A stunningly picturesque river in China. Lijiang Scenic River Seven Stars Park

Looking at China's fantastic industrial growth recent years, many travelers are sure that there is nothing for a tourist to do in China - it’s dirty and you can’t breathe there because of the smog, it’s hot there and there’s no natural wonders. Oh, how wrong they are! In China there is a lot nature reserves and places of pilgrimage for eco-tourists from all over the world. One such place is the River Li and its surroundings.

Rafting on the Li River is a truly memorable trip, the impressions of which will not leave the most severe tourist indifferent. Stunning photographs of the natural beauty of the Li River and its surroundings have long become no less popular “enticements” among travel agency managers than photographs of paradise islands in the Caribbean. China's popularity among tourists is growing, everyone can become a part ancient culture East.

The Li River is the cleanest and most picturesque water artery China. It stretches for more than 500 km through several regions of China. Almost all of its sections have been turned into cruise routes ranging from 40 km to 80 km. The scenery that can be seen on the River Li is simply amazing. The smooth ribbon of calm Li Jiang winds smoothly among thousands of mountains and hills. From the fog, like desert mirages of the Sahara, the outlines of ancient villages and old wooden piers emerge every now and then, the reality of which is quite difficult to believe.

The route of the cruise along the Li River is covered with many legends, each mountain has a unique name, each grotto keeps a secret in its depths. “Buffalo Gorge” surprises with its karst mountains growing straight out of the water. The Woman Mountain is doomed to forever yearn for her husband; touching the “Stone of Immortality” at the top, according to local legend, bestows longevity. “Crow Cave” is unique in itself - its own river flows inside it, more than 12 km long.

The most favorite part of the water tour among tourists is located between the villages of Yandi and Xingping. Here thickets of centuries-old bamboo hang over the water itself, wild ducks and buffalos swim freely off the shores, local fishermen practice fishing with hand-trained cormorants, and the calm and quiet of the area is strikingly different from the turbulent and noisy rhythm of Shanghai or Hong Kong.

How to get there:

To take a cruise on the Li River, you need to get to the city of Guilin, where you can buy a tour from local travel agencies.
You can fly to Guilin by plane from major Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc. You can also get here by train from Kunming, Shanghai and Beijing or by bus.

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The full Chinese name of the river is Lijiang. Next to it lie green hills and quaint mountain peaks. The River Li is amazingly clean and incredibly transparent. The area between the cities of Guilin and Yangshuo is the most attractive place for tourists. Here you can see huge rocks, fabulous caves and cozy villages. The shores of Lijiang are considered to be the site of the deposition of a significant amount of karst rocks. The coast is overgrown with dense reeds, used to create original musical instruments. They produce a smooth, melodic sound reminiscent of birdsong.

For many centuries, nature has formed bizarre mountains, the names of which fully correspond to their colorfulness. The most famous is the Nine Horseshoes peak. On the steep slope of the mountain there are semicircular stone shapes. These figures vaguely resemble footprints wild horses. Among local residents There is a popular legend about this place, which tells about the Monkey King and his nine paradise stallions. One day, the horses left their owner and found a wonderful refuge on the banks of Lijiang. Here they had the opportunity to frolic and relax to their heart's content. The Lord quickly discovered the fugitives and turned them to stone for disobedience. A person who discovers all nine horseshoes is considered to have an extraordinary mind and special intelligence.

Note to tourists

The River Lee is enchanting in all seasons and in all weathers. At sunlight mountains reflected in cleanest waters Lijiang, and on cloudy days are mysteriously covered with fog. Summer here is the rainy season - at this time it is better to take an umbrella and a raincoat with you.

A river cruise between the cities of Guilin and Yangshuo will be the highlight of a trip to China. There are usually two ships operating here, departing at 9-00 and 9-30 am. The duration of the river trip is 4-5 hours. At the final point of the cruise - the city of Yangshuo - tourists will find a variety of cafes and hotels. Further exploration of the landscape can be continued on a rented bicycle or moped. If you are planning to enjoy the beauty of nature from a boat, remember that in winter the water level in Lijiang decreases significantly. Because of this, the duration of the cruise is significantly reduced. This time year will be ideal for tourists who prefer to enjoy the peace and tranquility of pristine nature.

You can get acquainted with the peculiarities of the region and the way of life of the indigenous population by taking a walk along the river. The most famous trekking route is the section between settlements Yandi and Xinping. This place is depicted on the Chinese 20 yuan banknote.

