China: A Cycle through the Countryside

Today's start was a relaxed 8:30. We took a minibus a short way, and then met Tanya, a funny little woman who was our guide for the day's cycling. They only had girls bikes but the seats were adjustable, which was nice!

Cycling along through the karsts really was lovely. The views were unrelenting, and it was pleasantly flat. The only problem was the heat; it was a good job we started earlyish, otherwise it really would have been too hot!

The first rice I've seen being grown here

After a while we started to cycle along a tributary of the Li river we had seen yesterday. It was really quiet, only the occasional traditional bamboo raft passing by, and the sound of an incredibly furry caterpillar which was the fastest one I've ever seen (it didn't actually make a sound, but it was super fast. So fast that by the time I'd stopped and got my phone out to take a picture it escaped!).

The basket was quite handy to stop my back from sweating! Good old girls bikes

That haunted looking house has a really nice view at least

A nice bit of colour in the foreground. The fastest caterpillar in the east was around here

We cycled until around 11, stopping at a cafe, where those of us who wanted had the chance to climb Moon Mountain, a famous landmark in the area that I'd seen on the internet before getting here. The only problem was over 1,000 steps. Alfredo, Del, Tina, and I took up the challenge.

It doesn't look so far away. If you squint...

If we had been in the sun, I might've died, as it was really beating down on us at this point (Del, with his strong Yang constitution would surely have fallen), but blessedly almost the whole way was through a bamboo forest. There was a lot of questionable signage (signs to the dresser/vanity, which we went to but never found out what it actually was, "no rock climbing, do it at your own risk" - which is it?! and the general poor English), and a few nice views along the way. It was harder than climbing up to the monastery in Emei, but worth it, as the arch was spectacular up close, and the views were glorious!

Only partway up but already the karsts seem to go on forever!

This is through the other side of the arch. It has lots of little stalagmites; I think it is preparing to eat tourists!

Hello from the other siiiiiide! It's still nice over here

Group selfie. Del suffers from not being able to control his face whilst taking a selfie like I do (or he lost his teeth on the way up), and Alfredo copied a man he saw and took his shirt off

I'm sorry everyone, I broke the law

Going down was much easier than going up, and we cycled 5 minutes to a nearby farmhouse/restaurant for lunch, before being delivered back to Yangshuo by minibus. We had come further than I thought as it was a 20 minute drive still!

In the afternoon there was the option of a ride on a bamboo raft, but I've already walked and cycled along the river so I chose to pass, especially since some of the 'bamboo' rafts are made from pvc! We are going on a day trip tomorrow too which is going to be a loooong day, so I'm happy to rest whilst I can!

Speaking of tomorrow, I don't want to try and join today's and tomorrow's posts as I feel it would be monstrously long. The only extras I have to pad this post out are some photos, so enjoy!