Previously, we were asked to get down at the river bank directly across the Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山). Here is the closest we could get to the Elephant Trunk Hill because we did not pay to enter the park. I managed to snap some closed up shots from various angles on the hill. Some of you failed to spot the shape of an elephant though. Try to use your imagination! Can’t you just see the side view of an elephant facing right, with its trunk dipping into the river? The semi round cave is the gap between the legs and elephant trunk. Use your rich imagination, would ya?
Now can you see an elephant?
There were many bamboo rafts docking at this place. I was attracted to some of the floating food stalls on the rafts. These floating food stalls sell local snacks in the form of small fish, prawns and crabs caught fresh from the Li River (漓江). I saw some crayfish too. Crayfish are called small lobsters here in Guilin. I also read that most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, so one can tell how clean the water in Li River is. These fish, prawns, crabs and crayfish were deep fried in the oil and are very much liked by Chinese folks. Neither Foong nor I dared to take a bite though! As I was busy snapping away, I saw a stick of still alive and kicking crabs been fried alive in the hot oil! Chinese people are cruel, aren’t they? Guess what, the lady vendor felt uneasy having her cruel act recorded, thus turning her face against me! At this moment, I was like telling myself why not buying a stick from her as a token of gratitude. So I bought a stick of fried prawns from her at 2 Chinese Yuan. And they taste fantastically delicious!
Lots of bamboo rafts docking here!
Crabs and fish
Crayfish aka small lobsters
Fried fish, prawns and crabs
Fried fish, prawns and crabs
Fried fish, prawns and crabs
Local Chinese folks like it very much!
The lady vendor
Alive and kicking small crabs!
Dip with flour and ready to go into the hot oil!
You could have your picture taken here with the Elephant Trunk Hill in the background. Of course this is not for free! I was not interested as Foong could help taking my pictures! I was rather interested with the residential houses on the river bank. These houses have unique architectural styles and some are really old. I could not help but to take more pictures on these houses!
Stalls to take picture of you at a price
Residential houses on the river bank
I like this one! (click for wallpaper size)
Abandoned bamboo raft
Our bamboo raft
After around half an hour, we got back onto our raft and headed back to the land. Along the way back, I took more pictures of the Elephant Trunk Hill. Soon, we reached the place where we first got up the bamboo raft along the Binjiang Road (滨江路). Although it was only a short trip which took slightly more than an hour, it was a pleasant experience and to me, the best possible way to tour the Elephant Trunk Hill. If you ever come to Guilin (桂林), the Elephant Trunk Hill is a must see!
Elephant Trunk Hill (click for wallpaper size)
Elephant Trunk Hill (click for wallpaper size)
Approaching the land
Motorized bamboo rafts along the Binjiang Road
Technorati Tags: Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin
The Local Snacks from Li River that You Dare Not to Try! by Life Is Like That, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Malaysia License.
jam | 
November 10th, 2009 | 
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“Chinese people are cruel, aren’t they?”
Yeah, Some of tradition ways of cooking is very cruel. Maybe you also know the old ways to cook cats, dogs,donkeys, monkeys etc.，We call them “虐食“. You know Paul McCartney said he would never visit China after he watched the video about some chinese people ill-treated cats and dogs.
Fortunately, More and more people aware this kind of incivilization. Hope things can be changed soon.
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Ya, they say the Chinese will eat anything with its back facing the sky!
The Chinese eat everything! :) That’s a lot of fried food!
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Ya, the Chinese will eat anything with its back facing the sky!
fried fish, prawns and crabs…. ohh…. i love seafood yumyumyum…
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I love seafood too, but not this type
Jam, any particular reason why you liked that river bank house which you ‘enlarged’? I like the house with the tree so close by at the side and the big compound. Sorry no deal, unable to stomach those seafood after seeing them suffering while cooked alive. Thanks for the guided tour & pixs.
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Actually I like the clear blue sky setting in the background!
Did you tried the food there?
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I did try 1 stick of fried prawns, taste yummy!
Normally I am on a “seefood” diet I eat what I see but not in this condition, no-go!
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They actually taste crispy and yummy
That’s a lot of fried food!! but they must be very fresh…
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I guess they should be very fresh. The Li River is very clean itself!
very fresh seafood..but i admit that the way they prepare it is quite cruel.but i think in any seafood restaurant in malaysia, the way they prepare it is still the same…but i really like the bamboo raft and the traditional house..very laid back from city life
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You are right about the laid back lifestyle. This is what I am seeking for every time I visit China.
[...] is unsatisfied with the lunch, there are always side dishes for you to take order. Side dishes are Guilin local snacks including small fish, small prawns, crayfish, river snails and small crabs caught fresh from the Li [...]
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