Xingping


Located 27 km from Yangshuo, in the eastern bank of the Li River, Xingping is an time-honored ancient
town, it was built over 1,000 years ago and in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589). Xingping
was the seat of Xingping County. In 590, Xingping County was incorporated into Yangshuo County. The
present Xingping remains under control of Yangshuo County .

Xingping town is small, you can walk around in an hour or so. Many of the buildings are traditional from
Qing and Ming dynasty period. The market for the surrounding villages is held at every 3 days. Like in
many other areas in China, it's a kind of circulating market in the area. On the market days the town is
usually quite busy with villagers from the neighboring villages.

Xingping boast some of the best natural scenery around the area, somewhat better than that that in Yangshuo. The seven mountains surrounding
the village, two stone guarding at the entrance keep the place a spiritual sanctuary off the modern world.  

The peaks here rise like so many needles, while the rivers are like ribbons. The Tablet Hill, Five-Finger Hill seem to be floating on the water.
Xingping River meanders from east to west into the Li River. The reflection of the trees, bamboos and peaks present a watercolor painting.
Downstream from Xingping are the Snail Hill, Carp Hill, Shuiluo Village and green mountains dotted with cottages, fields, trees and bamboo
groves.

There are such enchanting scenes as "Pretty Woman Looking in the Mirror", "General Drawing His
Sword" and "Carp Drinking from the River".

It is the most famous village beside Li River. In 1998, when the former U. S. President Bill Clinton came
to China, he could not tear himself away from this fishing village and stayed for one more hour.

Xingping is best visited on market days when the town get quite busy with locals from the surrounding
villages swarming to buy and sell products.