Ink Landscape of the Li River: A Complete Decoding | The Ultimate Guide to Guilin's Scenery!

[Scenic Area Overview] The Li River Scenic Area is located in Guilin City to Yangshuo County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (24°38′–25°04′ north latitude, 110°10′–110°41′ east longitude). The entire 83 km waterway has been selected for the "World Natural Heritage List" and is praised by National Geographic as an "epic textbook of karst landforms." From the misty rain of Yangdi to the Xingping Gallery, 1,600 green peaks and their reflections interpret the oriental aesthetic paradigm of "traveling on a boat in the green waves, with people traveling in a painting." There are 27 ancient ferry crossings and 9 ancient residential clusters of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has also become a global benchmark for landscape theaters due to Zhang Yimou's "Impression Sanjie Liu" live-action performance. [Core Highlights] Yellow Cloth Shoal (Must-See Index ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) The Xingping section of the river is up to 200m wide, forming a natural mirror. It is the location of the background image of the fifth edition of the CNY 20 banknote. It is recommended to use a polarizing filter to shoot half an hour after sunrise. If you encounter a fisherman casting a net with cormorants, you can take a photo with a "harmony between man and nature" composition. Nine Horses Fresco Hill (Intrigue Index ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) Natural rock paintings on a 400m-high cliff hide nine divine horses. Zhang Jianxun, a scholar in the Qing Dynasty, once deciphered it here in three days. Carrying binoculars makes it easier to spot the quartz reflection in the eyes of the "leading horse." On rainy days, the mountain appears with an ink-wash effect. Yangdi Bamboo Raft (Immersion Index ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) The only 6 km original river section that retains manual punting, and the boatmen will sing original Li River fishermen's songs. In the rainy season in August, you can experience the spectacle of "bamboo rafts passing through waterfalls." Prepare a waterproof bag for your mobile phone to capture the moment when the waves splash. Damian Mountain Cloud Sea (Hardcore Index ⭐⭐⭐⭐) Climbing to the top requires climbing 1,700 stone steps. At sunrise, clouds and mist form a "Tai Chi cloud vortex" on the 300° viewing platform. Professional photographers grab their spots at 3am, and telephoto lenses can capture the effect of floating peaks. Xingping Ancient Town (Cultural Index ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) A 173-year-old bluestone street with the most complete existing Ming and Qing Jiangxi-style building complex. The must-try intangible cultural heritage project is Li River stone painting (CNY 38 to customize a zodiac portrait), and there is a century-old fishing fire performance every Saturday at 20:00. [Popular Guide] 📍 Precise Location: Xingping Town, Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi (navigate to "Li River Xingping Pier", 1.5 hours drive from Guilin Liangjiang Airport) 🚗 Transportation Plan: High-speed rail: Yangshuo Station → Xingping special line (CNY 5/person, 15 minutes direct) Self-driving: Guilin Ring Expressway → G321 National Highway (new energy vehicles are recommended to depart with a full charge) Waterway: Guilin Mopanshan Pier → Yangshuo (4-hour panoramic cruise, three-star with meals CNY 298) 📅 Golden Time: April–May: Misty Li River + peak waterfall season September–October: Clear autumn weather + persimmons are all over the banks Daily 07:00–09:00: Fisherman casts nets for photo opportunities (charter boat CNY 200/hour) 🎫 Ticketing Tips: The electric raft ticket for the best section, Yangdi-Xingping, is CNY 118, and students can enjoy a 30% discount when purchasing tickets on site. Hidden passage: Free admission for the Chaobanshan Pier hiking route (requires a local guide) 📸 Photo Guide: Use a 0.6x wide-angle lens on your mobile phone to take symmetrical reflections at the CNY 20 viewing platform Take a silhouette of "All Mountains Paying Tribute to the King" 1 hour before sunset on Laozhai Mountain Fuli Bridge on the Yulong River requires an ND8 neutral density filter for the ancient bridge frame scene 🏡 Accommodation Recommendations: High-end: Banyan Tree Yangshuo (infinity pool on the Li River) Features: Huashan Yunshe (panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows to view the Nine Horses Fresco Hill) Must-eat: Beer-braised fish with bones (with Liquan 1998 beer), Gongcheng oil tea (intangible cultural heritage morning tea) [Tips to Avoid Pitfalls] Filming traps: The "professional photography" at the pier charges exorbitant fees, so make an appointment with a local photographer in advance (CNY 150/group) Traffic mines: Black car quotes on Yangshuo West Street are tripled, so recognize the green scenic shuttle bus Shopping mysteries: Most of the "chicken-blood jade" on the street are dyed quartz, so it is recommended to buy Li River bamboo carvings (recognize the intangible cultural heritage label) Weather warning: There is an 80% chance that bamboo rafts will be suspended after heavy rain. Check the real-time bulletin of the Hydrology Bureau in advance.