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Last Update: 15th January 2023
The Li River Cruise operates on a set schedule meaning the best time for Li River Cruise is at a set time each day. Typically, these boats depart at 9 – 9:30 am from Guilin and arrive approximately 4 x hours later into Yangshuo.
There are also Yangshuo to Guilin Li River Cruise boats departing in the mid-morning and early afternoon for the upstream cruise back to Guilin. Departure times can be found on the Li River Cruise Tickets section.
What month is the best time for Li River Cruise?
Each season offers different scenery and views for visitors looking to experience the Li River Cruise – meaning the best time for Li River Cruise is throughout the year!
That being said, there are some more popular months that visitors travel to Guilin to experience the Li River Cruise and please see details of the best time for the Li River Cruise below:
During these months (January – March), there are less visitors traveling to Guilin and Yangshuo meaning attractions typically aren’t so busy. It’s also during the winter months where the water levels are typically lower due to lack of rainfall.
It’s cold in Guilin during this time so please ensure you bring adequate clothing to be comfortable during a Li River Cruise!
During these months (April – June), the monsoon season arrives with early April being a peak season and the heavier rains typically being in May and June. The month of April (typically with the Easter vacation) is a very popular time of year for visitors to travel to Guilin.
The weather isn’t so cold and it’s just prior to the heavy rains. This is widely considered to be the best time for a visit to Guilin and a Li River Cruise.
During these months (July – September), summer arrives into Guilin and with it, very hot weather. The rainfall stops from the monsoon season in the months earlier and the weather becomes clear with daylight hours lasting longer. There is also the ‘summer holiday’ visitors, typically domestic Chinese visitors. We recommend visiting during this time in the month of September as September is the best time for a Li River Cruise.
During these months (October – December), spring is in Guilin as the weather starts to cool down during late October and November. This time of year features the National Holiday (usually the first week of October) and this is definitely not a good time to visit Guilin, unless you want to spend a lot of time lining up in queues!
We recommend visiting during mid-October through until mid-November and during this time period, it’s considered the best time for a Li River Cruise.
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