Li River, China

rpcrowerpcrowe Registered Users Posts: 733 Major grins
edited March 16, 2012 in Journeys
The Li or Lijiang River is a beautiful waterway in Guangxi Zhuang Autononous Region of China.

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In my opinion, the most lovely portion of the Li River flows between Guilin to Yangshuo. It is a magical country of high karst limestone formations rising from the river into the clouds.

Cruise boats tour this stretch of River and usually sail from Guilin to Yangshuo. However the day I visited the Li River, there had been a drought and only a portion of the river was navigable.

We boarded the cruise boat after running a gauntlet of "Hello People" the local souvenier sales people. They are called "Hello People" because they always approach Americans saying "Hello, Hello!"

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The Hello People were polite but, persistant...

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There were different types of tour boats available, ranging from motorized rafts to multi deck cruise boats...

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The cruise boats were moored at river's edge...

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The interior of the cruise boats was very comfortable with airplane type seating...

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The cruise boats get underway...

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The scenery is breathtaking but the day wasn't clear...

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Cruise boats are prevalent on the river...

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As are smaller boats...

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And motorized rafts. On my next trip (AND I WILL RETURN), I plan to hire a motorized raft for a more personal tour...

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Despite the fog and mist (or because of it) the scenery was magnificent...

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The lunch is prepared on the fantail...

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While we stopped for lunch, Hello People came up to us on rafts...

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Poling the rafts in the rain is a hard way to make a living...

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Selling fake jade statues through the boat's portholes...

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Instead of sailing from Guilin to Yangshuo, we returned to our point of embarkation...

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We disembarked...

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And, again ran a gauntlet of Hello People...

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This shot shows the marked difference between an afluent European tourist and a peanut sales peson...

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This is what the Li River looks like on a clear day from a painting exhibited at the Guilin Normal University Art gallery...

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As general MacArthur said of the Philippines. "I WILL RETURN"

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