Yangshuo, China is one of the top tourist destinations in this country -- and for good reason. Located southeast of Guilin in Southern China, this special place is sure to be unlike anything you have ever seen. It was introduced by "Lonely Planet" in 1980 and ever since then the visitor number has been consistently increasing. Here, it's an outdoor enthusiast's paradise -- you'll never fall short on fun and exciting things to do.

1. Let's begin with West Street, which is the oldest street in Yangshuo and contains over 1,400 years of history.

This is the central hot spot where all the foreigners stay and hang out. It's often called "foreigners' street" because sometimes the foreigners outnumber the Chinese here. You'll find a hugely diverse mix of cultures, and I'm not just talking about the types of people—also the food! Down West Street, you can take a break from traditional Chinese food and indulge in American, Italian and other Western-styled foods if you wish. However, there are a fair amount of Chinese dishes to try here too.

2. A must-do when visiting Yangshuo, China is cruising down the Li River.

Floating on bamboo rafts, you'll be able to take in the breathtaking scenery of the karst mountains and country views. Floating down the river for 4-5 hours, you'll see the more calm and serene side of China, away from the concrete and towers of the packed city life.

3. If there is one recreational activity you need to do though, it's to go white water rafting in Xing Ping, which is just a little ways up the road from Yangshuo.

Being China, it's obviously unlike any white water rafting experience you'll ever have. It's a little bit more dangerous because the drops are steeper than most places and you don't have paddles, but this single excursion of rafting down the Longjing River for six kilometers was one of the best experiences of my whole four months in China. It was almost an hour of pure laughter and happiness while being thrown around by the strong current in the middle of cliffs and jungle scenery.

4. Let me tell you a thing about China hikes: they are stairs.

I'm not really sure why every single hike I've tried and heard about is just hours and hours of climbing stairs, but they're definitely not like the ones we have back home in America of climbing over rough terrain and uneven grounds. The stairs may be uneven, but they're there nonetheless. Hiking the Laozhai mountain was short but definitely a challenge. Over 1,000 steps and 30-40 minutes of stair climbing, your efforts were rewarded with the most unreal and astonishing view at the top. This too was one of my favorite experiences out of the whole semester in China. I had never seen anything like what I did when I was at the top and it was so surreal to be looking at something so different and beautiful.

I visited other places during my time in this country, but Yangshuo was by far my favorite. There's so much to do, so many diverse and unique people to meet and become friends with, so many foods to try and so many adventures to go on. Above is just a glimpse of all that there is to do in this city. Additionally, you can rock climb, go swimming in some mud caves and visit Moon Hill too. Even if you don't have interest in ever visiting China, I urge you to stop by this place at least once in your life. It's one of the best places I've ever been in my entire life and a must-see for everyone.