The trail from Yangdi to Xingping follows the Li River bank for roughly 18 to 24 kilometres, crossing the river twice on small ferries. It passes through the section of the river corridor considered most spectacular: narrow gorges where the water turns green and still, peaks that lean over the river from both banks, and stretches of farmland and fishing villages that look unchanged since the landscape became famous. This walk is one of the best in Guangxi for travellers willing to put in a half day.
The route starts in Yangdi (accessible by bus or taxi from Guilin or Yangshuo) and ends at Xingping, or can be done in reverse. The two river crossings are on bamboo pole ferries that charge a few yuan. The path is clear and well-worn, but takes local farmers' tracks through fields and bamboo groves rather than paved roads. Allow six to eight hours at a moderate pace. The walk can also be split across two days with an overnight in a riverside village.