Maybe it started with a misty photo of green peaks and a lone bamboo raft, and now you're wondering how to get yourself into that frame. The good news is that the Li River is easier to reach than it looks, and you don't need a week to see its best parts.
This guide walks through four ways to see the Guilin karst mountains: the classic cruise, bamboo rafting, the quieter Yulong River, and hiking or cycling around Xingping. Each one comes with time, cost in USD and crowd level, so you can pick without second-guessing. A few days based in Guilin covers most of it.
Getting to Guilin from the US (and where to stay)
Li River
Wondering how far this is from home? Nonstop flights reach Hong Kong in about 15 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco and about 16 from New York. From there, or from Guangzhou or Shenzhen, you'll take a domestic flight or the high-speed train into Guilin.
The train from Guangzhou takes about 2.5 hours. The direct train from Hong Kong West Kowloon takes roughly 3.5 hours and costs around 55 USD in second class. It lands at Guilin West station, so double-check which station your ticket uses. Guilin also works well as a rail-connected stop on a wider mainland China trip.
Base yourself in Guilin if you want city comforts and Reed Flute Cave close by, or in Yangshuo if the countryside is the point. The two are about 65 to 80 km (40 to 50 miles) apart, and the high-speed train between them takes 35 to 40 minutes for about 4 USD. If it's your first trip, split it: one night in Guilin, two in Yangshuo.
Klook Tip: Carry your physical passport. Cruise operators check it at boarding, and you'll need it for most train tickets. Check the China visa-free rules before you book, since entry rules can change.
Which way to see the Li River suits you?
Four options, one river system, and very different days. Here's how they stack up.
Option | Time | Cost per person | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
Guilin to Yangshuo cruise | 4 to 5 hours | 45 to 65 USD | High |
Li River bamboo rafting (Yangdi to Xingping) | 1 to 1.5 hours | 21 to 25 USD | Medium to high |
Yulong River rafting | 50 to 90 minutes | 14 to 30 USD | Low to medium |
Hiking or cycling around Xingping | Half a day | Free (scooter rental about 7 to 11 USD a day) | Low, busier at viewpoints |
The cruise is the pick if it's your first visit and you want to sit down for the whole thing. Rafting and hiking get you closer to the water and the villages, but they take more legwork. If you can't decide, a cruise and Yulong rafting tour covers two of them in one day.
The classic Guilin to Yangshuo cruise
4 Star Li River Cruise ticket
This is the one in every guidebook, and it mostly earns the spot. The cruise covers about 83 km (52 miles) and takes 4 to 5 hours, depending on water levels. Boats leave Zhujiang Pier in Guilin in the morning, and a 4-star seat runs roughly 45 to 65 USD. It suits first-timers who want to sit back and let the scenery come to them, and the four-star Li River cruise ticket is an easy way to lock it in.
Here's the honest part: the first hour is mostly plain hills, and the decks get crowded between April and October. The payoff comes between Yangdi and Xingping, a roughly 20 km stretch where the peaks crowd in and the river bends. Get to the pier early so you can claim a rail spot before that point.
Li River bamboo rafting from Yangdi to Xingping
If a big boat feels too far from the water, rafting fixes that. Li River bamboo rafting covers the same Yangdi to Xingping stretch in about 1 to 1.5 hours, usually for 21 to 25 USD per person. The rafts are motorized, seat four or more under a sunshade, and pass Nine Horses Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal.
The downside is logistics. Yangdi is about 1.5 hours by road from Guilin, and docks can close on short notice in flood season or the winter dry season. Confirm your route is running before you head out, and book your ride onward to Yangshuo before you leave Xingping.
The Yulong River: slower and quieter
Yulong River
Some days you'd rather drift than sightsee, and the Yulong River is built for that. The rafts here are hand-poled by local boatmen, with no engine noise, past stone bridges and rice fields. Rides run 50 to 90 minutes and cost about 14 to 22 USD per person on a two-person raft, with the full run reaching around 30 USD. A Yulong rafting and Xingping trip takes about 8 hours and adds the Li River to the day.
The trade-off is that the scenery is gentler than the Li River's, and the busiest docks fill up on weekends and holidays. Go on a weekday morning if you can.
