Before nosotros had stepped pes inward Communist People's Republic of China nosotros had visions of big cities similar Shanghai as well as Beijing, smog, traffic as well as litter. Of course of report nosotros knew at that spot was a lot to a greater extent than to this vast nation, but nosotros weren’t just certain what. Our commencement impressions inward Shaxi actually made us start to realise how beautiful the ancient Chinese villages could be, as well as the UNESCO hot spot of Lijiang proved just how uncontrolled tourism could potentially ruin it. And at the run a peril of assuming every Chinese ancient hamlet is the same, nosotros decided to wander out to Chengyang anyway – a little town inward the Guangxi province, alone 2 hours from Guilin City.
What nosotros institute was a quaint, buc0l1c pearl, consummate alongside awe-inspiring current of air as well as pelting bridges, hitting drum towers, narrow alleyways filled alongside the odor of spices as well as a fascinating Dong ethnic minority culture. Chengyang did non disappoint.
The crown precious rock of Chengyang is the Wind as well as Rain Bridge. Built inward 1912 as well as stretching for over 64 metres, this brick as well as timber couplet is designed alongside the traditional Chinese trend that tin endure institute throughout the ancient region. At nighttime the Yongji Bridge lights upward inward spectacular fashion, glowing stunningly inward the night.
For those feeling active endure certain to climb upward the exceed of the colina on the ticket booth-side of the river for unopen to beautiful views over the valley. The hike alone takes nearly xx minutes to the exceed as well as isn’t strenuous. The vistas are completely worth it.
We too managed to fourth dimension our trip alongside a cultural feast that is held every month. On the commencement Sabbatum of the calendar month (though we’re non positive on this appointment every bit nosotros couldn’t respect a definitive response from locals), the Dong minority families larn together to stimulate got huge communal dinners inward the populace squares. For the cost of 60RMB nosotros could sample whatever of the hundreds of dishes prepared past times the women of the households inward Chengyang. Fried peppers, barbecued pork, sauteed vegetables as well as a host of unrecognisable meat were on offer. Afterwards traditional dances accept house on the phase as well as at that spot is enough of rice vino to consume. If you lot contend to endure inward town for this extravaganza, don’t missy it!
Chengyang was to a greater extent than than a pleasant stopover – it helped to brand us autumn inward honey alongside rural Communist People's Republic of China again. The cities as well as long carry betwixt destinations was chop-chop grinding us down, but existence lost inward the meandering alleys of this ancient Dong hamlet replenished our souls.
How To Get To Chengyang (程阳)
The hamlet of Chengyang is nearly a i sixty minutes motility from the town of Sanjiang (三江). If you lot are coming via prepare from Guilin, saltation on a local omnibus from exterior the prepare station to Sanjiang (it should cost nearly 4RMB) as well as rate the driver you lot are planning on going to Chengyang. He volition rate you lot when to larn off, which should likely endure at the omnibus station. But inward our illustration he dropped us off on a random street corner where the buses to Chengyang motility past. We ended upward having a minivan driver line over as well as offering us a ride to Chengyang for 10RMB, but nosotros heard the actual omnibus is 5-8RMB.
There are 2 omnibus stations inward Sanjiang – Hexi (河西) as well as Hedong (河东). You demand to larn to the Hexi omnibus station to larn to Chengyang.
The route to Chengyang is nether structure as well as quite bumpy. When completed it volition likely accept nearly xxx minutes or less, but for at nowadays it takes i hour.
How To Get To Sanjiang (三江)
You tin larn to Sanjiang inward a set out of ways, as well as past times omnibus it is linked to Liuzhou, Nanning, Guilin as well as Longsheng. These volition to a greater extent than than probable drib you lot off at the Hedong omnibus station inward Sanjiang, pregnant you lot demand to respect your agency to Hexi. The other agency is to accept a prepare from Guilin or Zhangjiajie. The ridiculously oversized as well as modern prepare station is nearly 10km exterior of town (and has been creating a flake of disputation lately, every bit you lot tin run into inward this BBC Travel article). From at that spot either accept the omnibus or a taxi into town.
The Entrance Fee To Chengyang
The cost for the entrance fee into Chengyang is 60RMB (30RMB for students). This supposedly goes to the upkeep as well as maintenance of the town, but inward all honesty it likely goes right away into the pockets of regime officials.
If you lot enquire the omnibus driver to accept you lot past times the Yongji Wind as well as Rain Bridge you lot tin avoid the entrance fee. Our minivan driver offered to produce this for us for 10RMB, as well as it worked without problem. He drove right away past times the ticket booth as well as dropped us off simply on the other side of the bridge. Once within you lot volition non endure asked to present your ticket, as well as you lot tin walk across the Yongji Wind as well as Rain Bridge without existence checked.
Note that the other bridges within Chengyang require donations or a little entrance fee to cross. These are supposedly run past times the locals as well as they are inward accuse of the upkeep.
Where To Stay In Chengyang
We met a friendly Chinese lady, Lusang, on the omnibus from the prepare station to Sanjiang as well as nosotros ended upward sticking past times her on the agency to Chengyang. It was her 2d fourth dimension to the hamlet as well as she supposedly knew of the best accommodation inward Chengyang. We set our organized faith inward her as well as nosotros were as well as hence glad nosotros did!
We ended upward staying at the Shanjian Guesthouse (山间客栈) which was upward on a colina overlooking the town. This house was exceed notch! It had the best sentiment of whatever accommodation inward all of Chengyang, comfortable beds, cook clean bathrooms as well as timber rooms total of character. The staff were lovely, all the same they didn’t utter whatever English. There is too a eating theatre on site as well as they serve delicious tea as well as inexpensive wine.
Shanjian Guesthouse (山间客栈)
- Phone – 13481996420 / 15347762620
- Price – 60RMB for a double room alongside a sentiment as well as somebody bathroom.
- Directions – When you lot larn over the Yongji Bridge plough correct as well as follow the route for nearly 50m. Follow the left route when it forks at Yang’s Guesthouse as well as walk unopen to other 20m or so. There volition endure a sign on your left as well as unopen to stairs running up. Follow those all the agency to the exceed as well as you lot volition orbit the Shanjian Guesthouse.
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