The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the
centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous Karst peaks
give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. Water
buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies, school kids and
fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of
a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the river
become one of China's top tourist destinations.
The trip starts from the dock south of Liberation Bridge in Guilin downtown
area. Otherwise some agencies will transport tourists to take a one-hour
bus ride to the Bamboo River Dock (Zhujiang Dock) or the Millstone Hill Dock to
start the cruise from its essential part.
The river trip is over 52 miles (83 kilometers) long and is estimated to take four to five hours. The eye-feasting landscape and country scenery will never disappoint you.
The river trip is over 52 miles (83 kilometers) long and is estimated to take four to five hours. The eye-feasting landscape and country scenery will never disappoint you.
The river generally has three sections. 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 guide's legendary stories about the attractions is a delightful experience when you are appreciating the landscapes. Most are mystical fairy and love stories.
The following Introduction to the attractions are presented in order of the
attractions' locations along the river. You can refer to the map of the river
course. Now start our impressive river trip from section to section!
In the first section, which is from Guilin to Ox Gorge, you can enjoy the
following scenery: Elephant-Trunk
Hill,Rooster
Fighting Hill, Pagoda Hill, Forest of Odd
Shaped Peaks, Daxu Ancient
Town , and Ox Gorge.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Situated majestically on the western bank of the river, the hill resembles an
elephant sucking water from the river with its long trunk. It is supposed to be
the landmark of Guilin landscape, which you can find on travel brochures or
books. The most impressive is said to be the water reflection of a moon-like
cave when the moonlight sprinkles over the river, hence the name 'Moon over the
Water'.
Pagoda Hill
A few minutes down from the Elephant Hill on the west bank is a small hill
topped with a pagoda. The hexagonal pagoda is called Longevity Buddha Pagoda
(Shoufo Ta) dating from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is said the second
floor has stone Buddha figurines on display and the hill is compassed in
Chuanshan Park. In autumn, the hill illuminated with red maples is very
charming.
Daxu Town
Perching on the northern bank of the river, the ancient town keeps in its
antique style from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A flagging street,
lined with old residences, shops and stalls, runs two kilometers along the
river bank through the town. Some well-preserved residences hidden behind the
street door may give you surprises you when you occasionally explore further
into a shop. These are quarters for businessmen in the past times. Have a
try on various dumping snacks on the stalls or peddle cars along the street.
Some will surprise you with both its taste and cheap price. People in the town
are very kind to tourists. Further to south, there is a single-arched bridge in
the town named Longevity Bridge. The town is really a sight off-the-beaten
track. Opposite the town on the other side of the river, a millstone-like rock
with the running waters creates the scene of Grinding Grain.
In the second section, which is from Ox Gorge (near the Bamboo River Dock and the Millstone Dock) to Water-Dropping Village, the most charming scenery of the cruise awaiting you include: Wangfu Rock (Yearning-for-Husband's-Return Rock), Crown Cave, Half-Side Ferry, Yangdi Village, Mural Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal, and Xingping Town.
Crown Cave (Guanyan)
A crown-like crag earns the hill its name. What makes the hill a worthy stop for both river cruise tourists and those arrive from Guilin City by bus tour is its twelve kilometer long water-eroded cave. It is a wonderland of various stalactite, stone pillars and rock formations in the cave. Since it is open to tourists in 1995, illuminating lights, sound control tour guide system and escalators are equipped in the scenic area and sightseeing cars and boats enable visitors to tour inside the cave. The government plan to build this site as an all-round tourist area including cave visiting, country sightseeing and ethnic minority exploration. It is estimated to become an important excursion site along the the river. Tourists can stay in the hotels and villas in the scenic area.
Half-Side Ferry (Ban Bian Du)
Not very far from the Crown Cave on the western bank, a huge rock descends into
the river and cuts off a footpath by the water edge. Villagers have to take a
ferry to reach the other side and continue the way. So, this spot gets its name
Half-Side Ferry (for usually ferry means to transport people by boat across a
body of water and reach the opposite bank)
From Yangdi to Xingping
From Yangdi to Xingping
Down stream from Yangdi to Xingping, the 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.
