Two Rivers & Four Lakes Night Cruise Guilin

The Two Rivers and Four Lakes of Guilin

The Two Rivers and Four Lakes are the Li River and the Peach Blossom River together with Mulong Lake, Gui Lake, Rong Lake and Shan Lake, linked into a single ring of water around the centre of Guilin. The lakes were once the moat of the walled city during the Song dynasty, almost a thousand years ago, and were cleaned, deepened and reconnected around the turn of this century so that boats could circle the city again.

By day the waterways are a green park with willows, stone bridges and pavilions; at night they become a gallery of light. A Guilin night cruise is the best way to enjoy them, because the boat passes under the bridges and close to the pagodas where you could not reach on foot. The cruise covers about 7 km in roughly an hour and a half, a gentle pace that leaves time for photos.

The Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas on Shan Lake

The highlight of the evening is Shan Lake, or Fir Lake, where the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas rise from the water. The Sun Pagoda is a nine-storey tower about 41 m high, clad in copper and glowing gold when lit, and the Moon Pagoda beside it is a seven-storey tower of glazed tiles that shines silver and blue. The two are linked by a tunnel under the lake.

Seen from the boat, the pagodas and their reflections fill the panoramic windows, and the effect is especially striking on still, clear nights. Shan Lake is right in the heart of the city, close to Zhengyang pedestrian street, so the lights of Guilin sparkle all around. Have your camera ready, as this is the most photographed scene of any Two Rivers and Four Lakes cruise.

Rong Lake and Gui Lake

Rong Lake takes its name from an ancient banyan tree, rong in Chinese, that grows beside the old South Gate of the city, one of the few surviving parts of Guilin's historic walls. At night the gate and the great tree are softly lit, and the lake is crossed by graceful arched bridges, each illuminated in its own colours.

Gui Lake is named after the osmanthus trees, gui, that give Guilin its name, meaning 'forest of osmanthus'; in autumn their sweet scent hangs over the city. The lake is the longest of the four, lined with gardens, pavilions and a series of lit bridges built in different styles. Along this stretch the boat passes the musical fountains, where jets of water dance in time to music under coloured lights.

Mulong Lake, the Li River and the Peach Blossom River

Mulong Lake lies at the foot of Diecai Hill in the north-east of the old city, where traditional-style pavilions, a pagoda and remains of the old city wall are lit in warm colours. It connects the lake system to the Li River, the great river that later flows through the karst peaks to Yangshuo, here wide and calm as it passes the city centre.

The Peach Blossom River flows through the west of the city among gardens and karst hills, completing the ring of water. Depending on the route and water levels on the night, the boat may pass through locks between the lakes and rivers, an interesting moment as the water rises or falls around you. Your driver-guide explains what you see and where to look.

Best time for a Guilin night cruise

The cruise runs every evening, and the departures from about 19:25 to 20:40 all enjoy full darkness and the lights at their best. The best time to visit Guilin for a night cruise is from April to October, when the evenings are warm; in winter the air-conditioned cabin keeps you comfortable, and the quieter season can mean fewer passengers.

Is the Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise worth it? It is a perfect, low-effort way to end a day of sightseeing on the Li River or at the rice terraces, and a good first evening after you arrive in Guilin. Light rain does not stop the cruise and can make the reflections even more beautiful; only severe weather or high water may cancel a departure.