Whether you’re going to China on vacation or relocating for work, the easiest way to break the communication barrier is to study Chinese in China while you’re there.
Learning to speak Chinese will help you better understand Chinese culture and will enrich your time in this fascinating land. China is a country that prides itself on its ancient culture, full of traditions and daily rituals.
Because of this, unlike other countries, there isn’t a lot of language diversity, so no matter where you travel within the country, there will be Chinese text and characters that you need to be able to understand.
Most restaurant menus will be written in standard Mandarin and that will most likely be the case at any establishment you visit. Even if you don’t learn to write Chinese, it is important that you at least learn to speak Chinese.
But studying in China doesn’t have to be all work and no fun, at least not if you’re in the fascinating city of Yangshuo. An old adage in China once said, “Guilin’s scenery is the most beautiful in China, but Yangshuo’s scenery surpasses even Guilin’s.”
Yangshuo is located in the Guangxi province of southern China, approximately 40 miles south of Guilin. The landscape is picture perfect with lush green hillsides shrouded in misty clouds rising from the valley below.
But the most amazing sight on the horizon are the limestone towers that seem to appear out of nowhere. These towers are part of “The Karst”, one of the largest carbonate rock formations in the world that spans the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi.
Beneath these gigantic towers are hidden ancient caves with natural hot springs and mud baths. Being in Yangshou is like stepping back in time because unlike the bigger cities in China, the old style has been preserved and it shows in the lifestyle.
Time seems to stand still as you float on a bamboo raft down the Yulong River or watch the world-renowned light show “Liu Sanjie Impressions.”
Unlike the coastal regions of China, Yangshou is very cheap. In fact, it is one of the cheapest cities in China, with costs half those of major cities, especially for accommodation, food and drink.
Of course, there are more high-end restaurants, hotels and bars, a cup of coffee for example will start at around 10 RMB and can go as high as 40 RMB.
This really depends on the location and although West Street is quite expensive there are still bargains to be found.
The loud and brash nightclubs that make up much of West Street may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are a lot of fun and usually have a little stage show.
It should be noted that the prices for drinks here are very high, so it is better to check the menu before ordering.
As Yangshuo is a holiday destination for the Chinese, you will find that most of them are very attractive and friendly, which also makes the city a great place to learn the language.