Li River travel guide
漓江
Egret fishing is a scene unique to the Li River. These birds are the most common on the river, and they love to perch on the bows of fishing boats. Even in the cold river water of March,…
4 places · In the guidebook: pages 2429–2438
Li River, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Li River in 1 days
- Day 1
- Li River→
- Nine Horses Painting Mountain→
- Yangdi Village→
- Xingping
The feel of the place
- Egret Fishing
- Egret fishing is a scene unique to the Li River. These birds are the most common on the river, and they love to perch on the bows of fishing boats. Even in the cold river water of March, they keep diving in to catch fish. Visitors can watch them from Xiangshan Park.
- Bamboo Rafts
- Bamboo rafts add the finishing touch to the Li River landscape, and they are a scene found only on this river. Drifting leisurely along the Li River on a bamboo raft with three to five companions is truly poetic and picturesque, and far more relaxing than a tour boat or even a luxury cruise.
- Xingping
- The stretch from Yangti to Xingping is the finest section of the Li River. The banks at Xingping are lined with green bamboo and weeping willows, and the scenery is stunning all around. Cruising through it is a feast for the eyes. Keen observers will also notice that the back of the ¥20 banknote features a view of Xingping.
Li River Cuisine
If you are travelling on foot, you can sample farmhouse meals at family-run restaurants in Yangti, Langshi, Lengshui, Xingping and other places. Signature dishes are mostly local snacks such as Li River prawns, Li River fish, Li River crabs and Li River field snails.
About Hiking
The Yangshuo scenic area has cancelled the 'Yangti to Xingping' hiking tour. Yangti no longer sells hiking tickets and instead sells group bamboo-raft tickets. Visitors must buy the ¥118 'hiking tour ticket' to board the boat that crosses the ferry point.
Things to see
One of the highlights of the Li River, Yuanbao Mountain, which appears on the background of the new ¥20 banknote, was drawn from the Yellow Cloth Shoal. Through the clear river water, a large pale-yellow stone slab can be seen on the riverbed. It is brilliant and eye-catching, looking like a fresh bolt of yellow cloth spread across the riverbed.
Caoping Village
On the Li River journey, Caoping is the prelude to the climax of the sightseeing. Here the peaks stand like screens, and in the middle lies a flat valley. Along the sheer cliffs of the west bank, which rise like a screen, the boat winds around the valley, forming a remarkable scenic line. On rainy, overcast days, the spectacle of “clouds wreathing the myriad peaks” becomes even more like diluted ink washes blending into the sky and sinking into the water, which is truly magnificent.
Photography · Nature
Yangdi Village
Behind Yangdi Town stand two side-by-side peaks that closely resemble sheep's hooves, so the place takes its name “Yangdi” as a homophone of that image. This is the best spot to appreciate the “Li River mist and rain.” The surrounding scenery changes unpredictably and is wonderfully magical.
Nature
Xingping Ancient Town
Xingping Town is small, with simple local customs and serene scenery. On the way from Xingping to Yangshuo you will pass a small fishing village, which is worth a detour. Around the eighth day of the fourth lunar month there are folk arts, sports and sacrificial activities.
Old Towns & Villages · Nature
Getting there & around
As Guilin's tourism section best known for its landscapes, the true meaning of 'Travelling on the Li River' lies not in the 'travel' but in the 'sightseeing'. 'Travelling on the Li River' is divided into two modes, by water and by land, depending on the means of transport.
Getting There
By Water
The boat journey from Guilin to Yangshuo takes about 4 hours. It is the most classic route on the Li River, and cruising by boat is the most traditional and standard way to take in the river's scenery. Travellers short on time may instead take a bus from Guilin to Yangti and then board a boat to Yangshuo. This saves time without missing the most classic part of the Li River landscape.
tip: Water levels: The Li River's high-water season runs from April to October. The low-water season runs from November to March of the following year.
By Road
Guilin Long-Distance Bus Station runs direct buses to Yangshuo every day. The trip takes about 1 hour and the fare is around ¥25. However, this route is not suitable for travellers who want to fully enjoy the Li River scenery.
On Foot
Travellers who love hiking can walk from Yangti to Xingping along the Li River. This is also a very good way to travel.
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2429–2438. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version