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Adaptor: Our hotel had UK plugs so no need for an adaptor!

Flight time: The flight from Shenzhen was 1 hour 5 minutes long (but please see my review of flying from Shenzhen - not recommended!)  If you can get a direct flight from London to Hong Kong it will take just under 12 hours.  Our total flight duration, with 45 minute stop in Helsinki was 13 hours 25 minutes. 

Drinking water: Tap water is not safe to drink.  Rather than using bottled water our hotel provided water bottles which we, or the hotel staff filled up with filtered water (near reception).  The hotel does also provide drinks and bottled water in the fridge (which I cracked open when I was ill).  Also please be careful to use filtered water when brushing your teeth.

Bugs: In the words of the staff at Yangshuo Mountain Retreat: “we are in the countryside, there are mosquitoes, please prepare for it”.  They’re brilliant at keeping the mossies at bay as much as they can, but you do need some good bug spray!  Also one of the best things about Yangshuo is its bugs - the butterflies that is!

Safety: It being our first time in China we were cautious, probably over-cautious, about things like locking our bikes, but we didn’t have any problems at all.  I also wandered around some of the local villages by myself feeling quite safe.  Our hotel advised us to be very careful in West Street, Yangshuo Town as it’s crazy, but my advice is to be more cautious about food, drink, heat and sun exposure - petty theft is just stuff!

Packing: Essentials - sun tan lotion, bug spray, swimwear, anti-diarrhoea medication, Dioralyte, energy bars.

Getting around: There are so many ways to get around the Yangshuo area; bikes are great fun, bamboo rafts are relaxing, there are a host of other boat options, taxis are reasonably cheap and easy to get hold of, walking is also a wonderful way to really enjoy this fantastic landscape.  If you want to be really adventurous you could even take a balloon ride, but we opted out of this after reading about some accidents (safety first!)

The Guide: Even if you don’t eventually stay here I highly recommend that you use the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat or Yangshuo Village Inn websites to plan your trip.  If you do stay here then you can also use their in-room information and talk to the hotel staff about up to the minute advice (if you email before you leave they are more than happy to advise on anything you might want to know!) 

Shopping: It’s a wonderful place to pick up traditionally made souvenirs, some of which are available in the hotel, like the sturdy slippers.  Also worth picking up (and a little bit lighter) are the beautiful silver goods, such as the traditional hair ornaments (which I wish I had bought when I saw them!)  Also hand embroidered silks; scarves, purses and make up bags are exceptional quality and we had great service in the minority shops.  (Touristy dolls were much better value in Beijing, and most things are cheaper there, but may not be the same quality!)