotelier told us that there is a popular market but it was closed that day, and looked at us quizzically when we said we would go anyway. We arrived at a hotel parking lot, and saw a tour group, so we followed them to the river, and lo and behold, we saw more bamboo rafts.

These, as you can see have more seating as well as roofs, and also electric motors. We thought, the sun is out, no one was in line, let’s try this again. So we hurried while the tour group was milling about, paid the ticket cost, which was only 20 Yuan more than we paid for just one of us on the original bamboo rafting excursion. Our rafter was much nicer, made sure we didn’t hit our heads on the roof, gave us our life jackets, and we were off. Plus, we could ride together!

The electric engine was quiet, and we were the only boat on the water for a great while. It was so peaceful and serene, and we waved at some fishermen on the shore.

We passed many of the karst mountains, with all the green shining so brightly on the sunny day. The weather and calmness of the water, along with the lack of fellow rafters, really added to the improved experience.

We weren’t sure if this was a one-way trip and we would be dropped off further down river, or if we would turn around, but we were along for the ride either way. Though after about 30 minutes on the water, our rafter turned us around, and we headed back. Past the tour group, split up on seven rafts, and we waved hello as they passed. It was just as calm and relaxing on the return trip, and we made it back to the starting point.

Once back on land, we bought some waters, bananas, and ice cream for a snack by the river, under a huge Banyan tree and near some really pretty bougainvilleas.

We saw some other tourists taking pictures near the dock, and saw a dirt path that led into some woods. We had really wanted to find a nature walk while in Yangshou, so we followed the dirt path, which quickly opened up to green fields, karst mountains in the background, and even yaks munching on grass.

A few electric bikes passed us along the way, and we saw some people on the other side of the stream, but it was not crossable. It wasn’t even on the map, because Amaps told us we could cross it to get to the road; but alas we had to walk back from whence we came.

We said goodbye to the beautiful scenic area, and walked back through the town, to the main road. It was not much of a town, to be fair, which the pictures below convey. Once back to the main road, we caught a Didi back to the hotel.

It was dusk when we returned, and there was just enough light to take an hour or so walk from our hotel, along the river, and back, so we did.

It was a cool evening, and with night approaching there were much fewer scooters, so we could actually enjoy the walk and not have to listen to honking.

Eventually we needed the flashlight, narrowly avoided some big puddles, and made it back to the hotel. A fun trip overall, with a great final day to make it memorable, in Yangshou. Next stop, Guilin!