Slideshow: Li River Cruise
A cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo is supposed to be a highlight of a trip to Guangxi Province. On a January trip with my parents and brother, we were already planning to visit both Guilin and Yangshuo, and a river cruise seemed like a logical and pleasant way to get from point A to point B. The cruises do come with a hefty price tag — as much as 450 RMB for a tour that includes lunch and an English-speaking guide. Compared to 15 RMB for an hourlong bus ride from Guilin to Yangshuo, this is not a budget choice. However, a bit of “luxury” is one of the perks of traveling with parents.
Because water levels were low in January, our cruise began with a bus ride to a point further down the river where the tourist boat could dock. Once we were aboard, we were shown to a table with four other passengers: a Korean couple living in Beijing and a European man and his Chinese lady-friend. It was a bit chilly, so we alternated photo-sessions on the deck with stints at the table below. The cruise is 4 1/2 hours long, and at some point, all karsts start to look fairly similar. Highlights of the tour included listening to the amusing English names for the karst formations we passed (“Forest of Odd-Shaped Peaks,” for instance), watching hawkers paddle up to the boat to sell trinkets through the windows, and matching the 20-RMB bill to the real-life landscape it depicts.
Coming soon: Guides to Guilin and Yangshuo.
This is the latest in a series of weekly slideshows spotlighting places I’ve been on my travels, in China and beyond. You can also view this album, along with more photos, at To China and Beyond’s Picasa page.
I have some images taken in a better weather. It was a wonderful experience in Yangshuo. I saw some farm fields, did you go to Longsheng terraces?
Li River Cruise