Guilin

travel time: November 2024

Li River Cruise

Starting in Guilin, we decided to take a cruise along the Li River to fully immerse ourselves in the breathtaking natural scenery. We purchased our tickets the day before through the official WeChat program (桂林漓江售票处). However, this service only works if you have a Chinese phone number - a highly recommended investment upon arriving in China, as it’s useful in many situations.

We underestimated how windy it would be on the cruise, especially on the upper deck where we spent most of the four-hour journey. Despite the chill, we couldn’t resist staying outside, taking photos and videos, and simply marveling at the stunning surroundings. Along the way, there were explanations highlighting interesting points, but they were only available in Chinese, so we likely missed some of the details - not that we minded too much as we were enjoying the scenery! 😉

After arriving in Yangshuo, we strolled down the famous West Street, which is essentially a collection of souvenir shops and restaurants. After grabbing a quick snack, we took a DiDi to Xingping, an ancient town along the Li River. From the town, it’s just a short walk to the viewpoint where you can admire the iconic scene featured on the 20 RMB note.

There are several viewpoints in the area, and in our opinion, the views are so similar that it doesn’t really matter which one you choose for your photo. On the river, there’s a small bank that can be reached by a boat ride for 20 yuan - though it’s just a short 5-meter trip across the water. From this riverbank, you get a fantastic view of the surroundings, and it’s also where you’ll find traditional bamboo boats, often with fishermen posing for photos in the evening. During our visit, we spotted two fishermen on their bamboo boats, making for perfect photo opportunities.

Longji Rice Terraces

When we visited in early November, the rice harvest had unfortunately already ended. This meant the stunning rice terraces were empty, leaving behind only the cut rice stems.

Despite this, we decided to organize a driver for the day to explore the scenic area of the Longji Rice Terraces and learn more about the region. The drive from Guilin took about two hours, but it went by quickly as our driver and guide shared many fascinating facts and personal stories about the area.

The Longji Rice Terraces are located in the mountains and are uniquely designed to maximize every inch of usable land. The fields are narrow and curve gracefully along the mountainside. We parked our car at the base and took a quick buggy ride up the mountain. For those with more time, hiking up is also an option.

Our first stop was the “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers” viewpoint, where we soaked in the breathtaking views of the terraces. From there, we hiked through the fields to the “Seven Stars with Moon” viewing platform, another iconic spot offering incredible vistas.

To return to our car, we strolled through the terraces, enjoying the serene atmosphere and watching a few workers still busy with the rice harvest.