River Li Video Travel Guides

China


Great Videos and Photos of the Best Places and Things to see in River Li China. For the independent traveller who is interested in seeing places while planning their next trip. Or for anyone who likes to be close to nature and see the quieter parts of the country or city

Originating in the Maoer Mountains in Xingan County, the river flows south through Guilin and then through the famous limestone Karst region. The River is a major tourist attraction, with a number of towns such as Guilin and Xangshuo catering for tourists.





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Yangshuo to Xingping

The most common way to take a ferry on the river is to start in Guilin, but a good lower cost alternative is starting in Yangshuo.

Yangshuo leaving the port

Yangshuo leaving the port

Yangshuo to Xingping

Make sure you never blink as you take a journey on the Li River from Guilin to the end where it meets the Xi River. It is the main river system of Northeast Guangxi or Guilin prefecture.

One would never get bored as it is filled with a panorama beyond one’s imagination but believe your eyes for they are true. Get immersed with the beauty of the green water compared to a green silk ribbon and with those of the hills described as though they were jade hair pins by a Chinese poem. Aside from the hills, there are also caves, cliffs, and stunning pagodas that would surely touch your soul.

Just to give you a rundown of what to expect along the Li River, there are sixteen attractions namely Elephant Trunk Hill, Daxu Ancient Town, Wangfu Rock, Yangdi, Yellow Cloth Shoal, Yangshuo, Pagoda Hill, Mopanshan Wharf, Crown Cave, Langshi Scenery, Xingping Town, Grotesque Peak Village, Zhuijiang Wharf, One side Ferry, Mural Hill, and Fishing Village.

Between Yangshuo and Xingping

Between Yangshuo and Xingping

Yangshuo to Xingping

Independent Travel Tip (2014) The Best River Li trip. Probably the easiest, least expensive and best way to visit the river. Spend a night or better still two or more nights in Yangshuo town. Take the morning cruise to Yangdi , journey time 4 hours, cost 150 yuan per person (April 2014)

At 09:50 the pick up car arrived, took us to the dock, boarding at 10:05. The boat left at 10:15. The scenery has been described as the best between Yangdi and Xinping, but that is only an opinion, as after about 50 minutes and half way between Yangshou and Xinping, the scenery became amazing and dramatic. This leg of the trip is peaceful and quiet with maybe just another boat or two to be seen.

After the first hour or so, you meet the boats coming down stream from Guilin. These come in convoy of 5 or 6 together. While the traffic doesn't interfere with the scenic beauty, it is obviously more peaceful when quiet.

Xingping - nearing the town

Xingping - nearing the town

Yangshuo to Xingping

Around this point people start taking 20 yuan notes from their pockets, holding them up and compare the picture on the note with the river side scenery.

This searching continues until past Xinping, and while there are many similar landscapes it is hard to say for definite where the exact location is.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Yangshuo

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Xingping to Yangdi

Probably the most interesting stretch is the river section between Xingping and Yangdi.

Xingping

Xingping

Xingping to Yangdi

Xingping Town is a serene place close to Mural Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal and Wuzhi Hill. Near to Xingping Town is the Xingping Fishing Village. The style of fishing here is very unique and innovative. Locals use cormorants, a bird skilled for catching fish. A noose is placed around the birds neck. When the bird dives into the water and catches a fish, the noose prevents the larger fish being swallowed. After catching the fish the bird is pulled back to the raft by the fisherman and it’s fish removed from its mouth.

Travellers are welcome to try it on their own while riding a raft. It is an extraordinary experience and a taste of being a local ( though this isn't that common and is expensive). The Fishing Village has been there for more than five-hundred years. It was found way back during the Ming Dynasty (1506).

It is also a good place to learn more about the southeastern Chinese provincial culture or what is called Lingnan. Another unique feature of the place is the architecture which is a remnant of the Ming and the Qing dynasties.

Travellers could indulge themselves with the blue brickwork, black tiles, sloping roofs, horse head walls, cornices and carved windows. Liyu (carp), Jiandao (sword and blade), and Jinwa (golden tile) mountains guard this village

Xingping - upstream of the town

Xingping - upstream of the town

Xingping to Yangdi

Independent Travel Tip (2014) River Trip part 2

When the boat approaches Xinping, the rafts will be competing for water space with the larger boats heading up and down stream. Apart from Xinping and Yangdi, there are innumerable locations where rafts can be hired between the two villages, though how you make your own way to these lading stages is unclear. The cliffs, limestone stacks and hills are dramatic around the Xinping area, and it's a place not to be missed.

If there is only one place to see on the river this is surely the place. The distance between Xinping and Yangshou is about 11 km and it's a further 11 km to Yangdi.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Xingping

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Yangshuo

Yangshuo is a popular destination for Chinese visitors. The tourist area is based around West Stree and the River and is attractive with bars and restaurants.

Yangshuo Waterfront

Yangshuo Waterfront

Yangshuo

It is a county and town near Guilin which is also a popular tourist spot. Travellers who want to explore the Li River and its promises could stay here. This county would bring you closer to nature and culture. If one wants to be immersed with locals and learn about their culture, Yangshuo is the perfect place for them.

It is very popular among tourists but there are places inside Yangshuo barely touched by tourism. It would be very interesting to explore these places that could even cost you less than the mainstream spots. Travellers would just have to look for them.

