Xingping Town, Guangxi, China

5kewal d 5:00 PM Feb 16, 2020

Place of 20yuan scenary
Recommended to visit. River, karst mountain, clear blue sky make up the best time to visit xingping. Place is extremely famous for sunset and fisherman tour. Must visit.

4SOH KIEN PENG 5:00 PM Sep 12, 2016

Scenic and quaint
I set aside one day for this trip to Xing Ping. Early morning, I took bus no. 5 from Yangshuo North Bus Station which was just across the street from my hotel and alighted at Yangshuo South Station (bus fare only RMB1). I then walked across the street and took the little blue bus with the signboard on the bus screen that stated 兴坪 (Xingping in Chinese) for the old town. The bus fare cost RMB10 and the journey took about an hour to reach the town. Upon alighting at the old town, we head towards the quay. The view at the quay was stunning especially as the morning sunlight flooded the area where the many motorized bamboo rafts and launches berthed by the harbor front. The meandering Li River shimmered and sparkled in the lovely sunlight and the scenic karst mountains at the background unveiled like a picturesque painting along the long stretch of the river. It was a beautiful sight. Beside the quay was the Laozhai Mountain and I was hoping to hike up to the summit to get a more gorgeous panoramic view of Xingping. But the steps were uneven and there was no railing to hold onto. I gave up eventually and settled with equally stunning views of the Li River which were taken from the pavilion near the base of the mountain. From the quay, I walked a distance (about 100 m) across a bridge to the `RMB 20 note' view points. The scenery was fantastic but there were only two to three such view points overlooking the gorgeous river view of the karst mountain scenery. These view points were run by private photography operators. While the operators would not stop you from taking the scenery, many visitors crowd at these view points for photographs to be taken and you have to wait for the right opportunity and timing to take your own photographs. From the 20 RMB note view points, I walked further down the street and there was another quay where a long queue of visitors were waiting to board the bamboo rafts down the Li River. There was a broad walk for visitors to view the river side view. This is the place with one of the most breathtaking views of the Li River. I wandered along the broad walk finding the focus point and best angle to take photographs of the riverside scenery. From here, I decided to walk to the Nine Horse Mural Hill. It took me more than an hour to walk my way to the Mural Hill. It was a relaxed stroll along the Li River. I loved the walk. The atmosphere was tranquil and calm. There was a concrete pathway where you can easily walk all the way from the quay to Nine Horse Mural Hill. The river side view along this stretch of walkway was equally fascinating. You could see the many bamboo rafts rattling with their outboard engines along the meandering Li River and the karst mountains loom high along the way. You have to get the ferry to transport you across to the other side of the river in order to have a solid wholesome view of the Mural Hill and to continue the journey up to Yangdi. You need to cross the river thrice if you would to continue your hiking up all the way to Yangdi. I did not venture further. From Xingping to the Mural Hill, there is no need for any ferry crossing. It took me another hour to walk back the same route to where I commenced. From the quay, I walked back to Xingping town and strolled through the short pedestrian street in the old town flooded with rows of shops selling souvenirs on both side of the short street. The preserved dwellings in this old town street were really that ancient. I understand that the houses were built a thousand years ago. We visited the opera house and appreciated the intricate design of such ancient houses. My wife was delighted to find some souvenirs she liked. The price here seemed to be cheaper than that in Guilin and Yangshuo. We had our delicious `wanton noodles' lunch at a local restaurant here before we returned to Yangshuo. Xing Ping is a quaint old town with scenic views and engulfed in an atmosphere of tranquility and calmness.