Yulong River Bamboo Rafting Day Tour Yangshuo

Yulong River bamboo rafting

The Yulong River, or Dragon River, is a gentle tributary of the Li River that winds through the farmland west and south of Yangshuo town. Its clear, shallow water, bamboo groves and old stone bridges make it the calmest and most rural river in the area, and bamboo rafting is the classic way to see it. Each raft carries two guests on simple seats, with a local raftsman standing at the back and pushing the raft along with a long bamboo pole. Life jackets are provided.

The ride lasts roughly an hour, depending on the section and water level, and includes several small weirs where the raft slides down a short drop with a splash, which children usually love. Karst peaks rise from the fields on both banks, and you pass water buffalo, farmers and fishermen. Yulong River bamboo rafting is at its most beautiful from April to October, when the banks are green and the water is warm.

Xingping Ancient Town and the Yellow Cloth Shoal viewpoint

Xingping is a small riverside town with more than a thousand years of history, once the seat of a county and an important stop on the Li River trade route. Its old quarter keeps narrow stone lanes, grey-brick houses with wooden shutters, ancestral halls and small shops selling local snacks and crafts. Time here is relaxed: wander the old streets, look out over the river from the quay and watch the small bamboo-style boats come and go.

Close by is the Yellow Cloth Shoal, the stretch of the Li River whose reflection of karst peaks appears on the back of a Chinese banknote. Visitors come to hold a note up against the real view for a photo. The shoal takes its name from a flat yellow rock under the water that looks like a cloth spread on the riverbed. It is one of the most photographed scenes in China, and the view is best in soft morning light.

The Ten-Mile Gallery and Fuli Bridge

The Ten-Mile Gallery is the scenic road south of Yangshuo town, lined on both sides by limestone peaks, rice paddies, orchards and small villages. Its name comes from the way the scenery unfolds like a long painted scroll as you travel. On this tour you drive through it in comfort, with the option to ask the driver for short photo stops when it is safe to pull over.

Fuli Bridge is an old single-arch stone bridge on the upper Yulong River, set among fields and karst hills about 12 km from Yangshuo. Locals still cross it on foot, and from its high arch you look down on the clear river, the bamboo rafts and the patchwork of fields. Many visitors say it is the best place to see the Yangshuo countryside. Take a few minutes to walk across and down to the riverbank for the classic view of the arch reflected in the water.

Xianggong Hill, the great bend of the Li River

Xianggong Hill stands on the west bank of the Li River between Xingping and Yangdi, and is famous for the view from its top platforms: the river curves in a wide S-bend through a forest of karst peaks, with boats and rafts tiny on the water below. It is best known among photographers for sunrise, when mist and clouds fill the valleys, but the panorama is impressive at any time of day.

The climb from the car park takes about 15 to 20 minutes on stone steps, with several viewing levels on the way. Take your time, as the steps are steep in places, and bring water in summer. Is Xianggong Hill worth visiting during the day? Yes: the full sweep of the river is clearly visible in daylight, and it is far quieter than at dawn.

Wuquan Spring and the Yangshuo countryside

The day ends at Wuquan Spring, a peaceful spot in the Yangshuo countryside where clear spring water collects in a calm pool surrounded by greenery and karst hills. It is a short, gentle stop, a chance to sit in the shade, dip your hands in the cool water and enjoy the quiet before the drive back.

The countryside around Yangshuo is among the most beautiful karst landscapes in the world: Guilin's karst is part of the South China Karst World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO. The best time to visit Yangshuo is from April to October for green fields and full rivers, though heavy rain can raise the water from May to July. Autumn brings clear skies and pleasant temperatures. After this last stop the driver takes you back to your hotel in Guilin city.