Li River sunset tour with fisherman from Guilin: Fishing lights

Capture intimate moments with bamboo rafts and cormorants as dusk falls on the river

A sunset tour on the Li River near Xingping that puts you on the water with a working fisherman and his cormorant bird as he fishes by lantern light: the scene on the 20 RMB note. Private transfer from Guilin or Yangshuo hotel is included. The fisherman show runs roughly 1.5 hours at the river, and a guide in English or Chinese travels with you. Book a day ahead to confirm the fisherman is available.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Xingping Town1h · entry included
2. Li River1h · entry included

Xingping sunset and fisherman show

• Meet guide at Yangshuo hotel or Yulong river park
• Transfer to Xingping river pier
• Watch fisherman show on Li River
• Enjoy sunset at 20RMB note viewpoint
• Return to Yangshuo or Guilin hotel

The experience

You arrive at Xingping river pier in the late afternoon, transferred from your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel in a private air-conditioned car with your guide. The fisherman waits on his bamboo raft, dressed in traditional hat and rain coat, with a cormorant bird trained to dive and catch fish. As daylight fades, he lights a lantern, casts his nets, and works the water the way local fishermen have for centuries: no hooks, no bait, just the bird's instinct and the man's paddle. You watch from the riverbank or from a vantage point on the water, photographing the moment the fishing lights glow against the darkening sky and the 20 RMB note's most famous view takes shape in front of you.

The show itself lasts around 1.5 hours, timed to catch the sunset. You'll see the fisherman casting nets, smoking on the boat, and working with the cormorant as it dives for fish. The lantern light reflecting off the water is what draws photographers to this stretch of the Li River. The fisherman's presence and the bird's work are what make it real instead of staged. After the sun sets and the fishing lights fade, you return to your hotel, arriving back roughly four hours after pickup.

Multiple departure options let you pair this sunset tour with a sunrise session, a Longji terraced-field day trip, or a Li River cruise earlier in the day, so you can build a longer itinerary without booking separate transfers. The fisherman availability is limited and books up, so confirming your date a day in advance is essential.

What’s included

• Round-trip private transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English or Chinese.
• the fisherman's performance charge.
• access to the Xingping river pier and the Li River sunset viewpoint on the 20 RMB note section.

Options for this experience

8 options

Hotel pickup in YangshuoGuide in English or Chinese · 16:00Duration: 4 hours. Sunset only, with no additional tour: You will be collected from and returned to your Yangshuo hotel. This is a sunset-only tour with no other tour before the sunset. Pickup is included.

Hotel pickup in GuilinGuide in English or Chinese · 15:00Duration: 6 hours. Driving takes about 1.5 to 2 hours each way from a central Guilin hotel to Yangshuo Xingping. Sunset only, with no additional tour: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. This is a sunset-only tour. Pickup is included.

Sunrise and Sunset from YangshuoGuide in English or Chinese · 04:30Xianggong Hill Sunrise: As a light breeze clears the clouds from the mountains, the peaks and river are bathed in golden or pink light. Duration: 4 hours. Sunrise tour: 4:30 to 8:00 am. Sunset tour: 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Xianggong Hill Sunrise plus Sunset: After the Xianggong sunrise tour, you will return to the hotel to rest and be met again at 4 pm to catch the sunset. Pickup point: You will be collected from and returned to your Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

See 5 more options

Sunrise and Sunset with FishermanGuide in English or Chinese · 03:30 and 16:00Sunrise with the Fisherman: You will be taken to Xingping, where you can enjoy the beautiful, peaceful river and take fantastic sunrise photos with a fisherman. Duration: 4 hours. Each tour takes around 3.5 to 4 hours plus 40 minutes of driving from Yangshuo (90 minutes from Guilin) each way. Sunrise and Sunset: You will be collected at 4:00 am for the fisherman sunrise tour, return to the hotel to rest, then be collected again at 4:30 pm for the sunset. Pickup point: You will be collected from and returned to your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Sunrise and Sunset from GuilinGuide in English or Chinese · 03:30Xianggong Hill Sunrise: As a light breeze clears the clouds from the mountains, the peaks and river are bathed in golden or pink light. Duration: 5 hours. Sunrise tour: 3:40 to 9:00 am. Sunset tour: 3:00 to 8:30 pm. Xianggong Hill Sunrise plus Sunset: After the Xianggong sunrise tour, you will return to the hotel to rest and be met again at 3 pm to catch the sunset. Pickup point: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Longji Day Tour and SunsetGuide in English or Chinese · 07:30 and 08:00Longji Rice Terraces: The name comes from the resemblance of the rice terraces to a dragon's scales, while the mountain range resembles a dragon's backbone. Duration: 12 hours. Longji Day Tour and Sunset: Before the sunset tour, we run the Longji day tour from Guilin or Yangshuo. Pickup point: You will be collected from and returned to your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Guilin Tour and SunsetGuide in English or Chinese · 09:00Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Hill: Reed Flute Cave has been honored as the "palaces of Nature's art," and Elephant Trunk Hill Park is the landmark of Guilin. Duration: 8 hours. Guilin City plus Sunset: Before the sunset tour, you will head into Guilin city to visit Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Hill Park. Pickup point: You will be collected from your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel and returned to a Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

Li River Cruise Tour and SunsetGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00Li River Boat Tour: Li River cruises on large boats (a 4-hour boat ride) are the most popular way to see the river between Guilin and Yangshuo. Duration: 12 hours. The boat ride lasts 4 hours, but the day tour takes around 12 hours including travel time. Lunch onboard. Li River Boat Tour and Sunset: You will meet at your Guilin hotel at 8:00 am, take a Li River boat cruise to Yangshuo, then continue to Xingping for the sunset. Pickup point: You will be collected from your Guilin hotel and returned to your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 03:30, the last at 16:00

AgesAdult (10 to 60 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to photograph the fishing lights at dusk. The private guide meets you in Yangshuo and handles the river logistics, so you can focus on capturing the moment rather than coordinating transport and timing with the fishermen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.

Can I photograph the fisherman and the cormorant bird during the tour?

Yes, photographing the fisherman on his bamboo raft and the cormorant fishing is the main reason most travelers book this tour. The sunset light and the lantern glow are what make the 20 RMB note's famous view come alive, and you'll have roughly 1.5 hours to capture it.

What does the fisherman actually do during the show?

The fisherman uses a paddle, bamboo leaf, lantern, and his trained cormorant bird to catch fish the traditional way: no hooks or bait. You'll watch him cast nets, light the lamp as the sun sets, and work with the cormorant as it dives and retrieves fish from the water.

Do I need to book this tour in advance, or can I book the day before?

Booking a day ahead and confirming availability is strongly recommended. The fisherman is often fully booked, especially during peak season, so checking with the operator before your date ensures he's available for your tour.

What's included in the tour price?

Round-trip private transfer from your Guilin or Yangshuo hotel, an air-conditioned vehicle, the fisherman's performance charge, and a private guide in English or Chinese are all included. Some options also include Li River cruise tickets or other attractions before the sunset show.

How long is the whole tour, and what time does it start?

The full tour is roughly four hours from hotel pickup to return. Pickup from Guilin hotels is at 15:00 and from Yangshuo at 16:00. You arrive at Xingping pier around 17:00 and watch the fisherman show until around 18:50, then return to your hotel by 20:00.