Li River, Li River Cruise
The Li River is blessed with the Karst Mountains and stunning river views, and it’s known as the “Glorious Pearl of Guilin.” As you travel along the river, you will see a flowing scroll of beautiful and idyllic landforms, buffalo grazing on the bund, farmers working in paddy fields, and fishermen angling on bamboo rafts. You will want to take a plethora of pictures of the views, maybe even a selfie or two!
- Source: Mao’er Mountain (Mountain Cat), North Guilin
- Length: 437 kilometers
- Best Seasons to Visit: Spring, Summer, Autumn
- How to Visit it: Boat Cruise, Bamboo Rafting, Hiking
The most beautiful scenery of Li River lies in the section from Yangdi to Xingping, about 18km long, and is like an artist's masterpiece. The landscape is decorated with crystal clear waters uniquely shaped by Karst hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, and rice paddies, and is lined with bamboo groves.
Top Highlights along Li River
Along the river, you can see magnificent karst hills, bamboo groves, countryside scenery, crystal water with rocks and plants, and rocky shoals. Highlights along the way include Nine Horses Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Reflection, 20-Yuan Bill Hill, and Xingping Ancient Village.
Yangdi Scenic Area
"The river winds like a ribbon of the blue silk hills tower-like hairpins of green jade”. The section from Yangdi to Xingping is the most beautiful part of the Li River.
Nine Horses Fresco Hill
Nine Horses Fresco Hill is 400 meters high and 200 meters wide. The cliff facing the Li River has images of a flock of horses. Horses on the cliff assume different poses: running, playing, jumping, drinking, neighing, or just lying there.
Yellow Cloth Reflection
The water is clear and turquoise and the reflection of hills on the glassy surface of the river forms an impressive picture. Seeing the river from the cruise boat, there is a yellow rock in the river which is like a yellow cloth covering the river, that’s why it got its name.
The scenery on RMB 20 Yuan Note
It’s a great photographic location. The water surface is like a mirror. The reflection of the fantastic karst hills on the crystal water makes for great views.
Li River Cruise
The Best way to explore the Li River is of course to take a Li River cruise boat from Guilin to Yangshuo.
- Route: Mopanshan/Zhujiang Pier (20km southeast of downtown Guilin) to Yangshuo
- Duration: 4-5 Hours, depending on the water level (one-way trip)
Li River Cruise Schedule
| 4-Star Cruise | 3-Star Cruise | Remarks | |
| Departure time | 9:00-9:30am | 9:00-9:30am | The exact time is not fixed, but it’s normally during this timeframe. |
| Duration | 4-5 hours | 4-5 hours | The duration of the cruise depends on the water speed. |
| Boarding point | Zhujiang (竹江) Pier | Mopanshan (磨盘山) Pier | There’s no public bus to these two piers; you can get there by taxi. |
| Drop-off point | Shuidongmen (水东门) Pier, closer to West Street | Longtoushan (龙头山) Pier | Both in Yangshuo. |
| Travel Tips | 1. The two boarding piers are about 25 km southeast of downtown Guilin. It takes one hour by car or bus to get there, and it is recommended that you leave your hotel for the pier before 8 am. 2. Longtoushan Pier is 1 km northeast of West Street. You can walk around 15 to 20 minutes or take a local electric scooter there. 3. Cruises can be canceled during the rainy season, when the Li River may be flooded. Please check the weather forecast three days before you want to depart. |
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Li River Cruise Boats - Which Boat to Choose
There are three-star and four-star boats. We recommend our customers choose a four-star boat.
4 Star Cruise Ships
The 4-Star cruise provides a more comfortable travel experience.
