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Catch Your Dinner Cormorant Fishing Along the Li River
Published by Susan Furber, Writer
Country: China 
The Experience
Many traditions are changed or lost over time. Hunting and gathering cultures have long been replaced by online, fast paced and immediate. China a country of contrast, is a busy metropolis around many corners, but in some regions of Guangxi like Guilin and Yangshuo, it still hangs on to some of its traditional conventions. The Cormorant fishermen of China are a small example of this. Once a successful industry in both China and Japan, more efficient fishing techniques have subsequently been developed so that Cormorant fishing is now primarily sustained by the tourism industry. Thankfully foraging forward, it provides visitors with a glimpse into this ancient ritual and leaves us in wonder of such a process.
Dressed in traditional costume, the fishermen ride on small bamboo rafts lined with Cormorant birds. Lit by a simple lamp the Cormorant fishermen of the Li River (Lijiang River) paddle out slowly and then use a pole to encourage the birds into the water, where they dive for fish. A small snare is placed around the throat of the birds so that they cannot swallow any large fish, which then enables the fishermen to remove the catch from their throats when they return to the raft. It is a traditional fishing technique that does initially seem to have a small element of the cruelty to it, as the birds are dunked into the water to do their job and then dutifully re-appear with their catches without being able to feed. Like any such process, the Cormorant birds are trained and well kept to produce the most efficient results. With a history spanning over 1300 years, the practice of Cormorant fishing along the Li River yields large catches that provide not only a feast for spectators but for some hungry consumer later.
Guilin and Yangshou, where Cormorant fishing is still practiced, provides some spectacular landscape photography opportunities. As morning unfolds along the Li River the limestone hills reveal themselves, flawlessly blending the Cormorant Fishermen against the ancient landscape. As morning light grows, the birds grow weary and the fishermen are keen to wrap things up. Birds frolic amorously with each other on the raft, showing no signs of discomfort and proud of their morning’s work. Gathering up the catch of fish, calmness is broken by the unnatural sound of blaring music. It's just a mobile going off ... the Cormorant fishermen need to stay in touch too. It's just not quite like the old days!
Dressed in traditional costume, the fishermen ride on small bamboo rafts lined with Cormorant birds. Lit by a simple lamp the Cormorant fishermen of the Li River (Lijiang River) paddle out slowly and then use a pole to encourage the birds into the water, where they dive for fish. A small snare is placed around the throat of the birds so that they cannot swallow any large fish, which then enables the fishermen to remove the catch from their throats when they return to the raft. It is a traditional fishing technique that does initially seem to have a small element of the cruelty to it, as the birds are dunked into the water to do their job and then dutifully re-appear with their catches without being able to feed. Like any such process, the Cormorant birds are trained and well kept to produce the most efficient results. With a history spanning over 1300 years, the practice of Cormorant fishing along the Li River yields large catches that provide not only a feast for spectators but for some hungry consumer later.
Guilin and Yangshou, where Cormorant fishing is still practiced, provides some spectacular landscape photography opportunities. As morning unfolds along the Li River the limestone hills reveal themselves, flawlessly blending the Cormorant Fishermen against the ancient landscape. As morning light grows, the birds grow weary and the fishermen are keen to wrap things up. Birds frolic amorously with each other on the raft, showing no signs of discomfort and proud of their morning’s work. Gathering up the catch of fish, calmness is broken by the unnatural sound of blaring music. It's just a mobile going off ... the Cormorant fishermen need to stay in touch too. It's just not quite like the old days!
When to Go to Cormorant Fishing
The best time to visit Guilin for a Cormorant fishing tour is between April and October. During this time, the limestone cliffs along the Li River are plushly adorned with greenery. To find a Li River tour you can wait to find a local guide in Guilin or book our tour offering online.
Odds n' Ends
To see Cormorant fishing along the Li River you must go first thing in the morning, or at sunset. The most important thing to remember about Guilin and Yangshuo is that the weather can get very humid and it rains frequently, so pack appropriately.
Want a Guide?
- Ocean Capture Adventures
- Offering photography tours and workshops in the beautiful Guilin and Yangshou region, this company works with local tour operators to provide fantastic photographic opportunities in Southern China.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Sheraton Guilin Hotel
- Located on the banks of the Li River and in the heart of Guilin, this hotel provides a little bit of luxury and a very comfortable stay.
- Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
- An extremely relaxing and friendly hotel, on the banks of the Dragon river, about an hour from Guilin. Watch the rafts cruise along the water from the outside dining areas or explore the nearby beautiful landscape. This hotel is a great stay.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Guilin Shanshui Hotel is a threestar tourism hotel for foreign guests, and mainly receives the conferential, commercial and travelling groups. The hotel is situated at ... 5 miles away
An architectural innovation in the middle of the untouched and legendary Chinese landscape. Surrounded by lakes, rice paddies and cone-shaped mountains and just a few ... 5 miles away
$2340 CNY+
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More Experiences Nearby
- Cruise the River Art Gallery that is the Li River
- Cruising down the Li River in the Guilin area of China is one of the most memorable ways to experience the natural Chinese landscape. Imagine floating down a peaceful river, ice-cold drink in your hand; while around you, rising up on the banks of the jade-green river, countless karst peaks tower into the sky—majestic renderings of a classical Chinese landscape. Bamboo rafts fitted with chairs and steered by oarsman cruise down the many tributaries of the Li River. Skillfully plying a long bamboo pole through both deep and shallow waters, you are able to relax, forget your worries, and enjoy ...7 miles away.
While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
Your full-day Guilin city tour begins with two attractions that features sculpted stone: one carved by man and the other by nature. At Fubo Hill, ...1.57 miles away via Guilin.
$89+
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Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!
On this full day sightseeing tour from Guilin you'll be cruising upriver for four hours, sitting in cushioned comfort in the main cabin or enjoying ...
Starting from $97.00 per person.
Starting from $97.00 per person.
Books and DVDs
Elsewhere on the Web
Media References
- ON THE LI RIVER, A LANDSCAPE IN LIMESTONE - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Top Ten Watery Wonders - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
- Guilin - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
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Mandarin 
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Portugese
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Russian
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Vietnamese
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