Kayaking in Yangshuo

We knew that we had to spend more time in the water during our second full day in Yangshuo, so we organized a kayaking tour of a mellow tributary off of the main rivers. After getting fitted for the paddles and life jackets, we were off paddling through the mellow stream, feeling a bit of relief from the heat by the cool waters and shady trees on both sides.

We paddled past local fishermen, but besides that the only signs of life were the calls of birds and the chirping of insects all along the thick forest. It was incredibly beautiful, but even more novel was how serene and peaceful it was. China is a country full of many natural wonders, but it is a true rarity to take in these sights without crowds of people around you. It’s even more striking when you find yourself solely among nature, the only human company around you being your partner and your guide.

This is certainly a bit of luck on our part, but it also was strategic planning on the best time to explore the country. While the climate of most of China allows travel throughout much of the year, many places have quite chilly winters, and almost everywhere is very hot during the summer. Because of that, the best time to travel is generally the spring or fall. We had chosen late September in hopes that the weather had cooled off, and just before October 1st, which kicks off Golden Week - the busiest travel time in the country. We missed the cooler weather by about a week as much more moderate temps came to the region in early October, but we also missed the throngs of people, sold out accommodations, and packed train stations and airports that were sure to accompany the national holiday. It is probably unwise to expect to really have anywhere to yourself in a country of 1.5 billion people, and much of the excitement of a trip to China is the bustle and liveliness of the country. However, pick the right time and the right place to travel, and you just might be rewarded with a similarly priceless experience. I do not know when we will return to China, but we surely will, and when we do Yangshuo will absolutely be on our list again, only next time for more than two days.