The Scenery of the Li River Is Too Beautiful to Be Absorbed (70 HD Photos, Each with Commentary)

We all know that Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven, but after visiting the Li River, one can't help but say: the scenery of the Li River surpasses that of Guilin.

This time we joined a Ctrip group tour called "Guilin Li River Yangshuo Longji Five-Day Tour," taking a cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo. We boarded at Zhujiang Wharf in Guilin and disembarked at Shuiche Wharf in Yangshuo, covering about 58 kilometers. The most beautiful section of the Li River scenery is the roughly 40-kilometer stretch from Yangdi Wharf to Xingping.

The Li River can be described as a hundred-mile scroll painting. Green peaks flank the banks, emerald waters meander, gorges and cliffs abound, with hanging waterfalls, rushing springs, green islets, dangerous shoals,奇特 caves and beautiful rocks—a myriad of scenes unfolding as the cruise boat sails downstream. The highlights are especially at Caoping, Guanyan, Yangdi, and Xingping, reaching their peak at Bi Lian Peak in Yangshuo.

The characteristics of the Li River can be summarized in four words: clear,奇特, clever, and changeable.

"Clear" refers to the water of the Li River, crystal clear and transparent all year round, so clear you can see the bottom. "奇特" refers to the mountains of the Li River, strangely shaped and magnificently beautiful.

"Clever" refers to the ingenious scenery of the Li River.

Along the Li River, bizarre stone mountains take on countless forms, imitating people and objects with remarkable verisimilitude. The stone patterns and colors on the cliffs are grotesque and colorful, forming numerous pictures of superb craftsmanship.

"Changeable" refers to the ever-changing scenery of the Li River.

As you cruise, the mountains on both banks appear—sometimes solitary peaks standing upright, sometimes a cluster of奇特 peaks, now a sea of peaks and forests, now vast open fields.

The water of the Li River twists and turns, now slow, now rapid—sometimes calm and smooth, sometimes turbulent with rolling waves and splashing silver foam.

The scenery of the Li River also changes with the seasons, day and night, morning and evening, clear or rainy. Indeed, there is scenery in every season, at every moment, each different from the last. Especially in the early morning or during a light rain, morning mist and drizzle envelop the mountains, making them appear and disappear, hiding their heads and revealing their tails, ever-changing and unpredictable.

Yangdi—located below the Mandarin Duck Shoal on the west bank of the Li River. Behind the village is a mountain whose two peaks resemble a pair of hanging goat's hooves, giving rise to the homophonic name Yangdi.

On both banks of Yangdi, green bamboo forests stretch for ten miles, forming a green screen that sways among green mountains, clear waters, waterfalls, and shallow shoals, evoking a sense of tranquility, peace, and far-reaching thoughts. Langshi—on both banks,奇特 peaks rise gracefully, with green water and blue mountains, dense forests and tall bamboos, all lush and verdant.

In the entire journey of the Li River, this is considered the "prelude" to the scenic climax. The sparse woods on both banks look like a painting, with smoke from village kitchens everywhere, creating a pleasant landscape. The reflections of sparse woods, peaks, and distant mountains in the river resemble light ink washes blending into the sky and sinking into the water. As the boat passes, it's like a rolling landscape painting.

Nine Horse Mountain—on a stone wall over a hundred meters high and wide, colors are rich and mottled, looking like a painting of divine horses, hence the name Nine Horse Mountain. The nine horses have different poses—some drinking from the river, some neighing at the sky—as the saying goes, "The horse pattern appears in nine ways, a wonder in the human world."

Yellow Cloth Beach—a yellow rock several zhang wide lies flat on the riverbed like a yellow cloth, so the beach is called Yellow Cloth. On both sides of Yellow Cloth Beach, there are seven peaks of varying sizes, like seven maidens bathing and emerging from the water, known as "Seven Fairies Descending to Earth."

Xingping—the largest town along the Li River in ancient times, with a history of 1,300 years. The Li River flows through Xingping, forming a river bend called Sickle Bend, a gathering place of Li River scenery. To the east are Chaohu and Lion mountains; to the north, Shouxing and Camel mountains; to the west, Bijia and Meinv mountains; to the southwest, Luosi and Liyu mountains. The scenic spots are dense, combining奇特, danger, beauty, charm, and趣味, and it has always been said that "The scenery of Yangshuo lies in Xingping."

