"The Essence of China" Yangshou by wilocrek

The essence of China is not found in the streets of Beijing or the cosmopolitan modernism of Shanghai, rather its found in the wild, untamed beauty of Yangshou and the surrounding region. Richard Nixon once said of the region that it was the "Pearl of China" and while I might not of agree with his politics he was spot on with his assessment. The Yangshou region is beyond beautiful and surely must of been the inspiration for the movie "Avatar" In fact if you were to wake up suddenly in Yangshou you would surely think you were on another planet. With its legions of towering Karst peaks domniating the flat valley floors with the calm, serene Li River snaking its way around rock formations it would be easy to mistake this region for another world. Within its wild, untamed beauty that you will find the true essence of China. From floating gently down the Li River marveling at the towering Karst peaks to walking through the rice terraces of Longsheng, everything about China thats magically will be found here. There is something here for everyone to enjoy, from drifting lazily on a bamboo raft or biking through the flat farmland countryside, Yangshou offers beauty and relaxation on demand. To not spend a significant amount of time in this breathtaking region would be to miss out on the most authentic experience China has to offer.