CORMORANTS FISHING IN GUILIN

The Chinese have used trained cormorants to fish the rivers and lakes for centuries. Visitors previously were able to see and photograph these birds and their owners fishing for free. No more, we had to pay to see a special demonstration of their fishing skills coupled with some singing from bamboo raft guide.

Yulong River, where the optional cormorants fishing package is located.

Bamboo rafts with seating for 8 await the tourists.

The real stars.

Symbiotic relationship.

YANGSHOU ATTRACTIONS

This fascinating spot of China has more limestone karsts than anywhere else we have been. It's a pity the tourism industry here take for granted that we are more interested in 'impression shows' than the natural karst landscape that we, foreign tourists don't get to see at home. We never got a chance to take some great shots of this unique picturesque landscape simply because the local tourist guide was instructed not to stop the coach or take us to elevated lookouts. I just tried my best to include the karsts into my shots wherever I can.

Shangrila Village

Swallow Lake.

Ethnic people look like the Proto-Malays of Malaysia

Totem.

300 hundred year old village, home to Zhuang, Miao, Yao and Dong minorities.

Peach blossoms lining the lakeside were scant in supply.

Minority elder fishing, paying little regard to our boat passing by.

Too many pesky tourists.

The show village at Shangrila.

At the show village you can observe the experts weaving their stuffs.

Note the new bridge built over the old one. 

Sheltered Bridge at Shangrila show village.

One of the places where one can embark on a river cruise.

Riverscape from Green Lotus Peak or Jianshan Hill.

Your guess is as good as mine, what's he doing?

Harvest from the nearby Li River.

A rare sight elsewhere but not in Yangshou, mobile barber. 

Yangshou from our hotel room window.

Li River cruise in the rain. Disappointing? Look at the layers of mountains which you won't get on a sunny day.