China Is An Unusual Activity Holiday Destination

Although many of us are attracted to the Far East with its different languages and way of thinking, you wouldn’t immediately think of China as a place where you could go on an activity holiday. However, it seems a whole new area has opened up in the activity holiday trade for far eastern adventures.

One of the most popular areas in China for this sort of holiday is Yangshuo County. The town of Yangshuo lies in the northeast of Guangxi Province and to the southeast of Guilin City. It borders the famous Li River on one side, and is situated on a small plain between a number of karst peaks.

Yangshuo is China's foremost venue for rock climbing, with around 300 bolted routes and several companies offering guiding and equipment hire. The area is a draw for those who are bored of the hustle and bustle of city life, or want to have a breath of natural fresh air.

Much of the town's traditional culture has been absorbed into the tourist industry, and tourists can pay a fee to watch fishermen fishing with cormorants, hire local women in traditional ethnic dress to pose for photographs, or take classes in Chinese calligraphy, tea ceremony, or cooking.

There is not a shortage of things to do in the area. The hills close by are easily accessible for walking and climbing. The Li River is popular for both swimming and boat trips. The nearby Yu Long River is also a good place to enjoy swimming but it is also possible to take a bamboo raft down the river. Bike hire is very easy and a great way to see the town’s surroundings.

A relatively expensive but fabulous way to see the scenery is to go hot air ballooning. Flights are run to the highest balloon safety standards and are for 1 hour.

There are an abundance of caves riddling the limestone hills. Guided tours are available. More serious cavers should talk to the staff at the various climbing shops (listed above) for information about possible cave climbs.

If you would like to know more about China why not ask AnswerBank Travel.