Xingping

Here we are having just arrived to the outskirts of Xingping, a wonderful old town, as we are about to see. This view, however, is very important. It is the landscape on the 20 yuan bill. There were several groups of people taking pictures while holding the 20 yuan. Can you see????This is the other half of the note.
Heading into the old town where we are stopping for lunch.


While we indulged in yet another delicious feast of warm food, (maybe you can tell that once again we are inside, yet really outside as there is no wall to separate the out of doors!) Storey played the sugar plum fairy and began giving gifts to everyone. It is December 24, therefore a good time to turn our attentions in that direction! While we ate, Storey kept getting up and going to the "store" across the lane and came back, one at a time, with gifts for everyone at the table. It was really fun. Our Christmas Eve treat.
Tanner and Laurel are looking through paintings by a gentleman who was selling them on the street. Beautiful landscapes of the area.
Tanner with the artist.
We spent another hour after lunch on this street buying gifts secretly for each other for Christmas! The shops are not visible, but there were treasures inside every doorway.



At the end of the street we caught the local bus back to Yangshuo. A shot of Laurel surrounded by locals! Can you find her? As more and more people entered the bus, the ticket gal pulled out little stools for them to sit on.
Back in Yangshuo we stopped the sugar cane vendor and the boys got a bag of sugar cane. You buy the whole stick and he peels it and cuts it and hands over a bag full.
Jessie, our guide, said this was one of her relatives, but he didn't remember her because there are so many in her family. He pedals around town selling his sugar can all day. I didn't try any but I understand there is quite an art to eating it and getting all the sweet goodness to come out.

Yangshuo is a river town, and has become a hikers haven as well as the area is filled with hiking, biking and adventuring areas. West Street is the main tourist street and is quite lively at night. Mickey mouse roaming down the street charging for pictures taken of him. I snuck a shot in from behind.
Christmas Eve dinner of hot pot for the adults and lots of other goodies for the kids before we headed out to more Christmas shopping!
Santa greeting us at the door of another restaurant. The kids had a ball running from store to store and bargaining for their gifts. They are very good about sticking to a low price and being willing to walk away if they can't get the price they want.

Back to the hotel so Santa can find us!