Yangshuo

It was great to finally get out of big cities and head for beautiful Yangshuo, a former backpacker haunt set amongst towering limestone peaks. One of our funkier experiences was heading out one night in a small boat on the very dark river to watch a 75-year-old chain-smoking fisherman work his diving cormorants for our amusement. (And a tip of 5 yuan.) The birds had cords tied around their necks so they could partially swallow the many small fish they caught, and then they were hauled up on board the fisherman's bamboo raft and quickly "milked" to regurgitate their catch into a basket.