One Day Li River Essence Private Tour, No Shopping

Welcome to our 1-day Li River private tour. Li River is known as one of the most beautiful scenic areas in China and today you will be guided to the section near Yangshuo where you can take in the most stunning karst peaks and top watery wonder. In the morning, a driver and your professional guide will pick you up from your hotel in Guilin, and then drive about 2 hours along the 80-km-long scenic road to Lengshui Ferry. As the car drives away from Guilin, you gradually escape from the bustling city life and begin to immerse yourself in the unspoiled natural beauty of the Li River. Upon arrival at Lengshui Ferry, we will take a ferry for several minutes to cross the Li River.

Get off and we will reach the Mashan Pier (Nine Horse Pier), where you will be guided to board an electric-powered bamboo raft that can load 4 visitors one time. Your 30-minute relaxing bamboo raft journey just starts and the first attraction on the way is near the pier, Mural Hill, which is also one of the biggest highlights of the Li River. It is also called Nine Horses Fresco Hill, featuring a about 400-meter-high (1,312 ft.) and over 200-meter-wide (656 ft.) natural cliff standing along the water, composed of 9 peaks resembling 9 horses with different actions. Believe it or not, only the smartest person can identify the complete nine horses but your guide will surely help you with that and tell you about the legendary stories behind the amazing hill. Don’t indulge in it, as the boat winds downstream, there's so much to see along the way that you can't keep up. Your guide will definitely explain every highlight for you.

When approaching Xingping Pier, we will encounter another famous site, Yellow Cloth Shoal. Why is it so-called? Seeing through the clear water, you may find a large yellow slab stone beneath the river, which just looks like a yellow cloth laid flat on the riverbed. The largest draw here is not the giant stone itself or the shoal but the extraordinary reflection of the elegant karst peaks over the glittering water. The beautiful scenery is also well-known as the background image of the CNY 20 banknote. Prepare one CNY 20 note before departure and take the most Instagrammable pictures with it here! Apart from enjoying picturesque scenery, you may also witness local fishermen on the bamboo raft practice a type of Chinese traditional fishing, the Cormorant fishing. This iconic picture of the Li River showcasing the harmony between humans and nature has impressed and lured the travelers in droves. Later, we will arrive at Xingping Pier and your bamboo raft tour just ends here. 

Then you will guided to sightsee at the Xingping Ancient Town. It is a historical township by the clear Li River and in the arm of green hills. White walls, grey tiles, and flagstone-paved lanes there present the original look of the town well. Along the main street, you can find many shops selling various souvenirs. There are also restaurants providing authentic local cuisines, including rice noodles, fish dishes, and traditional snacks like Fried Shrimp Cakes, Fried Sweet Potato Cakes, Fish and Sausages, and Glutinous Rice Cakes. You may have a taste of them before leaving the town. Your guide will also give you suggestions on food options. Finish the visit, and you will then take a ferry to cross the Li River again, reaching the opposite west bank Dahebei. Your driver and the private car are waiting for you there.

After about a 20-minute drive, we will arrive at Xianggong Mountain. Boasting the best viewing point of the Li River, it offers a great chance to enjoy the essence of the Li River and the surrounding rolling hills. Don’t worry, the mountain climbing is much easier than you have imagined. Through about 400 safe but a bit steep stairs, you will hike up to the top within 15 minutes. A really awesome panoramic view is waiting for you! Face to face with the rugged Karst mountains, you will be entertained with a Chinese idyllic picture in which the river winds through the mountains in an S-shape, and the villages and paddies are scattered at the hill foot. Of course, a sunny day would be the best surprise you could expect when the scenery here would be much more beautiful.

Tip: If you want to capture the mesmerizing sunrise view of Xianggong Mountain, you need to arrive at about 5:00 am, when you can see the golden light gently illuminate the Li River and the surrounding Karst peaks. Contact your travel consultant and we can tailor it for you!

After descending from Xianggong Hill, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Guilin downtown with a comfortable ride, which takes about 1.5-2 hours.
 
► Dining Recommendation: Taste Snacks in Zhengyang Food Street
Finishing one day’s rewarding rafting and hiking, if you are still energetic enough, then feel the local food charm in Zhengyang Street. Located in the heart of Guilin City, the bustling walking street is full of food stalls, boutique shops, and various local specialty shops. However, the most worthy-tasting snacks are hidden in some narrow alleys sprawling from the main street. Here you can taste the top roasted chicken wings named Jiangjun Roasted Chicken Wings, slurp up the most authentic Guilin Rice Noodles at Qiufu Rice Noodles Restaurant, sample the savory Guilin Sticky Rice with Sausage in Xiaohongmao Store, and eat a piece of Steamed Osmanthus Cake served fresh. You can fill your stomach with various snacks, costing only CNY 20-30 (USD 3-4) on average. Have been spoiled for choices? Just stick to those stalls or restaurants busy with local Guilin customers.

Please Note: If you are interested in sampling the local culinary delights at Zhengyang Street, your driver can also send you there directly. Finish eating and you can go back to the hotel on your own.

Wish you could enjoy the Li River day tour with us! If you have any other needs, contact us at any time.