Taking a bamboo raft ride is a relaxing way to enjoy amazing views of the Yu Long (Dragon) and Li River. You can start at different places along both rivers and the rides range from half an hour to five hours. This is not the same as white water rafting, as the current in both rivers is very gentle, so in fact you're just floating down river with a gondolier who steers you over the breakwaters. Both rivers have their advantages; if a quiet ride is what you're after; try the Yulong River for a lazy afternoon. For a more varied landscape with Karst Mountains towering hundreds of meters up from the river, we recommend a motorized bamboo raft along the Li River. Generally the rafts have enough room for 2 bikes so you can always combine it with a biking tour.
Yu Long River Rafting
Route 1: Jiu Xian Village to Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
Duration of rafting: 2 hrs
Take a twenty minute taxi ride / walk upstream to Jiu Xian Village and then gently drift down the river from Xian Gui Bridge to the Mountain Retreat where there are cold refreshments and delicious food. Always remember to negotiate the price in advance, particularly in high season when it is likely to be higher.
Duration of rafting: 2 hrs
Take a twenty minute taxi ride / walk upstream to Jiu Xian Village and then gently drift down the river from Xian Gui Bridge to the Mountain Retreat where there are cold refreshments and delicious food. Always remember to negotiate the price in advance, particularly in high season when it is likely to be higher.
Route 2: Yu Long Bridge to Moon Hill Bridge
Duration of raft trip: 4 hrs
Take a taxi (45min), bike (1.5 hours) / walk (3.5 hours) up to the Yu Long Bridge. Here you can float back down river with a cold beverage / two and see the Yu Long River valley from a unique perspective. If you have bikes, you can put them on the back of the raft.
Duration of raft trip: 4 hrs
Take a taxi (45min), bike (1.5 hours) / walk (3.5 hours) up to the Yu Long Bridge. Here you can float back down river with a cold beverage / two and see the Yu Long River valley from a unique perspective. If you have bikes, you can put them on the back of the raft.
Li River Rafting
Route 3: From Xingping to Lengshui/Yangdi
Duration of raft trip: 45 min/ 2.5 hrs
Take a local bus from Yangshuo to Xingping (50 min) and walk to the town docks. Here you can find many bamboo rafts which can take you upstream either to Lengshui / even further to Yangdi. If you want to walk back to Xingping make sure you have enough daylight left / arrange pick up.
Duration of raft trip: 45 min/ 2.5 hrs
Take a local bus from Yangshuo to Xingping (50 min) and walk to the town docks. Here you can find many bamboo rafts which can take you upstream either to Lengshui / even further to Yangdi. If you want to walk back to Xingping make sure you have enough daylight left / arrange pick up.
Route 4: From Lengshui to Xingping
Duration: whole day
This Yangshuo tour combines both walking and a bamboo rafting trip on the Li River. Catch a local bus to Yangdi which takes about 1 hr 15min. From there you can walk for about 3.5 hours along the banks of the Li River to Lengshui which is about three quarters of the way between Yangdi and Xingping. In Lengshui, enjoy a 40 min bamboo raft trip downstream. Note that gondoliers may want to drop you off outside of Xingping as the bamboo taxis try to avoid paying the mooring fee at the jetty. This is not a problem as many electric carts run from the drop off point taking you directly to the Xingping bus station where you can catch a local bus which leaves regularly for Yangshuo.
Duration: whole day
This Yangshuo tour combines both walking and a bamboo rafting trip on the Li River. Catch a local bus to Yangdi which takes about 1 hr 15min. From there you can walk for about 3.5 hours along the banks of the Li River to Lengshui which is about three quarters of the way between Yangdi and Xingping. In Lengshui, enjoy a 40 min bamboo raft trip downstream. Note that gondoliers may want to drop you off outside of Xingping as the bamboo taxis try to avoid paying the mooring fee at the jetty. This is not a problem as many electric carts run from the drop off point taking you directly to the Xingping bus station where you can catch a local bus which leaves regularly for Yangshuo.
Boat Trips and Cruises on the Li River
Guilin to Yangshuo Cruise
Duration: 5-6 hours
Starting all the way up in Guilin, Li River cruises on large tour boats are the most popular way to see the river. The downside is that dozens of tour boats operating on the river causes a large amount of traffic and noise. Nevertheless, it is still a great alternative to taking a car / bus from Guilin to Yangshuo. The price for the cruise is relatively high but includes lunch (average Chinese dishes) and also you can bring your luggage on board.
Starting all the way up in Guilin, Li River cruises on large tour boats are the most popular way to see the river. The downside is that dozens of tour boats operating on the river causes a large amount of traffic and noise. Nevertheless, it is still a great alternative to taking a car / bus from Guilin to Yangshuo. The price for the cruise is relatively high but includes lunch (average Chinese dishes) and also you can bring your luggage on board.
Yangshuo to Xingping
Duration: 4 hours
This particular section of the river is known as the Golden Waterways and includes the most famous local peak, Nine Horse Mountain. The small family boats which can take you on this trip are mostly unlicensed, which means they're not supposed to take tourists. However, if you set off early in the morning / late afternoon you should be able to get one.
This particular section of the river is known as the Golden Waterways and includes the most famous local peak, Nine Horse Mountain. The small family boats which can take you on this trip are mostly unlicensed, which means they're not supposed to take tourists. However, if you set off early in the morning / late afternoon you should be able to get one.
Xingping to Yangdi return
Duration: 3 hours
Take a local bus from Yangshuo to Xingping and walk to the boat landing. Here there are many locals offering boat trips upstream. You can ask to be taken to Yangdi and back but prices vary, so remember to bargain hard (start at 30% less) in advance. The trip takes over an hour one way and is arguably is the most scenic part of the Li River, with giant limestone peaks, sub tropical forest shading the banks and long white pebble beaches.
Take a local bus from Yangshuo to Xingping and walk to the boat landing. Here there are many locals offering boat trips upstream. You can ask to be taken to Yangdi and back but prices vary, so remember to bargain hard (start at 30% less) in advance. The trip takes over an hour one way and is arguably is the most scenic part of the Li River, with giant limestone peaks, sub tropical forest shading the banks and long white pebble beaches.
Xingping to Yucun (Fishing Village)
Duration: 6 hours
Catch the local bus from Yangshuo to Xingping. From here take a small farmers boat at the Xingping landing, downriver about 30 minutes to the Fishing Village. The boat tour takes 40 minutes coming back, but allows for around four hours round trip to have enough time to visit the Fishing Village. Apart from the well preserved Ming Dynasty architecture and wood carvings dating back more than five hundred years, the Fishing Village is worth seeing for its natural Feng Shui alone. Encircled by seven forested peaks and two stone guardians at the village entrance, the modern world has largely bypassed this highly spiritual place.
Catch the local bus from Yangshuo to Xingping. From here take a small farmers boat at the Xingping landing, downriver about 30 minutes to the Fishing Village. The boat tour takes 40 minutes coming back, but allows for around four hours round trip to have enough time to visit the Fishing Village. Apart from the well preserved Ming Dynasty architecture and wood carvings dating back more than five hundred years, the Fishing Village is worth seeing for its natural Feng Shui alone. Encircled by seven forested peaks and two stone guardians at the village entrance, the modern world has largely bypassed this highly spiritual place.
