China Stop 4: Yangshuo

Got off the riverboat in the small town of Yangshuo which was nestled at the foothills of the mountains.  The town is quite popular with European and North American expats that have setup little shops, restaurants, and cafes.  We stayed right in the heart of town at the base of one of the walking/shopping streets.  That night, I was on a mission to find a winter coat in the market.  Luckily Yangshuo is also popular with rock climbers so the shops were filled with North Face and Columbia gear - either knockoffs or items that found their way out of the factory.  Price negotiation is mandatory and usually done with each party typing a number into the calculator.  You literally have to walk away from the deal in order to get the best price.  I had vendors actually chase me down the street.  In the end, I got the coat I wanted which originally started at 450 RMB (65 USD) down to 170 RMB (25 USD).  Either way, the same coat in the US would cost closer to 200 USD retail.

The next morning we went on a bicycle tour of the countryside.  Our guide lead us through small farms.  Along the way you could see many farms being converted over to resorts.  It was a nice way to end our tour.