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Location Date India 1369436400 South Korea 1367190000 China 
1366412400 -
Location Date Shanghai 1366412400 Kashi(Kaxgar) 1365807600 Xi'an 1364601600 Chongqing 1364169600 Jiuzhaigou 1363564800 Chengdu 1363305600 Lijiang 1362614400 Dali 1362268800 Yangshuo
1361836800 Guilin 1361318400 -
Location Date Tue, 26 February 2013 1361879123 Fri, 22 February 2013
1361510011
Our first independent Chinese inter city transit experience: Guilin to Yangshuo
Mr Lonely planet said that mini buses could be found at the train station or regular coaches at the bus station. We elected to go for the mini busses, as Alana tried to explain in a semi comprehensive conversation with the taxi driver telling us that "trains don't go to Yangshuo".
On arrival at the station we transformed our hybrid packs into backpack mode and sat down for a bowl of congee (boiled rice soup) as we planned our next move. We found a lady shouting "Yangshou!" who turned out to be a taxi driver. After her initial disappointment she pointed us in the right direction, and minutes later we we running across a freeway onto a waiting bus at the instruction of a coach organiser (and the amusement of many...).
Now we are sitting on a half full bus watching Chinese music videos (complete with singing passengers) while the bus lady hollers "Yangshuo!" out the window to passers by and the driver steadily works his way through a pack of cigarettes. Classic.
Bring on Yangshuo!
- comments
Dad The photos look absolutely great. It was good to hear that you are learning to sing Chinese songs with the locals on the bus. Soon you'll be feeling right at home. However, I am curious to know what language Alana is communicating in; is it in Mandarin, or is it in Cantonese (I am assuming the local language is Cantonese since you are still a long way south. Also, are you in the remote cities yet, or are there still lots of foreigners about? Keep on enjoying the travel.
Nee bahahah the bus sounds funny. love you.
Aidan Guilin and Yangshuo are fairly touristy, with mostly Chinese tourists at this time of year. As Opa said, there are many different dialects including Cantonese (or variations of), but most of the locals can speak Mandarin. The accents change considerably so it is still hard work communicating. This is all according to Alana of course... the two most important phrases that I have learned are "xie xie" (thank you) and "bu yao" (don't want)!
KG CLASSIC!! I want to go to China now :)