Wildlife and Nature in Yangshuo County

The palmello is native to Southeast Asia, and grows wild in the Yangshuo region. It may have been introduced into China around 100 B.C. Because of this limited production, palmellos typically sell for about 2 dollars a piece in the USA. In Yangshuo they tend to cost between 1 and 5 RMB a piece.

The pulp color ranges between a green and pale yellow and it tastes like a sweet, mild grapefruit - it has very little or none of the common grapefruit's bitterness, but the membrane of the segments is bitter and not very nice to eat. The peel is very thick and hard to penetrate but is also sometimes used to make marmalade and for cooking in certain dishes. In general, citrus peel is often used in southern Chinese cuisine for flavouring, especially in sweet soup desserts. It is the largest citrus fruit in the world, growing as large as 30 cm in diameter and one way to eat it is to remove the rind, then peel the segments to expose the flesh.

At the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat restaurant we offer stuffed palmello when it is in season and in our Charity Shop we sell palmello honey.

Chestnut (Castanea) is the nut of the genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees. China produces the most amounts of Chestnuts in the world.
A specialty in the Yangshuo area is to open one side and roast them. In comparison to Western countries the chestnuts are not roasted until they are soft. They are eaten when they are still hard inside. Chestnut is also used as an ingredient in the local “zhong zi” – a sticky rice package steamed in leaves.

The domestic Yangshuo water buffalo is closely related to cattle, gaur, banteng and yaks. All its domestic varieties and breeds descend from one common ancestor, the wild Asian water buffalo, which is now an endangered species. Water Buffalos, are used as draft and dairy animals and can be often seen in Yangshuo pulling ploughs through the paddy fields. Especially during summer time the water buffalos can be seen wading deep in the river or bathing in watering holes to cool down.

The Chinese Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys sinensis) are the sole living representatives of the tribe Rhizomyini.

They are all bulky, slow-moving rodents that live and forage in extensive burrow systems and rarely spend much time above ground. They feed on the roots of plants, principally on bamboo and tend to live under dense thickets of bamboo. Bamboo rats are regarded as agricultural pests, since they eat the roots of a range of crop plants such as tapioca, sugar cane, and tea bushes but are also considered a specialty and often make a common appearance on the dinner table. The Chinese Bamboo Rat is sold in Yangshuo food markets and is a delicacy of the region.

Spiders In the Yangshuo area you can find spiders which are about 10 cm including their leg span. There are many different kinds and some prefer to build their webs high in the bamboo forests or between bushes and trees. The spider in the picture was taken in Ping An on the famous Longsheng rice terraces and built its huge web between two adjacent traditional house of the minority peoples in the area.

The color of the Dice Snake may vary from greyish green to brownish or almost black, with dark spots on the back. The belly is sometimes vividly colored in yellow or orange, with black spots. The Maximum size is between 1.0-1.3 m long. It feeds mainly on fish and lives mainly nearby river streams or lakes. Sometimes it feeds also on amphibians like frogs, toads and tadpoles.

This snake is not poisonous. As a defense it spreads a very bad smelling secretion or attempts to play dead. During the mating season (March-April-May) they congregate in large groups. Egg laying is usually in July and one clutch consists of 10-30 eggs. The young snakes hatch in early September. Dice snakes hibernate from October to April in dry holes near the water.

The River Kingfisher, is a small member of the kingfisher family and is generally found along streams and perching in bamboo forests. There are often kingfishers around the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat and thy can be seen skimming the water in the early hours of the morning or a dusk.

A dragonfly is an insect which is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, midges, and other small insects like flies, bees, and butterflies. They are therefore valued as predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects.

There are thousands of dragonflies in Yangshuo around the summer time and can be seen performing their incredible acrobats all along the Yu Long or Li River and across the rice paddies. Dragonflies are harmless but if grasped they will attempt to bite.

The Praying Mantis is very pale when young but matures to a mostly green color and grows to about 6.5 cm long. This species is also distinctive in possessing two large violet-brown eyespots on its hind wings which are revealed when its wings are unfolded. Females have wings shorter than the abdomen.

Like the dragon flies the praying mantis eats many harmful insects and pests and is therefore often revered as a noble insect. If you see one in or around the hotel please respect this very cool critter!

We found this little fellow relaxing in our bar listening to some chill out tunes.

The Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon) is a predominantly green and black tropical butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family. It is a common, non-threatened species native to Yangshuo and Southeast Asia. Several geographic races are recognized.

The Chinese wasp can be seen in the natural environment of Yangshuo. This species is not particularly aggressive except when defending the nest, and care must be taken when in proximity, as the stings are quite painful. As with most stinging insects, wasps will sting in self-defense when grabbed or stepped on and tend not to attack without reason.

This Centipede belonging to the class of Chilopoda can grow to 19 cm long and is poisonous. This centipede is a predator. It feeds on arthropods and other smaller invertebrates. It generally feeds by grasping its prey with a pair of legs and injecting venom with its fangs. It can then feed off the immobilized or dead prey. The extremely potent venom is toxic to humans and causes swelling, chills, fever, and weakness. However, although bites are painful, this species is not deadly and is commonly used for medicinal purposes in Chinese medicine.

They are found in soil and leaf litter, under stones and deadwood, and inside logs. In addition, centipedes are among the largest terrestrial invertebrate predators and often they contribute a significant proportion to invertebrate predatory biomass in terrestrial ecosystems. If seen please do not attempt to touch or catch the centipede, it will not attempt to bite unless provoked.