Li River Cruise 2026: Guilin–Yangshuo Tickets, Boats & Xingping View
The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the classic Guilin experience. Compare 3-star and 4-star boats, the Xingping shortcut, and how foreign visitors book with a passport.
The classic Guilin-to-Yangshuo cruise (~4 hours, one-way): official 3-star boat $30.30/person ($7.60 scenic-area entrance fee + $22.70 boat fare), departing Mopanshan Pier; 4-star boat $50.70/person (includes buffet lunch), departing Zhujiang Pier. Tickets are real-name registered and checked against your ID at boarding; book at least one day ahead in peak season. Foreign passport holders pay the full fare — China's half-price policies for students and seniors require Chinese-issued documents.
The Li River (漓江) is the reason most foreigners put Guilin on the map. The 83-km stretch between Guilin and Yangshuo is a corridor of rounded karst peaks reflected in green water, and the four-hour downstream cruise is the single most celebrated journey in southern China. You drift past the very hills printed on the old 20-yuan note.
Intro: why go
This is not a theme park. It is a working river edged by fishing villages, bamboo groves and occasional water buffalo. The magic is the slow pace: you sit on an open deck, the peaks change shape every minute, and the haze softens everything into a moving ink painting. If you only do one thing in Guilin, make it this.
Tickets & booking
The official 3-star boat is about $30 per person, split into a $7.60 scenic-area fee and a $22.70 boat fare, departing Mopanshan Pier. The 4-star boat is about $51 and includes a buffet lunch, departing Zhujiang Pier. Tickets are real-name registered and checked against your ID at boarding. Foreign passport holders pay the full fare; China’s student and senior half-price rules need Chinese-issued documents. Book at least a day ahead in peak season through your hotel or an official seller.
How to get there & in-site route
Most cruises collect you in central Guilin and bus you to the pier, then drop you in Yangshuo. Bring your passport, board early for a top-deck seat, and keep the camera ready between the markers of Yellow Cloth Shoal and Xingping. If you would rather skip the long boat, train to Xingping and walk the riverside path instead.
Facilities
Boats have basic toilets and a snack counter; the 4-star adds a buffet. Piers have seating and a few stalls. Wear layers — the river breeze is cool even in summer, and the sun is strong on the open deck.
Best season & seasonal pros and cons
Spring and autumn give clear water and green hills with the least haze. Summer is lush but hot and crowded. Winter is grey and quiet, with low mist that can hide the peaks. Avoid the October National Day week if you can.
Tips & scams
Ignore touts at the pier offering “cheaper” private boats; use the official seller. Watch your belongings on the open deck, and do not pay anyone claiming a “photo fee” at the Xingping viewpoint.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to book the Li River cruise in advance?
- Yes. In peak season the 3-star and 4-star boats sell out, so book at least a day ahead through your hotel or an official channel. The cruise is real-name registered against your ID.
- What is the difference between the 3-star and 4-star boat?
- The 3-star boat costs about $30 and departs Mopanshan Pier; the 4-star costs about $51 with a buffet lunch and departs Zhujiang Pier. Both run the same ~4-hour Guilin–Yangshuo route.
- Can I do the Li River without the full cruise?
- Yes. Train to Xingping and walk the riverside, or take a smaller motor boat from Yangshuo up to Xingping. You still get the famous karst-and-fisherman view.
Page last reviewed: 2026-10-18. Ticket seasons and crowd seasons are different things — this page states both where they differ.