The Li River: A Journey Through China’s Most Breathtaking Landscape
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The Li River might be the most beautiful and most photographed landscape in China. On both sides of this river rise amazing mountains and pointed rock formations. From the water, you have a breathtaking view of the picturesque surroundings. It is one of the highlights and on the bucket list for many travelers who visit China.
The Li River starts in the Mao'er mountain in Xing'an, northeast of Guilin, and flows down around 437 kilometers (271 miles) to the southeast, eventually joining the Xi River at Wulin. The 83-kilometer (51 miles) waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is especially remarkable. Here, the landscape is decorated with rolling hills, fantastic caves, and traditional boats. Beautiful peaks surprise you at every turn of this river. Water buffaloes still patrol the fields, farmers harvest rice fields, and school children and fishermen float on bamboo rafts.
With its breathtaking scenery and a lifestyle far removed from the big cities, this river is an unmissable destination during your trip through China. It has the largest nature reserve in China and attracts thousands of travelers every year.
Guilin
Guilin is the starting point of a trip on the Li River. It is a medium-sized Chinese city with a number of interesting sights, a beautiful city park, and a pleasant night market. You can view the four lakes, the Sun and Moon Pagodas, and the famous rock formation known as Elephant Trunk Hill. You can travel to Yangshuo by boat on the Li River from Guilin.
How to get there
Due to climate change, we recommend taking the train instead of flying. There are both high-speed trains and regular-speed trains traveling between Beijing and Guilin. The journey duration of the high-speed train is about 11 hours. They depart early in the morning and arrive at night. A second-class seat is around US$120 (as of 2019) per ticket.
Where to stay
If you are looking for a great hotel, we highly recommend Life·Yuezhuang. This hotel is located outside Guilin in an idyllic setting surrounded by nature. The rooms are beautifully designed with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and fields. 
Being away from shops and restaurants, there is the possibility to use the well-equipped kitchen, cook with others, or be invited to eat with the staff or family. You can also dine at the hotel’s restaurant, which is amazing and uses freshly picked organic vegetables grown in their own garden. The hotel is very idyllic, right next to the Reed Flute Cave. Drinks from the fridge are very affordable, as is the rental of scooters. And of course, the pool is great too. We highly recommend this accommodation. On booking.com, they have an average rating of 9.4.
Best time to visit
There are three different periods to visit the Li River:
April to June
This is often considered the best period. A cruise through the river is ideal during these wet and humid months. In these months, the landscape is the greenest, and the river is deep, allowing boats to travel further than in the dry season.
July to October
This period is the best time to see the landscape along the river. During sunny days, you can see the reflection of the hills in the water. July and August are the hottest months. You may experience some rain, but it is often brief. September and October are warm and dry months.
November to March
This is the worst period to visit. It is winter and low season, and the water level is much lower, so cruises are shortened to around 2 hours. There are only a few sunny days.