In front of the Guilin station you will be bothered by many touts. Most of them offer accommodation and excursions to the rice terraces and cruises on the Li river. The unusual landscape of limestone hills around Li River is the main attraction in the Guilin area. The prices for a few hours cruise starts at 470 yuan on the “foreigners” boat with lunch and english-speaking guide. Next option is 280 y boat for the Chineese tourist. Without insurance (ask!) it will be 210. But I’ll tell you the secret: there is another option for the backpacker: take 10y bus to Yangshuo, then 5.50y bus to Xingping. At the Xingping bus station touts will offer you the round trip boat to the village Yangdi – through the most picturesque part of the Rivel Li cruise. And you will pay for the RT boat only 40y instead of 200!!! What a bargain! Yes, I took this little boat. It is still cloudy here and all this fantastic limestone peaks are in the haze, but the views were still exciting… I think it is one of the highlights in the landscape of all China – not to be missed!
Just one warning: avoid Mr Jack Li from CITS Guilin – his office is in the kiosk in front of Guilin Station. He knows English but he is cheating foreign tourists: he will send you for the Li River cruise by local transport charging twice money that it is worth!
