West Street Yangshuo

West Street is the oldest street in YangShuo, attracting many foreign tourists due to its antiquated style of being "half residences,half shops" and its courtyard-like environment. Encompassing services of catering and amusement, it has been working as a window for the cultural merge between the East and the West since the late 1980's . It is crowned as the largest "Foreign Languages Corner" in China and famed as "Global Village", which is really a view unique to YangShuo.

West Street is 517 meters (1,696 feet) long and 8 meters (26 feet) wide, meandering in an 'S' along its length. Being completely paved with marble it is a typical example of a southern China street. It is greatly admired by foreigners for its simple style and courtyard-like setting. There is a saying about West Street that 'half is village while the other half is stores'.

Built in 590 during the Sui Dynasty with the Li River passing by on the east, the street, which has experienced much wind and rain, is still well preserved, revealing the resplendence of past days.

Since being opened up to the outside in 1978, West Street has received countless foreigners from all over the world and it was reputed as "Earth Village in China". Today, the 2000-m-long street is filled with stores, bars, cafes and hotels. Nearly all the inhabitants, old and young, in the street can speak simple English and the street is regarded as the largest foreign language corner in China.

Offering not only elegant scenery, but also superior dining and Chinese and western snacks, Xijie, has become a good place for those who have been wandering around China for a while to have a break from oily stir-fried vegetables and grab a cup of coffee.

Started in 1991, Minnie Mao's is one of the oldest cafes in town. Popular with the local people, Minnie's cafe, with its hospitality and first-class food, has made it well-known far and near. Unique for its Minnie soup, Minnie tea, and sweet and sour chicken, the place is often packed. If you are in Yangshuo, you should not miss this excellent food.

Lisa's cafe is also popular. Opposite Lisa's cafe is Mei You Cafe, which promises that "meiyou bad service, meiyou warm beer". Just as it promises, the service here is good and the beer here is really cold.

Located on a small side street, Susanna's, which is said to be the first western restaurant in town, also stops many people's steps.

Other popular places, such as Green Lotus, Paris Cafe and MC Blues Bar which are on the corner of West Street and the main road, are welcomed too. With outdoor seating, they are good places to sit and watch the world go by. MC Blues also provides visitors with more than 150 tapes, and the visitors can freely choose what they like to hear.

On Line Cafe, which only offers some drink, is the best in town. In manager Billy's own words: "No good no pay!" Its service also includes type, send, copy, print, scan, IDD calls and cheap fax!