Accommodation
You've got a big choice here. There are plenty of possibilities. Anything from the youth hostel to the 4 star hotel. Prices start from about 40 RMB for a double room.
Camping
Forget it, There is no camping ground here. And the hotels are so cheap.
The Prices
Cost of living in Yangshuo is very cheap for western standard. A few examples.
Double room with hot shower and TV 40 RMB
Big bottle of cold beer 10 RMB
Nice dinner 10 RMB
Food
My advice is forget buying it. Chinese cuisine is definetly world class. Just eat out and enjoy it.
Internet and Phone
Without the 'net you wouldn't be reading this - sadly this is 3 RMB an hour. If you are calling home, expect to spend about 4 RMB a minute.
Money
There are plenty of ATM's in Hongkong. Stock up on cash there. At the time of writing, there is no ATM in Yangshuo. We advise you to take some of the well-known Traveler cheques such as American Express in USD or Euros with you..
Travel information
Dozens of books have been published to cover this subject and we are not going to compete with them. Lonely Planet etc. are doing a good job and can be very helpful.
When to Come
The weather
Spring and fall are the best options with perfect conditions. July and August might get hot and humid (although not hotter than e.g. the climbing in Thailand), and in December and January, you can still climb if you are a tough guide.
Yangshuo is a fairly tropical environment, and many people compare the weather and the type of limestone cliffs to that in Thailand. The best time to come to Yangshuo for climbing is in the fall, winter and even the summer, in fact climbing is possible year round.
In general, August to November are the best months for climbing here (as well as the month of March in the spring), If you like colder weather climbing, December through February are good ... and for those of you who like it hot, May through July. Climbing in the rain is possible in several areas, even in the biggest downpours.
The crowds
Those of you who like to queue for routes should go to a different place. There are no crowds and you mostly can enjoy the whole crag on your own.
What to bring
Gear
I recommend bringing 14 quickdraws, 3 locking bingers, a couple of slings, a rope bag, a 60 m single rope, a harness, 2 pairs of shoes, chalk. The local climbing shops have gear for rent at reasonable prices.
Clothes
Shorts and T-shirts for the warm days and some long sleeved shirts and pants for the cool days. Bring some warm clothes for the evenings. A pair of sports candelas and maybe a pair of trekking shoes will do it. Don't take too much along. You can buy plenty of outdoor clothes at very cheap prices for Western standards. |
