One-day Essential Li River Circle Hike

Li River, with a length of 99.5 miles, is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world with high reputation. Verdant hills, bamboo forests, crystal clear water, fishing boats with cormorants standing on boards and ancient villages are along the river to compose a charming picture. The most fantastic scenic spots are in Caoping, Yangdi and Xingping, with the Crown Cave, Langshi Village, Nine Horse Painting Mountain and the Reflections of Yellow Cloth, etc.

Li River Cruise starts from Zhujiang Wharf to Yangshuo Town taking nearly 4 hours to complete the journey. During this 52 miles cruise, you will be shocked by picturesque scenery with grotesque peaks, waterfalls and other numerous natural wonders including mirrored reflection of the serene water.

As one of the hottest attractions in China, Li River, also called "a fantastic gallery with a length of 100 miles" is praised by many famous poets in their poems, such as "He who travels in Guilin hills finds himself in a fairyland" and "He who sails along the Li River finds himself boating in a sweet dream".

Li River Cruise attracts over 300,000 tourists from home and abroad every year. The cruise ships normally set off at 9am or 9:30am from Zhujiang Wharf.

Tips: If the water level is rather low in winter, the cruise is limited to just 10km (6.2 miles) from Yangdi Wharf. If the water level is rather high after rainstorm in spring and summer, the cruise will be cancelled.

Elephant Trunk Hill, located majestically at the confluence of Li River and Peach Blossom River, is considered as the symbol of Guilin City. With a history of over 360 million years, Elephant Trunk Hill is famous for its vivid elephant shape, which is sucking water from Li River with its long trunk.

With a length of 108m and width of 100m, Elephant Trunk Hill is at an elevation of 200m. There is a full-moon shape cave between the trunk and the legs of the elephant, which is well-known as “Moon-over-Water Cave”. Measuring 17m in length and 12m in height, this cave faces the sun and is also called “Chaoyang Cave”. When the moonlight is gleaming on the river with gentle breeze, this enchanting scene must be very impressive.

Elephant Trunk Hill has over 50 stone-sculpted relics, most of which are carved in and out of the Moon-over-Water Cave, including On Chaoyang Pavilion by Zhang Xiaoxiang of Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), Fushuiyuedongming by Fan Chengda and The Book of Songs and The Book of Rites by Lu You, one of the four great poets of the Southern Song Dynasty.

On the top of Elephant Trunk Hill stands an ancient pagoda made of bricks. Looking at it in distance, it looks like a sword grip or a treasure bottle. With a height of 13m, this pagoda was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and engraved a status of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva so it is called Samantabhadra Pagoda.

How to Get Here: No.2, 16, 23, 57, 58, 88 Buses or Tourism Line.

Wave Subduing Hill, also called Fubo Hill, is located in northern Guilin. As an isolated peak, Fubo Hill gained this name by Fubo General (B.C.14-A.D.49), a famous general and strategist in Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). In Tang Dynasty, a Fubo General Temple had built.

Wave Subduing Hill is a peak with half of it descending into the Li River. On the eastern slope of the Hill, there are Fubo Teahouse, Waterside Corridor and Wave Hearing Pavilion. Walking on the stone path winding through the hill to the top on the western side, you can not only enjoy attractions on the hill and but also have a bird’s eye view of picturesque Guilin City. Famous Returned Pearl Cave, with over 100 stone inscriptions on it, is located on the eastern side of Fubo Hill. Next to the Returned Pearl Cave, there are Thousand Buddhist Cave and Coral Cave.

How to Get Here: No.2, 30, 58 Buses or Tourism Line.

Reed Flute Cave, 5km northwest to the downtown of Guilin, is a must-see attraction with 240m in depth and 500m in length. Numerous unique and vivid stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars and stone flowers, illuminated by colorful lights, display a fantastic spectacle which you have never seen before. Reed Flute Cave, just like an amazing fairyland, is praised as “The Nature’s Art Palace”.

