Li River Cruise Planning: Routes, Rafts and Tickets
Compare Li River cruise, raft and section routes between Mopanshan, Yangdi and Yangshuo, and learn how to book real-name tickets and reach the piers.
Photo: Sergio Li / Unsplash
Contents
You can see the Li River as the classic cruise, on an electric raft or on a short section trip, and the right choice depends on where you start and finish. The classic route sails downstream from Mopanshan or Zhujiang, past Nine Horses Fresco Hill, the Yellow Cloth Reflection and the scene on the 20-yuan banknote, to Yangshuo.[1] See the classic cruise routes.
Compare the route options
The classic cruise runs from Mopanshan (Zhujiang) to Yangshuo. A separate return-direction sailing runs from Yangshuo to Yangdi and ends at Yangdi, not back at Yangshuo.[1]
Electric rafts cover the Yangshuo section with the water almost within reach. Four routes are on offer: Yangdi to Chaobanshan, one way in either direction; Yangdi to Mashan, one way; Yangdi to Laocuntou, return; and Chaobanshan to Nine Horses Fresco Hill, return. Upstream in the Yanshan section, a one-way raft route runs in either direction between Biyange pier and Caoping pier via Xiushan.[2] Compare the raft routes.
Section cruises let you pick one stretch of the river. From Xingping old town a return trip goes to a century-old fishing village with Ming and Qing houses, where cormorants fish on the river. Other sections run in either direction between Daxu Old Town (Mopanshan) and Caoping, and between Caoping and Yangdi.[3] Review the section-cruise choices.
Things to Do
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Choose by starting point and finish
| Trip type | Route shape | Planning decision |
|---|---|---|
| Classic cruise | Mopanshan or Zhujiang to Yangshuo; separately, a return-direction sailing from Yangshuo to Yangdi, not an out-and-back trip[1] | Choose the direction and arrival pier before arranging your next transfer |
| Yangshuo-section raft | One-way and out-and-back routes between Yangdi, Chaobanshan, Mashan, Laocuntou and Nine Horses Fresco Hill[2] | Check whether the ticket returns you to the starting pier |
| Short section cruise | Xingping to the fishing village and back, or Daxu, Caoping and Yangdi sections in either direction[3] | Match the chosen section with your hotel and onward journey |
If Yangshuo is your finish, take the Mopanshan or Zhujiang sailing. If you prefer a shorter outing, use the endpoints of the raft or section routes to decide where you need to arrive and how you continue afterward.
Tickets and getting to the piers
Cruise and raft tickets are real-name tickets, booked online through the WeChat service account "Li River Ticketing Office". Remaining tickets are updated every day at 11:00 and 16:00.[4] Piers sell almost no same-day tickets, only a few returned seats, so do not turn up without a booking. Bring your ID and be at the pier before your sailing, because late arrivals cannot board. At peak holiday times such as National Day, some dates sell out. If your date is full, move to a quieter day or pick a section cruise or raft instead, and ignore street sellers of "inside" or "express" tickets.[5]
Customised buses run from Guilin to Zhujiang and Mopanshan piers in the morning, at 07:00, 07:20, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 10:30 from the Guilin station area. A return tourist line leaves Yangshuo's Longtoushan pier for Mopanshan and Zhujiang at 14:50 and 16:10. Shuttles from Yangdi pier to Guilin station and to Yangshuo are timed to the boats' arrival, and bus 802 from Yangshuo serves Xingping pier.[6]
For more planning ideas, continue with the China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area Marketing Office (桂林漓江风景名胜区市场拓展处): Classic Li River Cruise (漓江精华游). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [2] Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area Marketing Office (桂林漓江风景名胜区市场拓展处): Li River Raft Trips (漓江排筏游). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [3] Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area Marketing Office (桂林漓江风景名胜区市场拓展处): Li River Section Cruises (漓江分时分段游). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [4] Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area Marketing Office (桂林漓江风景名胜区市场拓展处): Ticket Information (票务信息). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [5] Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area Marketing Office (桂林漓江风景名胜区市场拓展处): Li River Cruise Ticket Notice, 1 October 2026 (桂林漓江景区游船票务紧张预警提示). Retrieved October 26, 2026.
- [6] Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area Marketing Office (桂林漓江风景名胜区市场拓展处): Transport (交通出行). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
It sails from Mopanshan or Zhujiang to Yangshuo. A separate return-direction sailing runs from Yangshuo to Yangdi and ends at Yangdi, not back at Yangshuo.
No. Yangdi to Chaobanshan and Yangdi to Mashan are one-way routes, while Yangdi to Laocuntou and Chaobanshan to Nine Horses Fresco Hill are return trips.
Xingping to the fishing village as a return trip, Daxu Old Town or Mopanshan to Caoping in either direction, and Caoping to Yangdi in either direction.
Nine Horses Fresco Hill, the Yellow Cloth Reflection, the Xingping scenery and the view that appears on the 20-yuan banknote.
Cruise and raft tickets are sold through the WeChat service account "Li River Ticketing Office", with remaining tickets updated at 11:00 and 16:00 every day.
Almost never. Cruise tickets are real-name tickets booked online, and piers sell only a few returned seats, so book first and bring your ID.
Customised buses run from Guilin to Zhujiang and Mopanshan piers in the morning, and a return line leaves Yangshuo's Longtoushan pier at 14:50 and 16:10. Shuttles from Yangdi pier to Guilin station and Yangshuo are timed to the boats.
