From Guilin we took a boat ride along the Li River, through some stunning scenery (not unlike Halong Bay in Vietnam). This is a VERY popular trip - lots of boats and people - but definitely worth it.
Initial impressions about Yangshuo weren't great - when you get off the boat you are almost assaulted by people trying to sell you things! Then you have to walk along a few narrow streets that have nothing but shops selling the usual tourist stuff, little Western-style cafes and bars, and more shops!
However, we soon began to really like Yangshuo. Partly because of where we were staying - the Yangshuo Culture House (you and 15 other guests stay in a family home and are served a HUGE, delicious dinner every night...a great way to meet the other guests) - and partly because of the surrounding countryside.

There are loads of villages you can cycle to, or get lost amongst the rice paddies......see real-life China up close. Great stuff (and finally a bit of

exercise)!
We also had a great bamboo ride down the Yulong River - stunning scenery and very relaxing (except for when we had to "get out and push" our little boat over several small weirs! Most amusing)!
But the 'highlight' must be out trip to THE Mud Caves (or at least one of the mud caves as there appeared to be several claiming that they were the original and best)! The caves went on and on and the mud pool was bloody cold (and the shower to clean ourselves was EVEN COLDER)!!!