After breakfast we headed off to begin our cruise on the Li River with Laura our tour guide. The cruise was a very enjoyable experience. I never believed the pictures of mountains one sees in traditional Chinese paintings really looked like that. They do!

Rather than break up the sequence of today's remarkable river journey, let's just let the pictures flow as did the river. As we glide along we enjoy the passing boats of Li River traders and farmers, We see the occasional farm house and buildings on the Li River bank, where the mountains do not encroach, with tracks leading down to the river. Groups of children are playing and swimming and fishermen have trained cormorants perched on their masters' boats. There are people living in the rocky ledges, water buffalo and so much more. Enjoy, I'll meet you again when we disembark at Yangshuo to spend some more money.

We disembarked at Yangshuo and sampled some of the many colourful markets but it was soon time to get back to the bus. While some took the cart we chose to walk. Arriving at the bus we were greeted by a new kind of vehicle. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "bicycle shop".

On the way back to Gullin we stopped to look at a rice field. It was obviously a regular tour bus stop. When we opened the door there was a little boy with his hand out. While his family worked the fields he worked the busses. From the look on his face I don't think a balloon was what he had in mind.

It was a good chance to observe the agricultural community. My dream was to get a good picture of what looked like a rototiller pulling an enclosed wagon. With the bus speeding along it was difficult but you will spot at least parts of these interesting vehicles in this link.

What a great day for Carol. She was able to celebrate her birthday over and over. Once on the boat, then at supper — then if she was home she could celebrate it tomorrow. Following dinner we enjoyed a local Folkloric Dance Show.

It was our last night in Guilin and after checking out the hotel gift shop we explored the waterway lighting outside our Guilin Park Hotel

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