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 the misty jade and emerald-hued Guilin landscape. The surrounding karst mountains are curiously eroded and worn into fantastic shapes; their ancient limestone peaks carved with hidden caves and gullies. Guilin is one of the most famous areas of natural beauty in China, and an especially prized jewel of Southern China.

Of course, no Li River cruise is complete without food and drinks, and various floating restaurants and shops on our route offered ice-cold beers, soft drinks, snacks, and even digital photos of us cruising on our bamboo rafts. Whenever the weather gets to hot to bare, you can jump right into the fresh water for a refreshing swim.

A Li River cruise offers great perspective into Guilin’s limestone mountains which were formed hundreds of millions of years ago, when the entire area was underwater in a shallow salty sea. Over time, the salt water dissolved and wore away at the limestone floor, creating peaks and valleys. As the earth’s crust shifted over many millions of years, the karst mountains were raised above sea level and subsequent erosion by wind and waves sculpted the hills into the unique topography we can see today in Guilin.

The town of Yangshuo (not Guilin City, as might be expected) is the jumping-off point for many Li River cruises. In addition to rafting, Guilin tours can be arranged to some of the impressive limestone caves hidden in the mountains—with amazing stalactite and stalagmite formations, as well as hot springs and mud baths—available to explore.

The best time to take a Li River cruise is in the fall when temperatures are not as high as in summer, making Guilin more comfortable to bike, hike, and explore. Nevertheless, Guilin is also nice to visit in the summer; and an ample supply of streams and rivers enable you to jump in to cool down when needed. Winter can be chilly and spring is quite rainy, but the scenery can still be appreciated during those seasons.

When visiting Guilin's stalactite and stalagmite caves, be considerate and avoid touching or breaking off pieces of the formations. The natural oils from your skin will "kill" the stalactite/stalagmite, preventing any further mineral buildup. Unfortunately, millions of visitors before you have not heeded this advice, and many of Guilin's beautiful caves have been irreparably damaged.

Be aware that bamboo rafting is not permitted on the wider Li River due to safety concerns, though some boat operators will try to persuade you to take a trip. Most Li River cruises will take you down one of the smaller tributaries off of the main river, which are calmer and easier to navigate.

Be cautious when participating in adventure or extreme sports in and around Yangshuo and Guilin. Many adventure tour operators do not have adequate training or safety procedures in place, and fatal accidents have been known to occur. This is especially true regarding dangerous activities such as hot-air balloon rides and rock-climbing, and the language barrier only compounds the risk. Although Yangshuo is increasingly becoming a rock-climbing destination, it is not an ideal place for beginners to experiment, and more experienced climbers may want to bring their own gear.

Guilin is a bit of a tourist trap even for Chinese tourists. Tour agencies can vary widely in price and service. Make sure you shop around for the best tour prices, and go to a reputable tour operator, such as Uncle Sam's on West Street, which is recommended in several travel guides.