4.0Yulong Bridge(174 reviews) - Remarkable bridge construction Bridges
Best viewed from bamboo raft on the river which we did, really cheerful and good energy by all the boatman and their passengers. Note the one boatman on his cell. An entire family are having lunch on their bamboo raft seated at a table with benches. So very social and friendly. One girl called out from another raft "where you from" due to my size and obviously a foreigner" "South Africa" I replied, "Wow" she said.See more..
I wouldn't visit from Guilin, but from the rice terraces it was worthwhile. I stayed two nights, but one night would've been enough if you leave the next day later in the afternoon. The bridge is best enjoyed early morning or at night without the chaos of salesladies and tourists. The villages were pleaant to wander around, though I felt really intrusive as a tourist. The Dong minority performances (3x daily, they get you to take a sip of baijiu at the beginning which you tip them for, most gave 10rmb) was interesting. Getting there: From Pingan (Dazhai would work too) I took a bus to Longsheng (10rmb) then another bus to Sanjiang (19rmb). At Sanjiang east bus station (he dong) there are minivan drivers outside who repeat "chengyang qiao" and will likely approach you if you look like a traveler. One charged 60rmb for 2 people but wouldn't go lower than 50rmb for 1. I ended up going with a driver for 80rmb (ticket "included") who transferred me to another driver at the very end who got me in without buying an official ticket, but who provided me with an old ticket (I was adament ahout wanting a ticket just in case, but no one ever asked for it). That driver helped me get a room for 50 rmb at Yang Yang Lv Guan (call Mr Yang2 136-7780-4018, no English), to the right side of Long Feng Hotel (80rmb). I bargained to a better room for the same price (instead of 60rmb) by staying two nights. Pleasant twin room with a nice view of village roofs and mountains, so-so bathroom, but I did see a roach taking shelter on the wall one night when it rained buckets outside. Going back to Sanjiang, I caught one of the local minivans for 10rmb though it should've been 6rmb. Buses from Sanjiang go to Nanning too, but i caught one to Guilin for 50rmb.See more..
4.5Fuli Bridge(88 reviews) - Peaceful and lesser known Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bridges
This isn't much of a tourist attraction, so there won't be many big tourist bus and hoards of tourist. It is nested in a smaller village, basically the bridge is over 500 years old and not restored, which makes it good for photo taking. It is popular among wedding couples for their photo shoots. The water was calm and most parts were clear that you could see water plants and small fishes. Price for bamboo rafting was on the high side, 300rmb for 4 people, up stream and down, probably takes an hour and over. We had a nice and patient boatman, and we even took over and did some rafting ourselves too, which was fun for the kids. After this is done, we proceeded to Jiu Xian village which is also one of the older and not much restored village.See more..
3.5Guilin Jiefang Bridge(64 reviews) - more interesting than it looks Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bridges
Worth a stop on a walk around guilin. Early morning swimmers plough up and down apparently ignoring the tourist boats hammering up and down. People fishing on the banks and off the bridge itself occasionally, on a hot night there is always a cool breeze.See more..
