Baisha Ancient Town

Baisha Ancient Town is well known in the area for being the town of fruits, due to farming so many cumquats and exporting them throughout China. This tiny, oval-shaped Asian citrus fruit closely resemble oranges and throughout the year, the village turns from a sea of green in summer to a golden orange one in November as the cumquats ripen. Not only the glowing colors of the cumquat season, but also the picturesque landscape composed of ancient bridges, the slow moving Yulong River and the tall karst mountains in the background attract photographers to this spot. As the village is located right next to the famous Yulong Bridge crossing the Yulong River, Baisha has turned into a necessary stop for any bicycle tour around the area. 
Starting from beneath the bridge in Baisha Ancient Town, you can also head out on bamboo rafts to go on a lazy float down the river, or watch fishermen practice the old school fishing method using cormorants. The birds have snares tied round their necks that allow them to swallow smaller fish, but are forced to bring back the bigger catches to the waiting fishermen. It’s exhilarating to watch the birds catch fish with great skill and the fishermen handling and selecting the cormorants with a proficiency suggesting many years of practice. But while Baisha Village is seen as the entrance to the Yulong River, there is also a regular market that is worth the stop, as it is larger and busier than many others in the area. 

Practical Info

Baisha Ancient Town is located about 8 kilometers outside of Yangshuo on the road to Guilin. Most people head there on a bicycle via the bike path along the river, but it’s very easy to take the bus from Yangshuo’s bus terminal or find a taxi to take you there as well. If you are there for the market, be sure to head to the village on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 24th or 27th of the month for the regular market days.