The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous Karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. Water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River become one of China's top tourist destinations.

Sailing further down the river, one will find particularly interesting a spot called Mural Hill (Huashan), a sheer cliff rising abruptly out of the water. On its variegated face are the extraordinary likenesses of nine horses all in different positions, one galloping, another bending to drink, another lying down.

Farther south, the boat passes Yellow Cloth Rapids (Huangbutan), where a huge slab of yellow roc can be seen under the blue water. Seven peaks on both sides of the river resemble girls looking at their reflections in the water.

After passengers have seen the scenery at Xingping, a town bordered with hills, the boat reaches Yangshuo, its final destination.

The trip starts from the dock south of Liberation Bridge in Guilin downtown area. Otherwise some agencies will transport tourist to by a one-hour bus ride to catch the cruise. The river trip is over eighty kilometers (52 miles) long and is estimated to take seven to eight hours. The eye-feasting landscape and country scenery will never disappoint you.

It is a Chinese tradition to divide the long trip into sections (just as the Three gorges along the Yangtze River) and give each peak an imaginative name. Although some take much of your imagination to see what it is like, listening to tour guide's legendary stories behind them is a delightful experience when you are appreciating the landscapes. Most are mystical fairy and love stories. The write choose some of the peaks and places to illustrate below. (They are presented in order of location along the River. You can also refer to our Li River Map to follow them)