The Lijiang's iconicity in art is a relatively recent invention . From a source high in the Mao'er Mountain the Lijiang River sweeps south toward Guilin and into the world's imagination.

It's a trip into rural China, past bamboo rafts, fishermen who use trained cormorant birds to make their catch, ... Li River cruise takes tourists through lesser-known China.

But for a glimpse of China’s natural beauty, take the trip south to the city of Guilin, and board a boat for a four-hour cruise down the Li River to the picturesque city of Yangshuo, nestled ...

The most famous scenery can be found in the limestone hills of Guilin. This city lies along the Li River and is comparatively small, with about 5 million residents in its metropolitan area.

A tourist poses for photos with a fisherman on a bamboo raft on the Lijiang River in Yangshuo County of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 25, 2022.

Yet it looms large in the national imagination, thanks to a breathtaking 52-mile stretch of river between the southwestern cities of Guilin and Yangshuo. The landscape here inspired countless artists ...

Ensconced in the foothills of Tianmen Mountain in Guilin, surrounded by national nature reserves and forests, this dramatic restaurant of the same name, is best accessed via a scenic boat ride.