Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo

The Li River and its karst landscape

The Li River rises in the Mao'er Mountains north of Guilin and flows south through Guangxi towards the Xi River. Its stretch between Guilin and Yangshuo runs through one of the finest tower-karst landscapes on earth: steep limestone peaks shaped over millions of years by rain and rivers, rising straight from flat green fields and the water's edge. The Guilin karst is part of the South China Karst World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO.

Chinese painters and poets have celebrated this river for centuries, and the scenery really does look like an ink painting, especially on misty mornings. Is the Li River cruise worth it? For most visitors to Guilin it is the highlight of the trip: there is no road along the most beautiful stretch, so the boat is the easiest way to see it, and the slow pace lets the peaks unfold one by one.

Zhujiang Pier and the first part of the cruise

The 4-star boats depart from Zhujiang Pier in Yanshan District, south of Guilin, which is closer to the city than the 3-star boats' pier at Mopanshan and much less crowded. Our driver brings you from your hotel in time for boarding, and the cruise starts at about 09:30 or 10:00. Boarding requires the passport you used for the booking.

In the first hour the river is wide and calm, with fishing villages, bamboo groves leaning over the water and the first rows of karst peaks. Settle into your cabin seat with its panoramic windows, or step onto the open deck for photos. The commentary in Chinese and English explains the names of the hills and the life along the river, and the crew starts serving the buffet lunch around midday.

Yangdi and Nine Horses Fresco Hill

Midway through the cruise you enter the Yangdi to Xingping section, considered the most beautiful part of the Li River. The peaks close in on both banks, the river narrows and every bend opens a new view. Look out for local bamboo rafts gliding along the shallows and water buffalo cooling off in the river.

Nine Horses Fresco Hill is the great landmark of this stretch: a towering cliff whose patches of colour and mineral streaks are said to form the shapes of horses grazing, rearing and drinking. Guides like to say that whoever finds all nine has great eyesight. Nearby you pass Snail Hill and other peaks named after their shapes, and this is the best time to be on the deck with your camera.

Xingping and Yellow Cloth Shoal

Near the old town of Xingping the boat passes Yellow Cloth Shoal, the scene printed on the back of a Chinese banknote. The name comes from a flat yellow rock on the riverbed that looks like a cloth spread under the clear water. On calm days the peaks reflect perfectly in the river, and many passengers hold up a note to compare it with the real view.

Xingping itself is a riverside town with more than a thousand years of history and a quiet old quarter of stone lanes. The cruise does not stop here, but the views of the town and its surrounding peaks are among the best of the day. If you would like to visit Xingping on foot, ask us about our countryside and Yangshuo day tours.

Arriving in Yangshuo and the drive back to Guilin

The cruise ends at Longtoushan Pier in Yangshuo in the early afternoon, after about four hours on the water. On the default option our driver meets you at the pier and drives you straight back to your hotel in Guilin, about an hour and a half by road. The return drive does not include sightseeing or a stop in Yangshuo town; if you want time there, book one of our Yangshuo tours or stay overnight.

How to get back from Yangshuo to Guilin is the question many cruise passengers forget to ask, and on busy days the shared buses can mean long queues. With a driver waiting for your party you simply walk off the boat and into the car. The whole day takes about seven hours from pickup to drop-off.

Choosing your boat: 3-star, 4-star or 5-star

All cruise classes follow the same scenic route between Guilin and Yangshuo; the difference is comfort and service. The 3-star boats leave from Mopanshan Pier with standard cabin seats and Chinese commentary, and lunch is not included. The 4-star boats, the most popular choice for international visitors, carry fewer passengers, have more spacious cabins, bilingual commentary and a buffet lunch. The 5-star boats are smaller still, with VIP boarding, elegant interiors and a premium buffet.

The best time for a Li River cruise is from April to October for lush green scenery and full water, and September to November for clear skies. In the heavy rains between April and August cruises may be suspended or shortened when the river floods, and in winter low water can mean a shorter route. We will keep you informed if conditions change.