“Before the tourists got word” many describe Xingping as the Yangshuo of 15 years ago. Xingping is an ancient town with a history stretching back over 1730 years. Today we will explore the charm of Xingping.
Xingping sits in Guilin near the Li River. It is surrounded by enthralling scenery. Mural Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal enhance this scenic area.
Once Xingping was the largest town along the Li River. It lies 63 km from Guilin and 25 km from Yangshuo. Hills surround Xingping. Wuzhi or Five Fingers Hill stands guard. Sengni Hill resembles a monk and a nun arguing. Chaoban Hill looks like a tablet held by ancient court officials. Arhat Hill appears as a smiling monk. Carp Hill and Snail Hill reside to the south. Bijia or Pen Holder Hill and Belle Peak sit to the west. Camel Hill looks like a camel crossing the river to the north.
Let’s discover Xingping’s historic sites. We can find them on Xingping Old Street and in Fishing Village. They are about 2 km from the town. The old street stretches one kilometer. Old brick buildings and assembly halls line the stone street.
An old banyan tree stands here. It needs eight people to encircle it. The Guandi Temple built during the Qing Dynasty tells Xingping’s long history.
Fishing Village has a history of nearly 500 years. It shows the architectural style of northern Guangxi Province during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The houses match those in Xingping. They feature horse head walls and flying eaves. Painted rafters and carved windows add to their charm. Bill Clinton and his wife visited here. They praised the village’s simple beauty.
Fishermen in Xingping use cormorants to catch fish. They use bamboo rafts instead of wooden boats. They tie a noose around the bird’s neck. This prevents the cormorant from swallowing its catch. The villagers will cook your fresh fish.
Three km northeast lies the Lotus Cave. The cave stretches over 600 meters. Striking stalactites of different shapes fill the cave. “Lotus Petals Suspended Upside Down” and “Two Dragons Creeping out the Cave” can be seen here. There are 108 large and small “Lotus Pods.” Small stones look like real seeds inside the pods. In spring and autumn mist makes the sight lifelike. A stalactite makes euphonic sounds when struck.
If you visit during the Spring Festival you can see the dragon and lion dances. There are two kinds of dragon performance in Xingping. One is the straw dragon. The other is the bench dragon. The straw dragon has about 15 sections. Burning incenses are inserted into each section. Families insert incenses and set off firecrackers. They pray for a peaceful new year.
The bench dragon is divided into three parts. These are the dragon head dragon body and dragon tail. Three dancers hold these parts. The dragon head and tail are made of bamboo and colored paper. The dragon body is mounted on a two-person bench. People wear folk masks and dance. Traditional Chinese musical instruments play music.
A traditional temple fair occurs on the 19th day of every September. This day is related to worshiping Guanyin the Buddha. The Xingping Temple Fair has strong folk color. Local opera performances take place with over 400 years of history.
Bamboo rafting from Yangdi to Xingping is highly recommended. These small rafts are more special than large cruise ships. It is the most essential scenery of Li River. You can also visit the 20 RMB note scene. Capture a nice shoot of the heavenly landscape. Wander the ancient street. Appreciate the ancient architecture and relics. You might see old fishermen working with their cormorants.
Xingping offers a warm and friendly atmosphere. The pace is slower here. Xingping lets you experience traditional Chinese life.