Reed Flute Cave is not only an attractive scenic spot, but also has profound cultural foundation. More than 170 stone tablets and murals written, painted or carved by ancient scholars, monks and tourists since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) has been found on the wall of the Cave.

Since Reed Flute Cave opened for the public in 1950s, it has received more than 40 million tourists all over the world, including Deng Xiaoping, President Nixon and President Carter. Therefore, Reed Flute Cave is also considered as “The Cave of State Guests”.

How to Get Here: No.3, 58 Buses.
Opening Hours: 8am-5:30pm
Tips: It is so wet and slippery in the cave that you’d better wear a pair of non-slip shoes and be careful when you visit the cave.

Seven Star Park, located to the eastern bank of Li River, is named after the seven peaks on Qixing Hill, which are just like the Big Dipper falling on the ground. As the largest park with long history in Guilin, Seven Star Scenic Area is a comprehensive park combining with hills, rivers, caves, courtyards, architectures and cultural relics. It is a microcosm of the essence landscape of Guilin. Here are some of hottest attractions’ brief introductions below.

Flower Bridge, dating from Emperor Jiaxi of Song Dynasty (1237-1240), is the oldest bridge in Guilin. It crosses the confluence of Xiaodong River and Lingjian Stream with 135m in length. Every spring and summer, colorful flowers along the bridge are blooming just like a piece of brocade. Hence this bridge was given the name Flower Bridge.

Seven Star Cave, also known as “Qixia Cave” or “Bixu Cave”, is one of the most famous attractions in Guilin. With a length of 1100m, the Seven Star Cave got it name in Song Dynasty. However since Sui and Tang dynasties, this cave has already become a place of interest. Over 120 inscriptions were left on the wall of the cave. The Seven Star Cave is divided into upper, middle and lower floor, while upper floor is top of the cave, lower one is subterranean river and the middle floor is opened for tourists.

Camel Hill, resembling a camel squatting on the ground, is a must-see attraction in Seven Star Park. When spring comes, the peach trees at the foot of the hill are in full blossom and make the Camel Hill more attractive. On July, 1998, US President Bill Clinton made a speech about environmental protection in front of the Camel Hill.

Crescent Tower, as one of the most famous towers in Guilin, is a well-known restaurant which can accommodate over 500 people together for taking dinner. With elegant and antique architectural style, Crescent Tower is famous for its traditional vegetarian food, especially the Nun Noodles.

Tips:
1. Opening Hours: 6am—7:30pm (peak season), 6:30am—7:00pm (low season)
2. How to Get Here: No.9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31, 32, 58 Buses
 

Yangshuo County, with a history of more than 1,400 years, is a famous tourist destination 65km southeast of Guilin City. Yangshuo is famous for its amazing idyllic scenery, simple and honest folkway, natural and cultural landscapes and considered as “global village”. Every year, Yangshuo receives more than 1.8 million tourists, one-third of who are foreigners. Lots of leader figures in and abroad have also visited Yangshuo, such as Premier Zhou Enlai, President Ho Chi Minh and President Clinton.

Travelers can enjoy a cruise on Yulong River or a drift on Longjing River, rent a bicycle for cycling around beautiful countryside, have a drink in a bar in West Street, watch a fantastic show of Impression Sanjie Liu, and even have a challenge on rock climbing. No matter you travel with friends or a backpacker, Yangshuo is one of your best choices when you travel in China.

West Street, also called “Foreigners Street”, is a 2,000-m-long street with architectures of traditional Chinese style. Regarded as a paradise for tourists, West Street has more than 300 restaurants, crafts shops, bars, hotels, foreign language clubs and even Chinese cooking and Kung Fu schools. It is an ideal place for you to have a rest and meet new friends from all over the world.

Yulong River, also known as “Dragon River”, is a place of precious cultural relics and major idyllic scenery in Yangshuo. In recent years, Yulong River has been considered as a fairyland for hiking because of its original natural beauty and ancient cultural relics.