Xingping and the 20 yuan note view
Everyone wants one photo here, and it's the one on the back of China's 20 yuan note. The 20 yuan note view is Yellow Cloth Shoal, about a 15-minute walk south of Xingping's old town. Follow signs reading 20元观景台 (the 20 yuan viewing platform). The closest match to the banknote angle is from the water, so a raft or cruise gets you nearer to it than the platform does.
For sunrise, head across the river to Xianggong Mountain, a short hike with a wide view of the river bends. Public ferries don't run that early, so arrange a car through your guesthouse (a shared ride from Yangshuo runs under 14 USD with the ticket). For sunset, climb Laozhai Hill, a 20 to 30 minute hike with steep steps and an unlit descent, so bring a headlamp.
Klook Tip: The 20 yuan note viewpoint is about 1.5 km south of Xingping old town, a 15-minute walk. Guesthouses rent electric scooters for roughly 7 to 11 USD a day if you'd rather ride.
Want more time on foot? The riverside hike between Quanjiazhou village and Xingping passes Nine Horses Fresco Hill and covers about 12 km (7.5 miles) in around 3.5 hours. Prefer to skip the planning? A small group Xingping tour pairs the river with the old town.
Karst beyond the river
Rainy afternoon, or too hot to be outside? Go underground. Among the best things to do in Guilin on a bad-weather day is Reed Flute Cave, about 5 km (3 miles) from downtown and a 15 to 20 minute taxi ride. The walking route runs roughly 500 m under colored lights and takes 1 to 2 hours, with gate tickets around 13 USD. The lighting is a bit theatrical, but the centuries-old ink inscriptions on the walls are worth hunting for.
Address: No. 1 Reed Flute Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin, Guangxi, China
Guilin sits in the same UNESCO South China Karst listing as Wulong in Chongqing, so these peaks stretch further than you'd think. If you're building a bigger China trip, our Wulong Karst guide and Furong Cave guide cover the other side of it.
Best time to visit the Li River
Timing changes what you'll actually see, because the river rises and falls with the seasons. April through October is the main window for cruises, and September and October are usually the most comfortable, cool and clear. Late spring brings the rains, and muddy water dulls the mountain reflections. Heavy rain in May, June and July can push levels high enough that operators shorten or suspend cruises, so book flexible tickets.
Winter is the other extreme. Around January through March the river drops, and boats often run a short loop out of Yangdi toward Hua Mountain and back instead of reaching Yangshuo. Yulong River rafting can also pause when water runs too low. Winter is quieter, but the water and the reflections are the draw, so we'd aim for spring or fall.
FAQs about the Li River
How long is the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo?
It takes about 4 to 5 hours one way, depending on water level and boat type. The full route covers roughly 83 km (52 miles), and in the dry season a shorter route may run instead.
Is the Li River cruise worth it?
Yes, if it's your first visit and you have a free morning. It costs roughly 45 to 65 USD, and the stretch near Yangdi and Xingping is the payoff. If you're short on time or dislike crowds, a 1-hour raft covers the best part for less.
What is the best time of year to visit the Li River?
April through October, with September and October the safest bet for clear, cool days. Skip May, June and July if your dates aren't flexible, and expect shorter cruises around January through March.
Where is the 20 yuan note view on the Li River?
It's at Yellow Cloth Shoal near Xingping, about a 15-minute walk south of the old town. Look for signs marked 20元观景台, or see the same scene from the river on a raft or cruise.
Should I do a Li River cruise or bamboo rafting?
Pick the cruise if you want the full 83 km at a relaxed pace, and pick rafting if you only have a couple of hours and want to sit close to the water. Rafting covers the best stretch for roughly half the price.
Can you visit the Li River as a day trip from Guilin?
Yes. The cruise is an easy day trip, and the 35 to 40 minute train gets you back from Yangshuo in the evening. Rafting at Yangdi works too, but it's about 1.5 hours by road each way, so plan for a long day.
Your Li River plan
Soon you could be on a raft at Xingping with the peaks going gold behind you and a 20 yuan note in your pocket for comparison. Book your cruise on Klook first, since that's the one that fills up in peak season, then build a Yulong raft or a Xingping sunrise around it.
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