Guilin: Yangshuo West Street/Xi Jie

Frequently referred to as 'Westerner Street' because of its popularity with Whitey, West Street/Xi Jie lies at the heart of what has become one of southern China’s tourism capitals. Within the last decade, Yangshuo has grown from a backpacker mecca to a large town. Much of the reason for this is money generated by the businesses on Xi Jie. Though visitors come to explore the truly stunning peaks around Yangshuo and cruise along the shimmering Lijiang River, the growing reputation of this town as a place to chill out and bed down has made it a fully fledged tourist attraction in its own right.

Aside from its location, Yangshuo’s charm lies in its cobbled streets, plentiful restaurants and convivial atmosphere. Although most of the original structures lining the pedestrian stretch of the street have been renovated or entirely rebuilt, they adhere to a traditional style that that first attracted outsiders to this remote corner of the world. Yangshuo first ‘peaked’ (hoo-ha) the interest of foreign rock climbers in the early nineties, but for centuries before that travellers were drawn here by the quiet serenity and simple beauty of this village on the riverside.

That Yangshuo is no more, as the flood of backpackers and climbers have brought with them a demand for lager, pizza and Philly cheese and steak sandwiches – just some of the fine foreign picnic that you can enjoy after a long, hard day of sightseeing.

As well as western cuisine, eateries such as the Meiyou Café have enlivened their menus with unusual local delicacies. Water rat, snake, cat and dog meat can all be bought and choked down if you have a craving for a little vermin. I advise you to stay away from the novelty menu and enjoy some of the freshwater fish and snails that the Lijiang River supplies in plenty. Many restaurants here display well-stocked tanks at the street side so you can select the healthiest looking fish for your dinner plate.

Not the quiet backwoods town of yesteryear, Yangshuo nevertheless has developed a new kind of charm. Backpackers today look upon the place as somewhere to indulge cravings for western food and late night revelry. It is still, however, the best place from which to explore the more rural parts of Guangxi province, including the limestone peaks on which the town's success was built.

Useful address: Meiyou Café, 86 Xi Jie, 西街86号.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 08/02/2009 14:57:23

Acctually, I don't like the Yangshuo West Street, also there are many bars as well as many restarants; But no special character.

But many scenic spot neaby Yangshuo is very good.

One is Rafting on Yulong (encounter a dragon) River
(Also known as “Little Li River”)
You will see these amazingly shaped hills on both sides of Yulong River as well. Yulong River is even better because you can cruise on bamboo-made private rafts with comfortable chairs and umbrellas.

Another I think is the YinZiYan (Silver Caver)
located 85 km south of Guilin, 25 km from Yangshuo county, is a splendid limestone cave.

Anyway, the West Street is the most famous one in Yangshuo.
I don't like shops there, similar small knock-off shops.
Meiyou Restaurant is the style I like.
There are a lot of activities you can do.
Rafting, caving, biking, climbing and cooking.
Yangshuo is a nice place for a vocation in nature.