There is a city in the south of China, the mention of which people immediately associate with one beautiful river. This beautiful river flows around the city, and has endowed it with a special charm and spirituality, characteristic only of the landscapes of southern China. This is the city of Guilin, and beautiful river river Lijiang. Today we will visit the Lijiang River in the city of Guilin.

The Lijiang River originates in the Maoershan Mountains, in Xinan County, located north of Guilin. The length of the river is more than 400 km, in particular, in the section from Guilin to Yangso County it has a length of 83 km; The landscapes along the river are especially beautiful. These places represent the largest areas of karst rock and water deposition in the entire world. They are the main ones geographical objects, which brought Guilin worldwide fame.

In China there is popular expression, reflecting admiration for the beauty of Guilin - “The mountains and rivers of Guilin are the first in the Celestial Empire.” And the most beautiful views are presented on the banks of the Lijiang River. Sitting on the waters of Lijiang, you feel as if you are entering a world of amazing and sophisticated painting. The emerald-mirror surface of the river, the bizarre outlines of rocks and mountains are picturesquely reflected in the quiet waters of the Lijiang River. These amazing landscapes are truly a long scroll of traditional painting done in the Guohua style. Exquisite landscapes stretch over more than 50 kilometers.

Many who have visited Guilin cannot refrain from sincere admiration. According to them, Guilin is like a huge monochrome ink painting. The mountains, near and far, are shrouded in a blue haze, breathing with grace and poetry. Picturesque mountains and rivers organically merge with the outlines and environment of the city, and you can’t tell where the city begins and where the mountains and rivers end, and you can’t tell whether it’s a city among mountains and rivers, or whether the rivers and mountains have entered the city. There is absolutely no need for you to specifically look for any attractions. From any place in the city you can admire the views of the Lijiang River.

Elephant Trunk Mountain near the Lijiang River is a symbol of Guilin. The shape of the mountain is very reminiscent of an elephant, which stands by the river and, with its trunk extended, calmly drinks water. Between the “Elephant’s Trunk” and its body there is a round cave through which water flows freely. clear waters Lijiang River. On moonlit nights, when appears in the sky full moon, a round cave in the Elephant Trunk Mountain is like the moon in the flow of a river. And the reflection of the real moon in the waters of the Lijiang River creates the impression that two moons appeared in the sky at once. It’s not for nothing that people in Guilin like to say that on moonlit nights, wonderful reflections of “beautiful moons” appear near the mountain.

Mr. Ma Weiming, who lives at the foot of the mountain, told us one legend about the Elephant Trunk Mountain.

“Once upon a time, in ancient times, a herd of sacred elephants of the Jade Emperor, (that is, the Heavenly Lord-Emperor from the ancient legends of China) came to Guilin. Surprisingly beautiful views The mountains and rivers of Guilin conquered the animals, and they no longer wanted to return to heaven. The Jade Emperor ordered them to return home immediately. The elephants were forced to return, but one of them never wanted to return, did not want to leave the beautiful Guilin mountains and rivers. Then the Heavenly Lord became angry and, taking out his sword, stuck it straight into the back of the animal. So he nailed the sacred elephant to the shore of Lijiang, so that the elephant would remain in Guilin forever.”

On the flat top of this mountain, Mr. Ma specially showed us a brick pagoda, which is shaped like a sword. He asked if this pagoda, built in the 14th century, was similar. on the hilt of the sacred sword with which the elephant was killed. Compared to sacred elephant, who died in order to remain forever in Guilin, the residents of the shores of Lijiang are much luckier. They live calmly and happily in these picturesque places, thoroughly enjoying all the beauties of this charming city. They do not need to fear any heavenly punishments. For example, every morning Mr. Ma climbs a narrow path to the top of Elephant Trunk Mountain and from there lovingly looks out at the most picturesque panorama.

Living in such a city, gifted with natural beauty, is, of course, a great pleasure. Local residents either stroll along the banks of the Lijiang River or sit peacefully in teahouses, drinking aromatic green tea, then, like avid fishermen, they closely monitor their fishing rods. Goodness and quiet joy are spread across their faces. A young guy named Zhang Zhengfei, who works in Guilin, told us that summer evenings It's even more crowded here.

"When you come here in the summer, it is full of people. Everyone enjoys taking a walk along the Lijiang River in the cool summer air. The pace of life here is not as intense as in major cities. Guilin is a city whose environment is favorable for people to live in."

