Just moved into a new place in the town of Yangshuo. Total cost for my new room, including A/C, television, furniture, internet access, and housekeeping: 700 yuan (about $102)... for the whole month! That's less than what a mediocre hotel room in Macau goes for on a Saturday night!
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After spending most of my first month abroad grinding live poker, I wanted to find a peaceful city to unwind in for a bit. I think I have found the perfect place in Yangshuo.
Yangshuo is a small town in southern China famous for its karst landscape and the scenic Li River that runs alongside it. It is a popular tourist destination with a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. Yet it is a small town, small enough to walk anywhere within 20 minutes, and noticeably lacking the traffic, air pollution, and hordes of Chinese people characteristic of most Chinese cities. Furthermore, should I get bored, there are numerous outdoor activities nearby such as rafting, hiking, cycling, caving, and rock climbing.
It is also dirt cheap. Besides my room, the food here costs practically nothing. A bottled water from the grocery store costs 1 yuan (about $0.14). A delicious bowl of rice noodles with pork and vegetables costs only 5 yuan (about $0.70). The entire meal below cost me 20 yuan (about $3):
I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to get by here on $500/month (or ball outta control for $1000/month).
I have enrolled in a Chinese language school and will be spending at least the next month here. I'll be receiving one-on-one language instruction for five hours a day, five days a week, as well as practicing with the locals. Additionally, I intend to check out some of the outdoor activities and attractions that the area is famous for.
It's nice to know that should the cards turn on me and I'm ever living on broke street, there are places like Yangshuo where I can live very comfortably for practically nothing.
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