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Boat on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
  • Asia
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20 Photos That Will Inspire You To Take A Li River Cruise

  • 26 December 2018
  • 3 minute read

Though China's Li River flows for 437 kilometers, its most popular part is an 83km-long stretch that lies between the towns of Guilin and Yangshuo. The best way to see the area is by boat, and there are plenty of options for travelers who wish to sail past the beautiful rounded green hills and towering limestone cliffs on a Li River Cruise.

RELATED » Exploring Guilin, The 'Best Landscape Under Heaven'

In 2007, I stumbled upon a movie called The Painted Veil. I immediately fell in love with its sweeping panoramas of the incredible karst hills in China's Guangxi province and spent countless hours watching Naomi Watts and Edward Norton floating along the Li River on bamboo rafts. The film spoke to every part of me - the inspired film student, the hopeless romantic, and the traveler. I vowed two things: that I would someday make a film that was equally as beautiful, and I would someday take a Li River cruise to explore the scenery firsthand.

Fast forward 11 years, and though I have yet to make a feature film, I did finally take the opportunity to hop on a plane and explore China's lush karst landscapes myself.

Boats on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Li river cruise boat deck | Image © ExpatAlli.com

The cruise starts from one of 2 piers, which are both around 40-minutes' bus ride from Guilin's city center (the pier you leave from depends on which ship you take). Though Guilin is the province's third-largest city, there is no urban sprawl, and it's a beautiful feeling to roll past the mountains on the ride to the boat dock. The air quality is among the best in the country, making Guilin a perfect place for city-lovers (like me) to spend a few days before venturing towards the smaller and more authentic town of Yangshuo.

Cruise boat on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Karst hills on the Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com

There are 2 options for a Li River Cruise:

4-star cruises are the most comfortable. These boats offer modern facilities with larger seats and a buffet-style lunch. The seating capacity is around 70-80 passengers, spread over upper and lower decks. English-speaking guides are provided.

3-star cruises are the cheapest option, and have guided commentaries in both English and Mandarin. This is the one I opted for, and though some areas got a bit crowded at the most popular scenic spots, it was quite a comfortable and enjoyable trip. Lunch is included in the cost of a ticket, however it can only be compared to aircraft food, and I highly recommend bringing some snacks as an alternative.

NOTE: There are also cheaper Chinese-only cruises that I don't have much information about. If you speak fluent Mandarin, these might be worth looking into, but it's also my understanding that due to poor service and a lack of cleanliness, many booking companies won't offer this as an option at all.

River cruise boats with karst hills | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Hills on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Scenery on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com

It takes between 4-5 hours to get from Guilin to Yangshuo on a Li River cruise. The best months to visit are between April and October, keeping in mind that although summer is the hottest time of the year, it's also the wettest.

If your visit falls between the months of December to February, the duration of the cruise may shorten to around 2 hours due to the low water level. Between November and March, trips depart on only 3 days of the week.

Boat on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Boat on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Karst hills on the Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com

The average prices for a Li River cruise are around 350 CNY for a 3-star boat and 580 CNY for a 4-star. Tickets should be bought in advance -- though I bought mine from my hotel the night before, I was warned that at a busier time of year I may have been out of luck. The cruise is one-way only, and includes transportation from Yangshuo back to Guilin by shuttle bus. If you don't wish to go back to Guilin, you can try bargaining for a cheaper rate, but you probably won't get much of a discount, if any at all.

China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Guangdong province scenery | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Karst hills on the Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com

Highlights of the cruise include Mural Hill (otherwise known as Nine Horses Fresco Hill), which is a 100 meter-high cliff face that looks like a huge mural featuring nine horses. You will also have the ability to see the spot featured on the back of the 20 yuan banknote, and if you're feeling especially touristy (and have a 20 yuan note), you can join the crowds in taking a selfie posing with one.

Karst hills on the Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Scenery on China's Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Li River bank with trees and hills | Image © ExpatAlli.com
Raft on the Li River | Image © ExpatAlli.com
All images © ExpatAlli.com

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Tags
  • Asia
  • boat trips
  • china
  • day trips
  • guangxi
  • guilin
  • li river
  • movie locations
  • nature
  • river cruise
  • scenic tours
  • tours
  • Views
  • yangshuo
Alli

Alli is a travel writer from Vancouver who is passionate about helping others find amazing places to explore around the world. During her time living abroad, she has swum with sharks in Africa, rescued puppies in the Pacific Islands, jumped off a mountain in Europe, explored historic ruins in the Middle East and crafted lattes 35,000 ft in the air.

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