Is bamboo rafting on the Li River or the Yulong River?

Both, but they are different products and people searching for 'bamboo rafting in Guilin' usually want the Yulong. On the Li River the rafts are motorized and carry four passengers on the short Yangdi to Jiuma section, sold at about 120 RMB per person. The engine-free raft poled by a standing boatman — the one that appears in every Yangshuo photo — runs on the Yulong River, two passengers per raft.

How much does bamboo rafting cost in Yangshuo?

On the Yulong River you buy the whole raft: 285-320 RMB for the 1.5-hour sections and 180-200 RMB for the shorter 30-40 minute ones, two passengers on each raft. That works out to roughly 145-160 RMB per person with a partner on the classic run. On the Li River the motorized raft from Yangdi to Jiuma is about 120 RMB per person, and the shorter Xingping section runs around 250 RMB for the round trip. Pay the posted section price at the official pier ticket office rather than accepting a tout's quote.

Which section of the Yulong River should I take?

Yulong Bridge to Gongnong Bridge is the classic run at about 1.5 hours, under several old stone bridges and through the small drops everyone laughs about. Chaoyang Pier to Gongnong Bridge is roughly an hour. Both end at the same place on the Ten Mile Gallery road, so you can cycle back from there.

Do I need to book the Yulong raft in advance?

No, and there is no fixed timetable — rafts leave as passengers gather at the pier. The thing to book is your wake-up: be at Yulong Bridge or Chaoyang Pier between 8 and 10 AM. After 10 AM the queues build in peak season.

Can rain cancel the raft?

Yes. The rafts run year-round, but heavy summer rain raises the water level and the section closes temporarily. Check conditions the day before rather than turning up at the pier and hoping.

Is the Yulong worth doing if I already take the Li River cruise?

It is the same scenery at a different volume. The cruise is a big boat on the famous river — postcard views, many people. The Yulong is a narrow river with one boatman and one other passenger, no engine noise, ancient bridges and water buffalo. Do the Yulong first and the Li River as the finale, so the big one stays the highlight.

Yulong River Bamboo Rafting

A quieter, more intimate bamboo raft than the Li River — past ancient stone bridges, water buffalo, and karst peaks.

By Guilin & Yangshuo Travel Guide · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026

Li River Raft or Yulong Raft?

If you searched for bamboo rafting on the Li River, here is the distinction worth knowing before you book anything. The Li River's short raft sections (Yangdi to Jiuma, and near Xingping) run on motorized rafts carrying four passengers, sold per person. The traditional image — a boatman standing at the back, poling a narrow bamboo raft with two guests on board and no engine anywhere — is the Yulong River, and it is sold per raft. Same karst, same photographs, two different purchases. This page is about the Yulong.

Yulong River vs Li River

The Li River is the famous one — big boats, lots of people, the classic postcard view. The Yulong River (also called the Dragon River) is its smaller, quieter tributary. Instead of motorized boats, the Yulong uses only traditional bamboo rafts poled by a boatman standing at the back. The experience is more intimate — just you and one other passenger on a narrow raft, gliding past ancient stone bridges, water buffalo cooling themselves in the shallows, and karst peaks that feel close enough to touch. No engine noise, no crowds, no fixed schedule.

Picking Between the Two Rivers

If you have time for both rivers, do the Yulong first as a warm-up and the Li River as the grand finale. Doing them in reverse order can make the Yulong feel anticlimactic. If you only have time for one: pick the Li River for the iconic scenery, or the Yulong for the quieter, more personal experience.

Best Sections

The Classic Section: Yulong Bridge to Gongnong Bridge

The most popular route runs from Yulong Bridge to Gongnong Bridge, taking about 1.5 hours. You drift under several ancient stone bridges — some dating back to the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th century) — past water wheels, and through gentle "rapids" that are really small drops designed to get your feet wet and make you laugh. Each raft holds two passengers plus the boatman.

The Shorter Alternative

An alternative section runs from Chaoyang Pier to Gongnong Bridge, slightly shorter at about 1 hour. Both routes end at the same place near the Ten Mile Gallery road, making it easy to continue by bike afterward.

Practical Info

Cost, Piers & Timing

Cost: Sold per raft, not per person. The 1.5-hour classic section is 285-320 RMB per raft (roughly 145-160 RMB each with a partner); the shorter 30-40 minute sections are 180-200 RMB per raft. Two passengers plus the boatman on every raft.
Piers: Yulong Bridge and Chaoyang Pier are the two main starting points. Both are reachable by bike from Yangshuo (20-30 min) or taxi (40 RMB).
Best time: 8-10 AM. After 10 AM queues can build in peak season. Morning mist on the river adds atmosphere and softens the light for photos.
What to wear: Sandals or shoes you don't mind getting wet. The rafts splash a little water at the small drops. Shorts are better than long pants. Bring a dry bag for your phone and camera.
Season: Operates year-round but best in spring and autumn. Heavy summer rain can raise water levels and temporarily close the rafts — check conditions the day before. Winter is cold on the water — bring layers.

Photo Tip

The best photo from the Yulong River isn't from the raft — it's from Gongnong Bridge looking down at the rafts passing underneath with the karst backdrop. Time your ride so you're approaching the bridge around 8-9 AM when the morning light is soft and the rafts are spaced far apart.

Questions Travelers Ask

? Is bamboo rafting on the Li River or the Yulong River?: Both, but they are different products and people searching for 'bamboo rafting in Guilin' usually want the Yulong. On the Li River the rafts are motorized and carry four passengers on the short Yangdi to Jiuma section, sold at about 120 RMB per person. The engine-free raft poled by a standing boatman — the one that appears in every Yangshuo photo — runs on the Yulong River, two passengers per raft.
? How much does bamboo rafting cost in Yangshuo?: On the Yulong River you buy the whole raft: 285-320 RMB for the 1.5-hour sections and 180-200 RMB for the shorter 30-40 minute ones, two passengers on each raft. That works out to roughly 145-160 RMB per person with a partner on the classic run. On the Li River the motorized raft from Yangdi to Jiuma is about 120 RMB per person, and the shorter Xingping section runs around 250 RMB for the round trip. Pay the posted section price at the official pier ticket office rather than accepting a tout's quote.
? Which section of the Yulong River should I take?: Yulong Bridge to Gongnong Bridge is the classic run at about 1.5 hours, under several old stone bridges and through the small drops everyone laughs about. Chaoyang Pier to Gongnong Bridge is roughly an hour. Both end at the same place on the Ten Mile Gallery road, so you can cycle back from there.
? Do I need to book the Yulong raft in advance?: No, and there is no fixed timetable — rafts leave as passengers gather at the pier. The thing to book is your wake-up: be at Yulong Bridge or Chaoyang Pier between 8 and 10 AM. After 10 AM the queues build in peak season.
? Can rain cancel the raft?: Yes. The rafts run year-round, but heavy summer rain raises the water level and the section closes temporarily. Check conditions the day before rather than turning up at the pier and hoping.
? Is the Yulong worth doing if I already take the Li River cruise?: It is the same scenery at a different volume. The cruise is a big boat on the famous river — postcard views, many people. The Yulong is a narrow river with one boatman and one other passenger, no engine noise, ancient bridges and water buffalo. Do the Yulong first and the Li River as the finale, so the big one stays the highlight.