Xingping Ancient Town, with a history of over 1,700 years, is 25km away from Yangshuo County. It attracts numerous visitors for its splendid verdant hills, crystal clear water and simple and honest local conditions and customs. Eight scenic spots and 24 attractions are waiting for your exploration.

Big Banyan Tree and Moon Hill are well-known attractions in Yangshuo County. According to historical documents, the Big Banyan Tree, with a history of over 1,400 years, is 17m height and receive tens of thousands of visitors every year. It only has 10-minute riding from the Big Banyan Tree to the Moon Hill. The “Moon Palace” in the hill is one of the most classic routes for international climbing. Besides, stalactites in this palace will give you a deep impression.

Shangri-La Scenic Area is 15km away from Yangshuo County and is built according to The Story of the Peach Blossom Valley written by Tao Yuanming (365-427), a famous writer and poet in Eastern Jin Dynasty. You can experience picturesque idyllic scenery, appreciate traditional Chinese architectures and learn something about ethnic customs in this Forgotten Homeland. Shangri-La Scenic Area must be the fairyland of peach blossoms which you have expected for a long time.

Solitary Beauty Peak, also known as Purple Hill, is located in the Jingjiang Princes City with reputation of “Southern Heaven Pillar”. At the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak, there is a Longevity Palace first built in Tang Dynasty, while a Solitary Beauty Pavilion is standing at the top. You can have a bird’s view of beautiful Guilin when you climb up 396 stone steps to the top. Dushu Rock, Taiping Rock and Crescent-shape Pond are at the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak while many ancient inscriptions are on the eastern side of the peak, for example “East or west, Guilin scenery is the best”. Other famous attractions include Snow Cave and Zhongshan Monument. 

Jingjiang Prices City, praised as a “city in a city”, was built in Ming Dynasty with a history of more than 630 years. During the 257 years from its completion to the collapse of Ming Dynasty, 14 seigniors had lived here. Jingjiang Princes City became the Examination Compound in the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of 19.78 hectares, Jingjiang Princes City composes of Chengyun Gate, Chengyun Palace, Palace Harem and Imperial Garden with other 40 rooms, pavilions and chambers. Listed as “the key cultural relics of national level”, Jingjiang Princes City is an irreplaceable scenic spot in Guilin. 

If you want to enjoy picturesque mountains and crystal clear waters, Solitary Beauty Peak, famous royal treasure hill is your best choice. If you want to read the history of Guilin, Jingjiang Princes City will meet your need.

Tips:
1. Opening Hours: 9:30am—5:30pm
2. How to Get Here: No.1, 10, 11, 14, 100 Buses.

Folded Brocade Hill, with an elevation of 73m, locates to the northeast of Guilin, facing beautiful Li River. As a beautiful and well-known hill, Folded Brocade Hill consists of Mingyue Peak, Crane Peak, Siwang Hill and Yuyue Hill, covering an area of 2km². Many amazing attractions such as Folded Brocade Pavilion, Yuyue Pavilion, Wind Cave and Wangjiang Pavilion etc. are on the hill. Besides, inscriptions on precipices carved by celebrities of all the precious dynasties are the essence of all relics.

Folded Brocade Pavilion, with a height of 5m, length of 7.5m and width of 8.5m, is architecture with single story, 4 angles, flat rooftop, red pillars and green tiles. With Yuyue Hill to the east, Siwang Hill to the west and Bright Moon Peak to the north, Folded Brocade Pavilion is harmonious with the surroundings. Stone benches standing from east to west, the northern side is the best place to appreciate the fantastic “folded brocade” and is an ideal place for rest. To the west of the pavilion, an inscription by Yu Qing of Ming Dynasty is also worth of visiting.

Wangjiang Pavilion is halfway up the hill and built during the reign of Emperor Zhengde (1506-1521) of the Ming Dynasty. Rebuilt in the years of 1954 and 1990, Wangjiang Pavilion is a pavilion with ancient style, 6m in height and dihedral angles. On the wall, a cliff inscription was carved as “a place for seeking adventures”.