POINTS OF INTEREST NOTES
DATE: 4/3/2007
LOCATION: YangShuo, Guilin, China
NAME: YulongHe bamboo raft trip
ENTRY COST: 100 RMB per person
RATING: 3
1 – Avoid, 2 – OK if nothing better to do, 3 – Worth seeing, 4 – Worth special trip, 5 – DO NOT MISS!
DESCRIPTION: The local river transportation is by bamboo rafts called zhu fa’s. These ingenious little crafts use the buoyant nature of bamboo lashed together to form a thin but trusty raft. After lashing together a platform is built on the top for a seat and the ends are curved up by heating the bamboo over a fire. Once completed they can be paddled or poled along the river.
While all this may not sound too exciting, it is actually a pleasant, and at times, thrilling trip. It is pleasant because of the wonderful Karst peaks scenery and the singing of the boat drivers. It is thrilling because at numerous points along the river there are small dams. As you cascade over the dam and down into the water at the bottom you understand why the ends are curved up. As long as you lift your feet as you sit in your chair on the platform, you stay mostly dry.
OTHER COMMENTS: At various points along the river, short stops at vendor stalls allow you to purchase refreshments or the odd crafts product.
As you go over the dams, you are photographed by a vendor who will sell you a laminated picture of your adventure for 10-20 RMB (negotiable).
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