A. Introduction
This is a first hand experience and written from my perspective. Of course before choosing the destinations, some homework has to be done to piece the trip together like making the normal travel bookings online, applying for travel visa, planning the itinerary and then setting out with anticipated discovery.
B. Duration of trip : 7 nights & 8 days
1. Day 1
1.1 By air from Kuala Lumpur to Guilin1.2 Guilin to Crown Cave in Guanyan
Crown Cave is the largest limestone cave and to get into the cave you ride on a Slider which is a single motorized rail cart with a manual lever. You operate the lever to accelerate or stop.
Once you get inside after a ride of 5 minutes, you will meet with the guide who takes you for the cave tour lasting about an hour.
1.2 Guanyan to Xingping
The Li river flows from here to Xingping & the single motorized boat ride from here is pleasant where get breadthtaking views of the hills & karsts along the way.
"This Old Place", an international youth hostel is within walking distance from the harbour. It has nice accommodation & a scenic riverside view. The limestone hills form a picturesque backdrop for catching the sunset.
Watch comorant fishing by the riverside & see the birds at work.
To catch the sunrise, book a boat ride from the harbour at 5.30am to a strategic spot by the riverside and wait for the rising sun. As the embankment is quite compact, the better spots are quickly occupied by the avid photographers who came early to book their spots.
It is also pleasant to stroll along the alleys & watch the locals start their day in Xingping.
2. Day 2
2.1 Xingping to Yangshuo
If you want to enjoy nature & see more majestic formations of the limestone karsts, take a boat ride from Xingping to Yangshuo. Get your camera ready & capture those scenic moments.
Once there, rent a bicycle & a guide and explore the many interesting places like the Giant Banyan Tree, the Moon Cave, Yulong river bamboo rapids and also stop at various points to see the interesting rock formations, each taking the shape of the myths & legends of this area.
At night, catch the majestic & magnificent performance of Li San Chie with the casts of thousands & enjoy the artistic displays of songs, dances & colours. It is an awesome visual & audio feast.
3. Day 3
3.1 Train ride from Guilin to Huaihua
To get to the next destination involves hours of travelling & the train provides the main mode of transportation here.
It takes 10 hours from Guilin to Huai Hua. Make a nightstop at Huaihua when you arrive there.
4. Day 4
4.1 From Huaihua to Fenghuang
From Huaihua, take the bus to Fenghuang
Fenghuang is a quaint town build around a river. It looks pristine with cobbled streets and alleys with colourful shops selling the local fares & handicrafts. It is charming with food peddlers lining the street with their local delicacies. At night it turns into a fairyland with the myriads of lights. The views along the river are just magical & the night life begins with the many pubs & bars raising their volume to draw in the many tourists.
5. Day 5
5.1 From Fenghuang to Huaihua
5.2 From Huaihua to Zhouyuan
Zhouyuan is a serene & tranquil town by the river. The view is breadthtaking with the vertical limestone backdrop on one side and the Quilong cave on the opposite. The Quilong Cave is a splendid architectural masterpiece that integrates the natural cave with manmade pavillions that offers commanding views of the riverside town.
6. Day 6
6.1 From Zhouyuan to Lautun
Lautun is a small town with rice fields and a gentle river flowing through it.The Sister Meal Festival is celebrated once a year at end April. The whole town is filled with festivities with programs like rice field fishing, folk dancing and the womenfolks turned out in full force adorning their colourful traditional costumes complete with headdresses and silver-like accessories.This festival is the time when the single women in the village get the opportunity to meet the eligible men and start a relationship leading to marriage.
As Lautun is 2 hours away from the nearest hotel, it is advisable to have a homestay with the locals. This comes with basic accommodation with a dinner meal. Water supply comes from the well for cooking. For other utilities, the river is the source. The family we stayed with are hospitable and friendly.
7. Day 7
7.1 From Lautun to Shidong
7.2 From Shidong to Kaili
7.2 From Kaili to Guiyang
Spent the night in Guiyang to take the morning flight to Guangzhou.
8. Day 8
8.1 Guiyang to Guangzhou
Visit the wholesalers market at Haizhu
8.2 Take the night flight to Kuala Lumpur
C. Moving around
1. Guilin to Crown Cave - Taxi Y200 for 2 : 2 hours
2. Guanyang to Xingping - Boat Y200 for 2 : 1.5 hours
3. Xingping to Yangshuo- Boat Y200 for 2 : 1.5 hours
4. Yangshuo to Guilin - Bus 1.5 Y30 for 2 : 2 hours
5. Guilin to Huaihua - Train 10 hrs K651 (Y110 for 2) 1330hrs to 0030hrs
6. Night stay at Huaihua
7. Bus to Fenghuang - Bus Y66 for 2 : 2.5 hours
8. Fenghuang to Huaihua - Bus Y66 for 2 : 2.5hrs
9. Huaihua to Zhouyuan - train Y34 for 2 : 3 hours
10. Zhouyuan to Lautun - by taxi Y120 : 1hr
11. Lautun to Shidong - 5 min by car
12. Shidong to Kaili - Bus Y44 for 2 : 2.5 hours
13. Kaili to Guiyang - Bus Y100 for 2 : 3 hours
14. Guiyang to Guangzhou - Flight : 1.2 hours
15. Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur : 4 hours
D. Accommodation
1. Xingping - "This Old Place" : Y180
2. Yangshuo - "Tribal Inn" : Y130
3. Huaihua - Great Grand Hotel : Y150
4. Fenghuang - International Youth Hostel : Y120
5. Zhouyuan - "Six River Hotel" : Y140
6. Lautun - Homestay : Y120
7. Guiyang - Homytel : Y 200
E. Tips when taking the train
1. Be patient. There's always a queue in China!
2. At the depature hall, some people will jump over chairs just to get ahead.
3. When the gate opens, there will be a surge towards the platform.
4. Check your car or cabin number. Once inside, look for your seat.
5. It's common to find other people straddling your seats. Ask politely first but if they refuse to budge, raise your voice or get the attention of the conductor.
6. For long hauls, be prepared to bring food in case you get hungry. Stock up water too but drink less if you want to avoid going to the toilet because you have a sensitive nose.
7. If you are a non-smoker, you may catch some stealing a puff inside but you have the right to point them to the smoking area.
8. If you embark at the first station you may get a seat easily. If your station is a connecting one, it's all about seat availability. Sometimes no rush, no seat!
9. Every now & then, the staff will move up & down the aisel selling food. If you can, wait to buy before the last stop when the fruit prices go down by 50%.
10. Your seats are shared with 5 others or 3 others depending on which you are assigned.
11. If you are a foreigner & don't speak the local Chinese dialect, then what you can do is stare out of the window because you can't engage in a conversation!
12. Better still, just read!
13. If you observe closely, the Chinese have strong teeth. They bite into sugarcane & melon seeds & as quickly spit them out leaving quite a mess behind.
14. The good thing is that the train janitor will be busy sweeping & mopping when the dirt gets thick.
15. I still don't understand till now why guys need to get their ticket stamped as they enter the departure hall.
16. You may want to get a sleeping berth but that's another story because I did not get the chance to experience it.
17. What about the premiums seats you might ask but I was told there were none.
18. Whatever the situation, you just need to get to your destinations when they are not accessible by flight. So by train will you travel!
