The Chinese have a saying "Guilin's mountains and rivers are the best in the world" – meaning that the scenery of Guilin's mountains and waters is the most beautiful in the world. And when you drift on the Li River among hundreds of limestone peaks rising like giant ink brushes, you will believe that this saying is not an exaggeration. The most beautiful stretch is 83 km long, connecting Guilin down to Yangshuo, which is the scene printed on the back of the 20 yuan banknote.

The 4-hour cruise departs from Zhujiang Pier at 9 AM. The boat glides past places that have entered poetry: Spirit Child Rock, Nine Horse Fresco Hill (Nine Horses Mountain – if you can recognize all 9 horses, you are lucky!), Yellow Cloth Shoal casting its shadow on the calm water. As the boat approaches Yangshuo, Elephant Trunk Hill appears – the symbol of Guilin – and you will understand why this place has inspired thousands of years of Chinese landscape painting.

Unlike large cruises, bamboo rafting on the Li River section of Yangshuo is the most authentic experience. You sit on a bamboo raft for 4 people, with fishermen paddling with bamboo poles, gliding close to the clear water where you can see the pebbled bottom, with steep cliffs on both sides covered in lush greenery, occasionally a flock of wild ducks flies by. In the afternoon, the Yangshuo fishermen also perform fishing with cormorants – a traditional profession that has been preserved for over 1,300 years in few places.

Tips for travelers: The Li River cruise operates best from April to October. Standard cruise tickets are 215 RMB (~750,000 VND), and premium boats are 380 RMB with lunch included. The bamboo raft ride in Yangshuo costs 120 RMB for 4 people and lasts 90 minutes. If it's your first time in Guilin, you should spend a night in the ancient town of Yangshuo West Street – in the evening there are cafes with live music, handicraft shops, and the local specialties of Guilin beer and snail noodles are very delicious (price 15–30 RMB/bowl).

You will leave Guilin with a strange feeling: as if you have just passed through an ancient ink wash painting, where each bend of the river is a poem. This is an ideal destination for couples, families who enjoy a leisurely pace, and anyone in need of a healing journey in nature.

Content generated by AI. Illustration: iVIVU.com. Reference information: Guilin travel itinerary – iVIVU & Guilin Tourism Administration.