Adventures and joys in northern Guangxi

Eight kilometers from Yangshou sits the small town of Fuli. Surrounded by many banyan trees, it has over 1,000 years of history although much seen today dates from the late Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911). An arched gate acts like picture frame, capturing the Li River with pinnacle summits beyond. This served as backdrop for the popular 1960 musical Liusanjie (“Third Sister Liu”), the story of a legendary female folk singer of Guangxi’s Zhuang ethnic group. During the main tourist season, a spectacular contemporary performance directed by Zhang Yimou, “Impression Liu Sanjie” featuring many Zhuang performers, takes place nightly on the Li River at Yangshuo.

Fuli is known as “Chinese Painted Fans Town”. Exquisitely painted examples are handcrafted from mao bamboo gathered alongside the river and locally produced tissue paper. They are created at many small shops around the town’s historic market street. The fans depict the beauty of Yangshuo landscapes, along with intriguing local culture incorporating elements not just of Guangxi, but also Guangdong and Fujian.