Li River, a river in Guangxi Province, China, originates in the Mao'er Mountains in Xing'an County and flows through Guilin, Yangshuo and Pingle, down into the Xijiang, the western tributary of the Pearl River in Wuzhou, its course of 437 kilometers is flanked by green hills. Cormorant fishing is often associated with the Li River. Its unusual karst topography hillsides give you a chance to savor the beautiful scene of the limpid river under the blue sky.

Li River Cruise stretches 83km waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo, which is the masterpiece of Li River, decorating with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, leisurely boats and lined bamboos.

At present, the approved sightseeing tour on Li River to the public are three parts: Sightseeing Tour on Water within Guilin city, Prime Tour on Li River and Sightseeing Tour on Water in Yangshuo.

The first section: Guilin to Ox Gorge-the forest of grotesque peaks, towns, scattering cottages and fields compose the beginning chapter of the beauty. Major attractions along this section include Elephant Hill, Rooster fighting Hill, Clear-Vase Hill, Forest of odd peaks, Father and Son Cave, Longmen Village, Dayan Town and Millstone Hill etc.

The second section: Ox Gorge to Water-Dropping Village-Major attractions include Wang Fu Rock, Caoping Village, Crown Cave, One-side Ferry, Carp Cliff, A Boy Worships Buddha, Wave-Stone Scenery, Eight Fairies Crossing the River, Mural Hill, Reflection of Yellow Cloth and Xingping village etc. Among these scenic spots, Crown Cave, Painted Cliff and scenic wonders in Xingping are the most spectacular, excited and intoxicated.

The third section: Water-Dropping Village to Yangshuo. Along the river bank, green bamboos, bending willows, crop fields, cottages and fishing villages can be seen everywhere,which adds an exceptional charm of pastoral culture.

Tourists can enjoy various beauties of Li River at different seasons and weathers. In fine days, reflections of the hills in clear and greenish water are special pleasing to the eyes, but it is more enchanting in rainy and misty weather. The hazy view of the drizzling rain and lingering clouds give birth to a wonderful fairyland for tourists.


About the Cormorant Fishermen: Cormorants are good sized birds who, like the Anhingas found in the Everglades, enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. The Chinese have taken this a step further and conscripted them into service as their hook, line and sinker. They use the Cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. The fishermen ride on a small bamboo raft barely 3 feet wide and pushes himself along the river using a bamboo pole. He also uses the pole to chase the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When they catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. Why doesn't the Cormorant just eat the fish? They can't. The fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to constrict it and keep the bird from swallowing the fish.