Happy Monday traveler!

This week, we’re taking you to Yangshuo, which is a region in China. Get ready for karst formations (unique mountains) and bamboo rafts.

🌍️ What’s Going on In the Travel World?

• Travellers from these 55 nations can now visit China visa-free for 10 days in transit - this is well timed considered this week’s inspiration🙌🏼

• Meet Radhika Subramaniam, India's First AI-Generated Travel Influencer - Promise we’re real, this is wild

• Viswashkumar Ramesh Was Lone Air India Survivor in Seat 11A - the biggest aviation story of the week, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died, this man has an incredible story to tell

• Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mount Everest for a record-breaking 31st time - we’re currently at about 14k feet in Cusco, Peru, this guy is amazing, goals ⛰

• Man convicted of fraud for posing as flight attendant to fly for free - embarrassing for us Floridians

A message from Passport Inspiration

Looking to plan an inspiring adventure right now?

Planning an international trip can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.

How?

You just need a plan for your plan.

It’s important to prepare with enough time for things like:

• Visas

• Dining

• Lodging

• Passports

• Excursions

• Travel Arrangements

  If you want a head start planning, we can help you prepare for an amazing trip.

🙌🏼This Week’s Inspiration

When we think of China, we often think of the hustle and bustle of cities such as Shanghai or Beijing. However, this week we want to take you somewhere more peaceful.

Imagine waking up to mist-covered karst mountains, sipping tea beside a peaceful river, and biking through emerald-green rice paddies. Welcome to Yangshuo, a charming region and town in southern China. It feels like it’s been plucked from a traditional painting.

Yangshuo is located in the Guangxi Province and is known for its dramatic limestone peaks and laid-back vibes. The Li River flows through it and is perfect for bamboo rafting or sunrise photography.

Here’s why this place should be on your radar:

🌄 Natural Beauty, Unfiltered
Explore iconic landscapes along the Yulong River, where you can cycle or take a peaceful bamboo raft ride through scenery you’ll never forget. We did both of these activities.

Cycling along the river gave us great views of the rice paddies. Riding a bamboo raft was incredibly relaxing and gave us the opportunity to soak in the beauty of where we were while our guide gently guided our raft down the river.

🏞️ Adventure Awaits
Admire Moon Hill, which is a natural archway in limestone rock. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, hike up to the top of it for breathtaking views of the karst formations.

You can also hike through nearby villages like Xingping, or kayak your way through breathtaking river bends.

🍜 Cultural Flavors
Sample local specialties like beer fish and Guilin rice noodles. Visit local markets or take a traditional Chinese cooking class in the countryside.

*How to Get to Yangshuo:

The best way to get to Yangshuo is to fly. The nearest airport is Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) located about 90 km (56 miles) away.

There are direct flights to Guilin from major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and international hubs such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur.

To get from Guilin to Yangshuo you can take a private transfer or taxi which is around 1.5-2 hours. Some airport shuttles go to Yangshuo, but often it’s easiest to go via Guilin first.

Another option is to take a taxi or bus from the airport to the Guilin wharf and board a 4-5 hour cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo (available in the morning only).

Where to Stay:

Here are some great places to stay in Yangshuo:

Yangshuo Fairyland Hotel - near Moon Hill

Banyan Tree Yangshuo - luxury resort

Li River Resort - the perfect place to relax

What to Eat:

The food experience in Yangshuo is terrific. We’re always careful when sampling street food but you can’t help but find something there. Here are the local specialties you can find either on the street or in most local restaurants.

• fried noodles (a common Chinese dish)

• joutsa (dumplings)

• stuffed snails (from the Li River)

• steamed rice and bamboo (one of our favorites and not too adventurous)

• pomelo (the largest citrus fruit)

• shrimp (stir fried, also from the Li River)

• tofu (try the stuffed)

• beer fish (carp cooked with beer and vegetables 😋)

• water chestnut cake (a sweet dessert)

Here are some great places to eat in Yangshuo:

Lucy’s Cafe & Bar- Chinese bar

Cloud 9 Restaurant - Chinese/Asian

Amy’s on the Li- a mix of Chinese and Western food

Secret Garden Cafe -dining experience in renovated Qing dynasty buildings

What to Pack:

We recommend packing breathable shirts and shorts for the summer months when it’s hot and humid. Comfortable pants or leggings are good options for hiking and cycling.

Rain showers are common between April-August so a rain poncho and umbrella are needed then.

Yangshuo’s streets and trails are best explored on foot so comfortable walking shoes is a must. Sunglasses and sunscreen are also items you will definitely want to take.

👋 Have an Inspiring Week

Here are a few of our affiliate links to help you when in Yangshuo. It’s no extra cost to you and helps us keep this email free for everyone. 😀

• Guilin Transfer Services (airport, train station, hotel)

• From Guilin: 4 Star Luxury Cruise Down the Li River with buffet lunch

• Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Biking

• Guilin Private Full-Day Tour

• Travel Neck Pillow -it’s a long flight to China!

• You can never go wrong with these packing cubes

See you next week,

Trisha & Bob