Raft down the Li River

This adventure starts in the village of Yangdi. Located 45 miles from Guilin, the closest metropolitan city, Yangdi sits at the base of karsts on the west side of the Li River. The village itself is small but is bustling with activity from the the local merchants and dozens upon dozens of bamboo raft operators. To get to Yangdi you can either hire a driver or take buses from Guilin or Yangshuo.

Once in Yangdi, it won’t be hard to find a bamboo raft. They are everywhere. The key will be to know your destination and how much you are willing to pay. Prices can range anywhere from 50 to 200 Yuan, but should average around 100 Yuan ($15 USD). The most scenic part of the Li River is the route between Yangdi and XingPing - this is likely the best route destination.

The Li River scenery is majestic. With karsts engulfing the river and surrounding you at every bend, the entire trip down the river feels surreal. In total a one-way ride to Xingping will be about 1 ½ to 2 hours, but you can attempt to ask your driver to go as slow or fast as you desire. Additionally, a majority of the rafts are covered, so in the event it rains you’ll be covered. Round trips Xingping and back to the Yangdi village are doable but staying a night in Xingping, exploring their ancient streets and partaking in some other adventures near the village is recommended. For bamboo raft ride, sit back and enjoy the surreal ride.

Note: these rides can be extremely popular at peak times in the day. For a more solitary and peaceful rafting experience, go as early as possible in the day.