River Cruises On China Tours Starts With Li River Cruise Through Beautiful Scenery.

During our briefing before we left our hotel in Guilin, we were told that our Li River cruise would be taking us through some very beautiful scenery on both of the river banks; we were not disappointed. From time to time during the cruise, a voice on the tanoi would draw our attention to some feature of one of the rock faces of the mountain we were approaching or passing. It was sometimes puzzling to understand why a particular name had been given to a particular rock formation. A feature that was said to be a Dragon's head, appeared to be just a moss covered boulder in the eyes of someone not at that time familiar with the legends and customs of China. Nevertheless, everytime our cruise boat cleared a bend in the river, we were presented with more beautiful scenery, some of which was quite spectacular.

Besides the scenery on the Li River banks, such as large clumps of tall bamboo plants, in different shades of green, or water buffalos grazing on any grass they could find near the river, there were other things to attract the attention of the group members. In some places where the river water was shallow enough and safe enough, people were bathing. The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo was proving to be a very enjoyable experience, the changing scenery enhanced by a thoughtful sun. There must have been hundreds of photos taken by members of the tour group during that cruise to Yangshuo. Boats of traders or farmers passing our cruise boat always attracted attention, then there were farmhouses near the river, and stacks of cut bamboo at the water's edge waiting to be taken somewhere unknown. There was the occasional cormorant perched on its master's boat, perhaps waiting for the evening's fishing session. Tall smoking chimneys were on the skyline, and a lorry was parked on a concrete road leading down to the riverside.

We arrived safely at Yangshuo and joined the many other cruise boats already moored. The number of cruise boats at the landing stages clearly indicated the popularity of a Li River Cruise; the number of hotel agents and taxi agents waiting for the passengers to disembark, clearly indicated that this event was nothing new to them. The quay was all hustle and bustle, then I spotted an eagle perched on a stand, with a smaller bird perched on its back. For a few cents paid to their keeper, I was able to take a photograph to add to the many others taken during the cruise.

For more information about the Li River you may wish to use the Wikipedia link at the bottom of this page.