Why we suggest this tour itinerary?

Located in Guangxi Province in south China, Guilin area (Include Yangshuo town) along the Lijiang River with the stunning landscape is one the most picturesque areas in the world. The Lijiang River flows 83 km (52 mi) from Guilin to Yangshuo, where the karst mountains and river sights highlight the famous Lijiang River cruise. The strangely shaped hills, or karsts, limpid rivers with the verdant vegetation ranging from bamboo to conifers, fantastic caves full of stalagmites and stalactites with striking shapes and colors, make Guilin a fairyland like attraction for tourists. Lijiang River was listed as one of the world’s top ten watery wonders by America National Geographic Magazine. It was even picked by CNN as one of "Worlds 15 best rivers for travelers". This scenery has long inspired artists and poets, becoming the epitome of Chinese landscapes – the Lijiang River even appears on the 20 yuan bank note!

Considered as the soul of Guilin where nature shows its own beautiful creativity giving to the area the rank of "the best landscape under heaven", the Lijiang River is the most famous and important natural attraction that people must visit if they have time when visiting China. Fascinating poets and painters since early ages, the Lijiang River stands today as one of the most popular and picturesque scenic spots of China. Endowed with amazing karstic hills, mountains, caves and little streams, the Lijiang River is a perfect place to admire rice paddies, bamboo groves and forests, waterfalls, water buffalos, ancient villages and the symbol of the area: fishermen and their cormorants floating by on bamboo rafts. Dotted with eye-feasting scenery, the river is always surprising with its surrounding lush landscape, fauna and peaks reflecting on the clear green and mirror-like water under the blue sky. As a real fairyland on earth, the Lijiang River is a jewel of the area, where generations of local Chinese people live by, out of the turmoil of big Chinese metropolis.

In this itinerary, tourists will also visit Dragons Backbone Rice Terraces Fields, one of the best terraces fields in the world.

Main Tourist Attractions in the Itinerary: 

Guilin, Longsheng and Yangshuo: 

Elephant Trunk Hill, Zhenyang Pedestrian Street, Two Rivers and Four Lakes in downtown Guilin, Dragons Backbone Rice Terraces Fields, Rural Zhuang and Yao Minority Village, Cruising on the Lijiang River, Silver Cave, the Moon Rock，Drifting on the wonderland like Yulong River

Experience in the Itinerary: 

* Cruising on the breathtaking Li River to enjoy the magical natural scenery in Guilin and Yangshuo.

* Enjoy the marvelous Terrace Fields on the high mountains.

* Enjoy the charming countryside of Yangshuo and drifting on the wonderland like Yulong River!

More Detail Info about the Lijiang River Cruise from Guilin Zhujiang Wharf to Yangshuo:

The Luxurious Cruising Ship departs from the Zhujiang Wharf which is around 34km/50 minutes drive to the south of central Guilin. Tourists embarking on the cruise ship from Zhujiang Wharf are required to show passport when purchasing ship tickets and boarding. They need to get to the wharf at least 30 minutes before departure to leave enough time for passport inspection. Normally it will take around 5 hours from Guilin to Yangshuo. The ship ticket also include a buffet lunch in the ship. But normally the ship staff will recommend tourists to pay more for some fish which were caught by the fisherman just in the morning. If you do not want to take the fish dish, just ignore it.

The river generally has Two Sections from Zhujiang Wharf. Various attractions like peaks and villages along the river have interesting descriptive names, which calls for much of your imagination to see what it is like. Listening to tour guides legendary stories about the attractions is a delightful experience when you are appreciating the landscapes. Most are mystical fairy and love stories.

In the First Section, which is from Ox Gorge (near the Bamboo River Wharf and the Mopanshan Wharf) to Water-Dropping Village, the most charming scenery of the cruise awaiting you include: Wangfu Rock (Yearning-for-Husbands-Return Rock), Crown Cave, Half-Side Ferry, Yangdi Village, Mural Hill (Nine Horses Mural Hill), Xianggong Mountain, Yellow Cloth Shoal (RMB20 banknote Scene), and Xingping Town.

From Yangdi to Xingping

Down stream from Yangdi to Xingping, the Li River passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape. This part is the highlight of the cruise. Pinnacled peaks pop up and surprise visitors at each bend of the river. Water buffalos patrol on the fields; ducks paddle in the waters; peasants reap paddies in front of village houses; fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat and kids go home singing songs. All these create an idyllic and beautiful scene of the life removed from concrete cities.

Nine Horses Mural Hill:

The hills and peaks in Guilin, crafted by nature, rise sharply from the ground in many different shapes. Each famous peak along the Lijiang River has been given a name based on its shape. Some peaks however require a great deal of imagination to see how it got its name. One of the most famous peaks along the Lijiang River is the 416-meter-high Nine Horses Mural Hill. The precipice of the Mural Hill is even and straight as if cut by knife, decorated with colors of white, yellow, gray and black. Images of nine horses may be seen indistinctly on the precipice, hence the name Nine Horse Mural Hill.

Yellow Cloth Shoal (RMB20 banknote Scene):

Floating downstream, after passing Mural Hill, you will find the Yellow Cloth Shoal. The cliffs are steeper and the river becomes wider and calmer here, so it is the best place to appreciate the reflections of the verdant peaks. It is no wonder that the newly-issued RMB20 note carries the image of this part of the river. The water is so limpid that the reflection of a huge yellow flagstone can be clearly seen on the water. It is like a yellow cloth spreading across the countryside, hence the name Yellow Cloth Shoal.

Xingping:

As you reach the area surrounding Xingping village, some of the most striking scenery along the Li River comes into view. The short distance between Xingping and Fishing Village (Yucun village) is the highlight of the cruise.

The river takes a big turn at Xingping and the beautiful landscape and country scenery will form a lifelong impression on visitors. Verdant bamboo greet visitors along the river while water buffalo eat grass casually on the fields, peasants harvest their crops, school children play on the way home, and fisherman float along on bamboo rafts with their cormorants.

The Second Section goes from Water-Dropping Village to Yangshuo where you can see Snail Hill, Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Peak), and Shutong Hill (Schoolboy Hill). The scenery is equally beautiful.

Your final destination, the charming Yangshuo town, sits in the midst of some of the area’s most incredible countryside. You can walk from the wharf to the West Street which is in the very center of Yangshuo County and famous for the restaurants and bars on it. In the town’s surroundings you can go cycling and rock climbing or walking and bamboo rafting. The most famous residents of the Lijiang River are the cormorant fishermen. With their conical hats, bamboo rafts and glossy, black winged companions, this traditional technique gives you a glimpse of a China of times-gone-by.