- Suitable for: People who want high-quality and a comfortable travel experience
- Facilities: Luxury boats with traditional decorations, a mini-bar, more legroom, and comfortable seating
- Service: English-Speaking Guides
- Seating capacity: Approximately 80 passengers
- Dining: Chinese/Western-Style Buffet Lunch, including Beverages
3 Star Cruise Ships
- Suitable for: Budget travelers who don’t care about details
- Facilities: Medium-Size Boats with standard facilities
- Service: Presentations only in Mandarin Chinese
- Seating capacity: 120-150 passengers
- Dining: One box lunch per passenger, comparable to a standard airline meal
Li River Bamboo Raft
A bamboo raft is a great way to explore the Li River. The bamboo rafts on the Li River are made from PVC pipes, each with 4 seats, an outboard motor, and a sunshade.
Nine-Horse Fresco Hill
There are two rafting routes on the Li River:
1. Yangdi Pier to Nine-Horse Fresco Hill (optionally move on to Xingping Old Town by Electric Vehicle (EV)
- Boarding time: from 7:40-8:20 and from 12:30-16:00, closed from 8:30-12:30
- Duration: From 1 to 1.5 hours (depending on the water speed)
- Price: CNY 118/raft
2. Xingping Pier to Nine-Horse Fresco Hill (round trip)
- Boarding time: from 8:00-9:20 and after 12:30, but closed from 9:30-12:30
- Duration: about 1 hour
- Price: CNY 92/raft
Hiking along the Li River
- Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
- The time needed: 3.5 hours
- Hiking route: Quanjiazhou village → pass small villages and fields → Nine-Horse Fresco Hill → cross the river by ferry → Xingping Ancient Town
- Highlights: non-touristy journey, see local lifestyles close-up, take deep breaths and enjoy the impressive Li River backdrop, breathtaking Karst Mountains, and peaceful rural villages.
Photography on Li River
The Fishing Lights on the Li River
The classic shot of the Li River is the one called "fishing lights on the Li River", together with sunrise or sunset. In the past, local fishermen paddled their bamboo rafts and went fishing on the Li River as night falls. A magical scene appears when the river is dotted with fishing lights. It's a scene that shows an intimate relationship between humans and nature. Nowadays, if you wish to take such photos, you need to arrange fishermen on bamboo rafts with charge.
The Panorama of Li River
Xianggong Hill is the best spot to get a wide perspective view of the most beautiful part of the Li River. On the top, you will see thousands of strange-shapely karst mountains, and the winding Li River is cradled in the arms of hills. The sunlight and shadows, cloud sea after the rain, sunrises, and sunsets are all breathtaking sceneries, deeply loved by photographers.
The Best Time to Visit the Li River
Generally speaking, April to October is the best time to take the Li River Cruise. Vistas along the river vary in different types of weather conditions. On sunny days you can view the clear and splendid reflections of mountains, buildings, and azure skies on the river; while the rain and mist will add to the beauty of the Karst landscape in cloudy weather. Read more on the Best Time to Visit the Li River
Li River Travel Tips
- A valid Passport is needed when booking cruise tickets and boarding.
- You will need to stay for one night in Guilin since the cruise leaves early in the morning.
- The cruise is a one-way trip from Guilin to Yangshuo only, and there is no stop on the cruise.
- There are souvenirs to purchase on the cruise, such as postcards, pictures, and specialties (sometimes they are pricey).
- To enrich your travel experience of Guilin, take an excursion to Yangshuo. The tiny ancient town will impress you with its people, landscape, beauty, and charm!
- Weather-wise: Rainfall is abundant from May to September in Guilin and during this period the water level in the Li River reaches its highest point. Keep your eyes on the weather warnings and don’t risk your life by taking a cruise on a stormy, bad-weather day.
Enjoy the Scenery of the Li River with China Travel
The China Travel Team is a group of Native Guilin Travel Experts. They know every nook and cranny in Guilin and can provide you with a private tour and a local guide, which will take your tour experience over the top! Perhaps one of the following Tour Itinerary will pique your interest:
- Guilin Essence Tour: Li River Cruise, Reed Flute Cave, local market, Yangshuo West Street
Continue to read: The Best Three Ways to Explore the Li River