Guilin & Yangshuo Day Tour: Xingping Fishing Village + Yulong River

If you want to experience the essence of the Li River and the tranquility of the Yulong River in one day, the 'Xingping Cruise + Yulong River' is undoubtedly the best combination—offering both the excitement of a river cruise and the leisure of a stroll through the fields.

In the morning, head to the Xingping Ancient Town pier and board a cruise ship to begin your journey through the most essential section of the Li River. This is the culmination of Li River scenery, with peaks competing in beauty on both banks and the river water as green as jade. As the boat travels along the river, the first thing that comes into view is Chaoban Mountain, shaped like a court tablet standing by the water, with its reflection as clear as a mirror. Passing Huangbu Shoal, you reach the famous 'Reflection of Huangbu'—the location of the background pattern on the 20-yuan banknote. When the water is as calm as a mirror, seven peaks are reflected in the water, making it hard to distinguish reality from illusion, as beautiful as a fairyland. Continuing forward, the Nine Horse Mural Hill appears; the massive cliff facing the river is as straight as if cut, with mottled stone patterns resembling nine galloping horses. Folklore says, 'Spotting seven horses means you pass the middle rank, spotting nine means you are the top scholar.' From the boat, you can also see the Xingping Fishing Village in the distance, where Ming and Qing dynasty houses with grey tiles and black bricks lean against the mountains and water, telling stories of a hundred years of vicissitudes.

Next, head to the Yulong River. The Yulong River is known as the 'Little Li River,' but it is even more quiet and beautiful than the Li River. The river is crystal clear, with water plants swaying, and occasionally a bamboo raft drifts by leisurely, with the fisherman on the raft humming folk songs. The phoenix-tail bamboo on both banks stretches like a corridor, its green shadows dancing in the water, rustling when the wind blows, like nature whispering.

Walking along this path, there is no rush, no crowding on bamboo rafts; under your feet are soft field paths, and in your ears are the sounds of flowing water and birds singing, truly entering the artistic conception of 'traveling within a painting.' In one day, from the grandeur of the river to the tranquility of the countryside, the beauty of Guilin and Yangshuo's landscape is deeply imprinted in your heart.