Watch a thousand-year-old Li River tradition on the water near Yangshuo — trained cormorants, a lit bamboo raft, and the karst peaks as a backdrop.
Bottom line: Cormorant fishing at Xingping is a dusk demonstration on the Li River, about 25 km north of Yangshuo. Watching from the bank is free; a posed photo with the fisherman is negotiated on the spot. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before sunset.
There are few sights in Guangxi that compress the region's identity into a single frame like a cormorant fisherman on the Li River at dusk. A narrow bamboo raft glides out, a small fire basket throws light across the water, and a handful of trained cormorants dive and return with fish as the karst peaks fade into silhouette behind them. It is the image most visitors have seen before they ever arrive — and seeing it performed live, on the same bend that appears on the 20-yuan banknote, is genuinely moving.
What makes it worth the trip is that it is not a theme-park set. The technique is real and ancient, passed down through fishing families along the Li and Yulong rivers. Xingping is simply the place where it has been kept most visible for visitors, staged on the river it always belonged to.
Cormorant fishing (鸬鹚捕鱼, lúcí bǔyú) uses the Chinese fishing cormorant, a large dark waterbird trained to catch fish and return them to the boat. The fisherman fits a loose ring around the bird's neck so it cannot swallow the biggest fish, then sends it diving. When the cormorant surfaces, the fisherman lifts it aboard, squeezes the neck gently, and the fish is released into the basket. Well-trained birds are then fed a share of the catch — the partnership, not coercion, is what keeps them working.
The method is more than a thousand years old in China and was once a common way to fish the rivers of southern Guangxi. Commercial cormorant fishing has all but disappeared, replaced by nets and motors, which is exactly why the Xingping demonstration matters: it keeps the skill, the raft, and the rhythm of the work alive in public view.
The demonstration is staged on the Li River at Xingping, about 25 km north of Yangshuo. The fishermen work the bend near the old town and the famous 20-yuan viewpoint — the stretch of karst printed on the back of China's 20-yuan note. You can watch from the riverside path or from a small motorboat that circles the raft for a closer look. The setting, not a fixed building, is the whole point, so exact positions shift slightly with the water level and the light.
| Vantage | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside path (free) | The classic wide shot as the light fades | Best with a tripod; arrive early for a spot |
| Small motorboat (paid) | Closer views of the birds and raft | Runs the viewpoint circuit, roughly ¥40–60 per person |
| Li River bamboo raft | Low, on-the-water angle | Arrange through your guesthouse; weather-dependent |
The show works at dusk. The fisherman lights the raft as the sun drops, and the birds fish against the last light and into the blue of early evening. Aim to be in position about 30 minutes before sunset. It runs throughout the year, weather permitting — clear or partly cloudy evenings give the strongest reflections, while heavy rain usually cancels it.
Season matters less than the light. Summer's late sunset means a later start but warmer air; winter's early dusk is colder but often clearer. Either way, the performance is short, so timing your arrival matters more than the month you visit.
The single best time is the 30 minutes around sunset, when the raft lamp is lit and the karst peaks turn to silhouette. Arrive at least 30 minutes early to claim a riverside spot, especially on weekends and during the National Day holiday.
By season: spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the most comfortable, with mild air and fewer rain cancellations. Summer evenings are warm and the show starts later, but afternoon storms can force cancellations. Winter skies are often clearest, though the early dusk and cold air mean dressing in layers. Check the local weather the same afternoon and ask your guesthouse whether the fishermen are going out.
Xingping sits about 25 km north of Yangshuo. A local bus from Yangshuo takes roughly 40 minutes and costs a few yuan; a car or taxi takes about 30 minutes. If you are driving, follow the Guilin–Yangshuo expressway north and turn off at the Xingping exit, then follow signs to the old town and riverside. E-bikes can make the trip on a good day, but the distance and hills make a bus or car the easier choice for the evening show. See our Guilin to Yangshuo transport guide for the wider route picture.
Source & verification: Bus fares and boat fees are typical 2026 estimates and change with the season; treat them as a budget guide, not a fixed rate.
Cormorant fishing belongs to a wider set of river traditions in Guangxi, alongside the Impression Liu Sanjie show, which also puts the Li River and its working people — including cormorant fishermen — at the centre of the story. For the respectful way to meet local culture on your trip, see our Guilin culture bridge guide.
Like any living tradition performed for visitors, it is best met with curiosity rather than judgement. The fishermen are continuing a skill their families have practised for generations; watching, photographing, and paying a fair agreed fee for a posed shot is a direct way to keep that skill visible.
It is a demonstration rather than commercial fishing. Local fishermen still practise the old method with trained cormorants on the Li River at Xingping, but today it is staged mainly for visitors in the evening. You are watching a real technique performed for an audience, not a working catch.
At dusk, when the fisherman lights the bamboo raft and the birds work against the dark karst backdrop. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset so you are in position as the light fades. The scene runs year-round, weather permitting.
Watching from the riverbank is free. A posed photo with the fisherman and his birds is negotiated on the spot, typically a small fee — agree the price before you shoot. Carry some cash, as cards are rarely accepted at the river's edge.
Xingping is about 25 km north of Yangshuo. A local bus takes roughly 40 minutes; driving or taking a taxi takes about 30 minutes. The fishing happens on the Li River near the old town and the famous 20-yuan viewpoint bend.
Yes, and the lit scene with the karst peaks behind it is one of the most photographed images in the area. For a posed shot with the birds, agree a fee with the fisherman first. A tripod and a fast lens help in the low light.
The birds are working animals trained by local fishermen, and a neck ring prevents them swallowing large fish while letting them eat what they catch. If you would rather not take part, you can simply watch from the bank — no one is obliged to pay for a photo.
Pair Xingping's cormorant fishing with a sunset drive for one of Guangxi's best photo nights.
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