Last day in Yangshuo.

On my last day in Yangshuo, I spent the morning biking out to Moon Hill and then doing a short hike to the foot of it.

Later in the afternoon, I visited the Yangshuo market in search of some snacks for my trip. The place was enormous.

Two warehouse-size spaces of this size.

Cured, smoked meat.

Chickens and ducks. Purchased one day and on dinner plates the next.

Guangxi province is known for its fondness of dog meat. I used to reject this part of Chinese cuisine when I was younger (not least because it made me the butt of many jokes in high school), but I can't see anything wrong with it now. Of course, I've never owned a pet dog, and concede that I may feel differently if I have, and I can't say that I'd be totally devoid of squeamishness if I was presented with a plate of it. But certainly I wouldn't hesitate to try it, though I haven't yet been given that opportunity.

Dog meat is still rarely eaten in most parts of China; this is probably the second time in my life that I've seen meat for sale in this fashion. When and where it is served, it is one of the more expensive meats, so a suspicious foreigner needn't fear that it be used as a cheap substitute in 'pork' dishes. The meat is reportedly very lean and flavorful, and has been on the Chinese menu way before westerners domesticated dogs.

Side comment: I wonder if foreigners' reception of dog meat would be more open if it was called something different than just 'dog', in the same way that we say 'beef' and not 'cow meat'. Would that make it seem less ethnic and more civilized?

The rest of the day was spent in transit, northwards several hours by bus to the ‘Dragon’s Backbone’ rice terraces in Longsheng district.