Indeed, Zhang Zhengfei correctly noted that Guilin is actually good city for accommodation. There is not much noise and commotion here. Rhythm modern life here, surrounded by lovely mountains and rivers, one involuntarily slows down.

It seems that the residents of Guilin, accustomed to a calm and measured life, usually take their time in the morning to prepare breakfast. They prefer to have breakfast in small restaurants, of which there are a huge number in the city. Locals are especially fond of rice flour noodles. Guilin rice noodles are known for their unique cooking method. These noodles are elastic and soft. The noodle soup has a fresh taste and aroma. The noodle side dish is also famous for its taste qualities. And although in the city a large assortment dishes, but people prefer noodles for breakfast. The history of making local noodles goes back more than 300 years. For most Guilinians, every day after morning exercises Tasting the fragrant Guilin noodles means the beginning of the real day.

These noodles are loved not only by the old-timers of Guilin, but also by young people. A young girl, Kong Xiaoling, told us that Guilin noodles not only taste good, but are also very easy to prepare.

"It is very convenient. In all the streets and alleys you can find a place where they serve Guilin noodles. If you just sit and wait a few minutes, they will serve you a dish of hot noodles. Therefore, those who are very busy can eat rice noodles easily and simply solve the breakfast problem."

If you have the opportunity to visit Guilin, take a walk along the banks of the Lijiang River, breathe in the aromas of the local air and feel the measured rhythm of life in the city.

You can stay at the Jingxu Hotel, which is located in the city center. Convenient transport goes there. As for the noodles, you can try them at the Lijidanzi restaurant, which is located near the hotel.

The landscapes of the Celestial Empire have always been famous for their special picturesqueness, which served as a muse for many artists, poets and photographers. The main jewel of China's natural treasury - the Li River (Lijiang) - is recognized as one of the cleanest in the country and enchants even the most experienced aesthete travelers with its beauty. The mesmerizing view of the “silk ribbon” meandering among hills of different sizes and pointed rocks shrouded in mist gave it another name - “the river of poems and paintings.” In addition to the green hills that surround Lijiang on all sides, the vast rice fields visible in the distance add a special charm to it. Mysterious and enchanting - this is how you can describe the popular Chinese attraction, the total length of which is 426 km.

The yellow-green waters of the river flow through the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Okrug China, originating in the picturesque Mao'er Mountains. Then the current carries it south through the cities of Guilin, Yangshuo and Pingle, where it merges with two other rivers and rushes into south direction already like the Gui River. In the city of Wuzhou, it flows into the Xijiang River, which belongs to the western tributary of the Pearl River (Zhujiang).

Ancient karst giants of bizarre shapes are an integral part of the mystical landscape of the Li River. Over the centuries, water and wind tirelessly carved intricate mountain shapes, which, due to their colorfulness, received such sophisticated names from local residents as “Artist’s Brush”, “Elephant”, drinking water", "Flying Waterfall", "Crystal Palace", "Five Tigers Chasing a Goat", " Bat", "Reed Flute" and "Dawn in the Lion Grove". The variety of names is quite consistent with the richness of the landscapes along the coast of Lijiang, and its ornate frame is recognized as the largest source of karst rocks on the entire planet.

Along the River Lea Valley lie a large number of stunning natural attractions. Business card the city of Guilin became the "Elephant Drinking Water" hill located on the western bank, which represents karst formation in the form of a gigantic elephant with its trunk lowered into the water. The most striking places in this area also include the Cave of Reed Flutes, which reaches a depth of 240 meters. Under the stone arches, intricate formations of stalagmites, stalactites, coral caves and rocky partitions loom before your eyes. iridescent different colors backlight in underground lake amazes with its colorfulness.

The most picturesque section of the Chinese Lijiang River runs between the village of Xingping and the town of Yandi. Here, bizarre peaks stretch high into the sky, and bamboo-covered banks form fantastic views, depicted in the paintings of many artists. Against the backdrop of the calm waters of the river, you can see water buffalo grazing or bathing in the meadows, farmers cultivating rice fields, ducks quacking animatedly in the water, or numerous fishermen on bamboo rafts. The latter engage in their fishing in a rather unusual, but traditional way for China - when fishing they take not a fishing rod or nets, but trained cormorants. The strange way of fishing is as follows: fishermen tie the bird by the legs and lower it into the water, where it grabs the prey with its powerful beak. Then the resourceful Chinese instantly pull it out of the water and take the catch from the disgruntled miner. So all the hard work is done for the fishermen by feathered helpers, who large quantities live on the banks of the Li River.