A reputed attraction is Mural Hill, a 100-meter-high cliff face, which has been weathered and has stratified rock surface in various shades of colors. It is rumored that the colors present nine horses and a person who can identify them out is considered smart. Legendary stories are given to hill rocks and peaks and it is a delightful experience to appreciate the stunning landscape while listening to tour guide's interpretation of the stories behind it.
Fisherman and Cormorants
Cormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving
underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish
and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The
fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in
search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the
fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The
secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the
bird from swallowing the fish.A reputed attraction is Mural Hill, a 100-meter-high cliff face, which has been weathered and has stratified rock surface in various shades of colors. It is rumored that the colors present nine horses and a person who can identify them out is considered smart. Legendary stories are given to hill rocks and peaks and it is a delightful experience to appreciate the stunning landscape while listening to tour guide's interpretation of the stories behind it.
Fisherman and Cormorants
You will see buffalos gazing along the river bank or patrolling on the fields. They seem to be indispensable friends of peasants, especially for kids.
Yellow Cloth Shoal
Boating downstream southward from the Mural Hill
about 500 meters, peaks become steep and the river become wide and quiet. A
huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is
like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. There are seven
green peaks standing nearby. A legend goes that the seven peaks are fairy girls
from the heaven who took baths in the river. Enthralled by the charming scene,
they stayed here and become into the peaks. With verdant bamboos, the green
peaks under the blue sky reflected on the quiet waters create a spectacular
scene. Sometimes, people doubt they see boats floating on hill tops. Many
Chinese paintings and poems present this charming scene and tourists run out of
their films for it.
The river takes a big turn at Xingping and endowed with beautiful and poetic scenery. It has been reproduced in many Chinese landscape paintings. Even the newly-issued 20 RMB note has the scenery on its back. A photographer once said: 'Shots from any perspective for this place turn to be impressive and stunning'.
A 'village' on the river bank is worthy a visit. Chinese call it a 'village' because of the fact that nowadays it is inhabited by villagers. Actually, it is an age-old castle complex survived from over 500 years ago. Although some courtyard buildings have weathered through ages, the simple but elegant flying-eaves, roofs with colorful paintings, lattice windows and unique timber structures present the folk residence from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The villagers have the same surname of Zhao, so it is rumored that they are descendents of the imperial family in the Song Dynasty. Both Dr. Sun Yet-sun, the pioneer of China's democratic revolution and US president Colinton paid a visit to the village on their visits to the river.
The third section goes from Water-Dropping Village to Yangshuo where you can see Snail Hill, Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Peak), and Schoolboy Hill (Shutong Hill). The scenery is equally beautiful.
Yangshuo
The river cruise makes the small town known to
foreigners. The town is very small that everyone will know you after one month.
Located some 90 kilometers south of Guilin City, this town is the downstream
end of the cruise but not the least. The enchanting fairyland of Yangshuo is renowned as the best in Guilin.
When the cruise ends in Yangshuo, tourists will disembark at the Shuidongmen Dock near the Green Lotus Peak or Fu'an Dock near the Schoolboy Hill. Walking to the famous West Street is a great choice if you disembark from the Shuidongmen Dock. The West Street lined with western cafes, restaurants and hotels is a wonderful place for people who want to explore Chinese life.
Yangshuo is a great place for hikes and cycling excursions. There's no
doubt that taking a close-up exploration to the country villages, you will have
a taste of the rural life. One thing surprised us is the one-hour bamboo raft
trip along Yulonghe River. We didn't expect the scenery to be such a paradise.When the cruise ends in Yangshuo, tourists will disembark at the Shuidongmen Dock near the Green Lotus Peak or Fu'an Dock near the Schoolboy Hill. Walking to the famous West Street is a great choice if you disembark from the Shuidongmen Dock. The West Street lined with western cafes, restaurants and hotels is a wonderful place for people who want to explore Chinese life.
Car Rental: full-day car rental service to the river Cruise and back to downtown offered by TravelChinaGuide, with experienced chauffeur.
source : http://www.travelchinaguide.com/
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