River Raft

River Raft

Yangshuo

Idependent Travel Tip (2014) A good way to raft the river is to hire bamboo raft for an hour, and be brought to see some of the limestone stacks along the river. The trip cost 100 yuan for two people.

Bamboo rafting is another way of experiencing the beauty of the Li River. If you are one of those people who are already bored with cruising on a typical boat, this is perfect for you. It is a calming and an extraordinary experience. Four people could occupy a raft. These rafts could take different routes.

The most visited places along the Li River are Yangdi and Xingping so if you want to maximize the serenity of the place try the other spots like the south of Yangshuo where it is much peaceful.

All in all, there are four suggested trips for bamboo rafting: Yangshuo to Xingping, Xingping to Yangdi, Xingping to Yucun Fishing Village, Yangshuo to Fuli/Liugong. There is definitely always something new to enjoy in the Li River.

West Street and the Town

West Street and the Town

Yangshuo

Independent Travel Tip (2014)

Yangshou is a town worth visiting. It's about an hour by local bus 18 yuan from Guilin train station. The tourist part of the town is centered around West Street which runs at right angles up from the river. This is a town which caters for the visitor, street after street of restaurants, bars, hotels and tour operators. It becomes busy in the early afternoon as the river cruise boats arrive in the port and visitors disembark filling the town.

After 17:00 in the evening the town becomes less frantic though still very busy ( Friday-night in April 2014 )

The bars stay open till well after midnight, many of which have live music.

Lake

Lake

Yangshuo

Getting to know some locals could also help a lot to learn more about the place and the people. Activities like hiking, having a tour at the tea plantation, cycling which is the best means to explore the place next to walking; visiting the silver cave, kayaking, rock climbing and so forth could be enjoyed in Yangshuo.

About the Town

About the Town

Yangshuo

The evening is the best tie to wander about the town after the large number of day cruise visitors have headed back to the bigger town of Guilin.

Yangshuo Street Scenes

Yangshuo Street Scenes

Yangshuo

Wander about the streets and you may see peanuts being bashed and smashed by heavey wooden hammers.

Peanuts were introduced into China in the 17th Century by the Portuguese. In 2006 China became the World's largest grower of peanuts.

Bus Drive to Yangshuo

Bus Drive to Yangshuo

Yangshuo

Independent Travel Tip. (2014)

There is a regular bus service btween Yangshuo and Guilin ( Train Station). The bus travels along the old road and stops at the junction to Yandxi. At this junction a connecting bus ferries passengers down to the rafting pier. The connecting bus is timed to meet the bus from Yangshuo and Guilin - so waiting time is minimal. There is also an express bus from Yangshuo to Guilin.


Further Reading on Wikipedia : Yangshuo

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Yangdi

Yangdi is a small town along the River Li. Many raft tours start here. A bus ferries people back and forth to the main road for connections to Yangshuo and Guilin.

Downstream of Yangdi

Downstream of Yangdi

Yangdi

Independent Travel Tip (2014) River Li Cruise Part 3

The next section to Xangdi is very busy with rafts and ( depending on time ) tour boats. The hills at times look like a set of jagged teeth, as mountain after mountain rise up close to the ones adjacent on left and right. The mountains closer to Xanxdi are higher and rise rapidly in places on both sides of river, almost forming a gorge.

The boat arrived in Xangdi at 14:00. A bus, the little blue one was waiting to take passengers back to Yangshou or on to Guilin. The Guilin passengers change to another bus at the junction with the main road. This is the normal schedule for the blue bus, backwards and forwards between Yangshou and Yangdi, and bringing Guilin passengers to the connecting point.

The tour boat had refreshments and lunch for purchase.

Yangdi Port

Yangdi Port

Yangdi

This village is very well-known for the two peaks which appear to resemble the hooves of a goat. It is very hard to miss and as we all know Chinese people love legends, Yangdi is not an exception to that. It was said that the daughter of the Jade Emperor went down from the heavens to look for her goat but she fell in love with a young flute player in the village.

She then decided to stay there and her goat became immersed in the land as well. This village is on the west bank of Li River. There travellers could enjoy the beach, the mountains, the water, the bamboos and the village itself.

The particular destinations which they could visit are the waterfall located in Shuilian Cave, Yangjiao Hill, Moonlight Island Holiday Resort, Carp Wall, Bride Hill, and Mandarin Duck Beach. It could be one of the best places to have a retreat, just be a part of nature and appreciate serenity.

Or else just enjoy the beauty of the river and mountains.

Bus Drive

Bus Drive

Yangdi

Independent Travel Tip (2014) While the road is bumpy and the bus seems springless, for the few yuan it costs the bus is convenient and gives you another view of the wonderful karst country side.

In the Guilin Railway Station take the Guilin to Yangshuo bus, get off at the junction to the Yangdi The fare is 10 yuan / person. The journey in about 50 minutes. Get the bus, cross to the opposite side of the road and wait a few minutes for the interconnecting bus to Yangdi. The distance to Yangdi is about 12 km and the fare 3 yuan / person. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the terminal Yangdi.

From Yangshuo to the Yangdi: Go the Yangshuo station ) about 10 minutes by tuk tuk from West Street. Take the Yangshuo to Guilin Bus and get off at the Yangdi Interection. Buses run daily morning 6:30~17:00, every 20 minutes, and takes about 1 hours to Yang di.



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