The most famous formation in this area is Nine Horseshoe Mountain. It consists of stone semicircular shapes on a steep slope, very similar to the tracks of wild horses. Legend says that in old times The Monkey King living in the sky had at his disposal nine paradise stallions. Very often the ruler went down to earth to restore order, while leaving his horses unattended. So one day the beautiful stallions left the king, finding refuge in a wonderful corner where they could frolic and relax as much as they wanted. Unfortunately, at dawn, the fugitives bathing in the Lijiang River were discovered by the heavenly king. Seeing the gods coming for them, the horses rushed to the mountain, but before they could escape they were turned to stone, thus suffering punishment for their disobedience. It is believed that a person who manages to see all nine horseshoes has extremely high intelligence.

It was the town of Xingping, where the Li River valley lies, that gave her real fame. The romantic landscape of this area is depicted on the 20 yuan banknote (in the fifth series of the issue). Typically, tourists take pictures with a 20 in front of the famous view.

The river coast is rich in thickets of a wonderful variety of reeds, which local craftsmen use to make fancy musical instruments that produce a quiet melodic sound, vaguely similar to birdsong.

IN rainy weather When a light haze envelops the river and mountains, the local views are filled with a special fairy-tale atmosphere.

The rich landscapes of the River Li make it a kind of Mecca for painters, photographers and directors, so its images can often be seen on postcards, calendars and films. Hollywood filmmakers could not ignore such luxurious views - the film “The Painted Veil”, based on the novel “The Patterned Veil” by the famous writer Somerset Maugham, took place here.

You can take a wonderful cruise along the Lijiang River, going from Guilin to the town of Yangshuo, the length of which, depending on the time of year, ranges from 50 to 83 km. IN usual time There are two boats along the tourist route, departing at 9-00 and 9-30 am, and in winter the only river cruise starts between 09-30 and 10-00 am. The duration of the walk is 4-5 hours. At the final destination - the city of Yangshuo - tourists will find numerous cafes, hotels, as well as moped and bicycle rental points for those wishing to explore the surrounding area. In addition, this section of the Li River regularly hosts a vibrant night show, “Impression Liu Sanjie,” which combines music, lights, ethnic songs and dances. You can see the performance daily in the evening at 19-30 and 21-05, with the exception of severe bad weather and one month in winter (the time of the Chinese New Year celebration).

The views of the Lijiang River, as if straight from a classic ancient Chinese scroll, will not leave any of its guests indifferent, because it is not for nothing that the local landscapes are recognized as one of the most beautiful in all of China.

The Lijiang River, which encircles Guilin, or simply the Li River, is one of the cleanest rivers in China, the pearl of the Guilin landscape. The source of the river is 70 km north of Guilin in Xinan County near Cat Mountain. The length of the river is 426 km.

Near the city of Wuzhou, the Lijiang flows into the Xijiang River, which in turn is a tributary of the Pearl River (Zhujiang). Thus the River Li is part of water system Pearl River.

The mesmerizing beauty of these places at one time attracted the attention of not only travelers, but also Hollywood filmmakers, who shot here the film “The Painted Veil” based on Somerset Maugham’s novel “The Patterned Veil”.

You can take an absolutely fantastic cruise along the river, about 50-80 km long (depending on the time of year) from Guilin to the small village of Yangshuo. What they see leaves no one indifferent: the river, like a silk belt, meanders among thousands of unique hills and mountains, which, like a mirage, suddenly emerge from the fog and disappear again, like in a fairy tale.

The section of the river between the village of Yangdi and Xingping is the most picturesque. Endless bizarre peaks and shores covered with dense thickets bamboo, form breathtaking pictures

The most famous mountain in this area is Nine Horseshoe Hill. On the steep slope there are semicircular stone formations resembling the prints of wild horses. It is believed that the one who sees all nine horseshoes is gifted with an extraordinary mind.

According to legend, a long time ago, the Monkey King who lived in the sky owned nine paradise stallions. The king often descended to earth from heaven to restore order, leaving his horses unattended. And then one day the stallions ran away and found a wonderful corner of nature where they could play in the river and frolic in the meadows. Unfortunately, the horses, while swimming in the waters of the Li at dawn, were discovered by the heavenly lords. The stallions, seeing that they were coming for them, rushed to the mountain, but the gods turned them to stone as punishment for disobedience and escape.

Landscapes of the river have been captured by many Chinese artists, their images are often placed on postcards.