At sunset, the Yulong River turned to gold beneath the karst peaks of Yangshuo. I saw no dragons, but this looked exactly like the place where they would sleep.
The Yulong River sunset transformed the karst landscape near Yangshuo into a place where even dragons might choose to rest. I photographed this view as the sun was slipping behind the limestone peaks and leaving a long golden reflection across the calm water.
The Yulong River flows through one of the most distinctive landscapes in southern China. Steep karst formations rise almost vertically above the valley, while trees, small settlements and quiet stretches of water fill the spaces between them. In the fading light, the mountains became dark silhouettes, and their unusual shapes began to resemble enormous creatures sleeping beside the river.
The name Yulong is often translated as “meeting a dragon” and is connected with a local legend about a dragon that became fascinated by the beauty of this valley. Standing there at sunset, I could understand why it supposedly decided to stay.
I wanted to preserve the contrast between the bright reflection on the water and the mysterious outline of the surrounding mountains. I saw no actual dragons that evening, but if they need somewhere peaceful to sleep after a long day of guarding ancient China, this bend of the Yulong River seems like a very sensible address.
- Date
- 2026-01-01