2014-5-10

External view of Li River Zhujiang Wharf

Zhujiang Wharf is a wharf for foreign guests; foreign tourists all board cruise ships here.

Although there are many people boarding, the order is very good.

Look at the cruise ship opposite, not bad, right?

Our cruise ship has set sail.

The beautiful scenery of the Li River—the painting unfolds.

Tourists flock to the third-floor deck to view and take photos.

The boat travels in the water, people become part of the painting.

The Li River is in a subtropical climate with abundant annual rainfall, so the mountains are covered with lush vegetation, all green.

Towering green mountains slide by on both sides.

The cruise ship goes full speed ahead, riding the wind and waves. The wind is really strong, messing up my hair.

If not for the guide's warning, some tourists would imitate the scene of Jack and Rose in Titanic.

Zoom in on distant peaks.

Dense forests on both banks.

We are traveling in a painting.

Traveling in a painting—refreshing and relaxing.

The beautiful woman is naturally beautiful, just like the water of the Li River.

Towering green mountains are close at hand.

Look at the distant mountains, seemingly shrouded in mist and rain, appearing and disappearing.

Look close by, the water is green and the mountains are blue.

Mountains are beautiful, water is beautiful—people are beautiful too.

Beautiful scenery appears and disappears, like a dream or being awake?

Mountains green, water clear—sky even bluer.

Distant peaks appear and disappear.

Look at the trees close by—lush and green.

The wind blows my hair and scarf—fluttering in the wind.

Dense forests and tall bamboos, all lush and verdant.

Near Yangdi Wharf are all green bamboos.

The high-voltage power lines crossing the Li River are the most spoiling of the scenery. They have appeared many times in the photos I took.

The original natural scenery is artificially damaged, hateful and sad.

On both banks of Yangdi, green bamboo forests stretch for ten miles, forming a green screen.

Goodbye—Yangdi.

The pattern on the 20 yuan note is nearby.

The pattern of the 20 yuan note is right here, but since I took the photo a bit late, I missed the best spot. A bit regretful.

A yellow rock several zhang wide lies flat on the riverbed like a yellow cloth, this place is called Yellow Cloth Beach. It is a major scenic spot of the Li River.

Yellow Cloth Beach is the best place to watch the reflections of peaks, but unfortunately, the passing cruise ship broke the reflections.

Bamboo rafts—many boats vying for the lead.

Take a photo in front of the great rivers and mountains.

The beauty of the Li River is endless to see.

Dark clouds gathering—I was expecting the misty rain scenery of the Li River, but unfortunately, it didn't rain.

Watching colorful bamboo rafts dotting the Li River is also a scenic feature.

Distant view of Nine Horse Mountain—there are nine horses hidden in the patterns on the stone wall.

Nine Horse Mountain—I can clearly see at least six horses. Very lucky.

If you see seven, you are a top scholar; if you can see nine, you are a champion.

Bi Lian Peak—shaped like a lotus flower, standing gracefully, green all year round, while the surrounding peaks are like lotus petals, arranged around it.

There are many shallow shoals in the Li River, where bamboo rafts stop to rest.

Unfortunately, I forgot the name of this scenic spot.

The cruise boat turned another bend, and the wind and waves calmed down.

Close view of a green islet in the middle of the river.

Mist rises, endless green mountains and clear waters.

The cruise boat seems to have run aground.

This is a bend with rapid currents and whirlpools, churning up waves.

The beauty of the Li River almost blinds my eyes.

After the cruise boat passes, the water surface returns to calm—as smooth as a mirror.

Endless mountain and water scenery, endless videos and photos, endless words of praise. My eyes are fully feasted.

Think of the great man's poem: "Such beauty in our rivers and mountains has made countless heroes bow in homage." If heroes are like this, we common people are nothing but excitement and exclamation.

This might be the legendary "misty rain Li River" scenery.

Approaching Yangshuo Wharf.

The Li River cruise is about to end, take another photo in front of the beautiful scenery.

The water of the Li River twists and turns, now slow, now rapid—this section is calm and smooth.

After sailing for four hours, we finally arrive at Yangshuo Wharf.

Yangshuo Wharf, we are about to go ashore. Goodbye, beautiful Li River. Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven, but the scenery of the Li River surpasses that of Guilin.