# Li River travel guide (漓江) Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region · South China, China · 4 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/guangxi-zhuang/li-river ## Quick itinerary - **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. ## The feel of the place ### 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. ## 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. ## Things to see - **Li River** (★★★★★): Admission Ticket ¥54; Mopan Mountain–Yangshuo cruise ¥161 (three-star cruise boat); Zhujiang–Yangshuo cruise ¥306 (four-star cruise boat); Opening hours 8:40–22:40 (peak season); 8:40–21:40 (off-season); Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/li-river-guangxi-zhuang - **Caoping Village** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/caoping-village - **Yangdi Village** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yangdi-village - **Xingping Ancient Town** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xingping-ancient-town --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2429–2438. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.