/tags/yangshuo.rss en-us 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. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:54:08 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/li-river-cruise http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/li-river-cruise