Li River, Guilin

Often listed by big publications as one of the top waterways in the world, when we say that this one is scenic, we really mean it. And no, that doesn’t mean that usually we’re telling fibs, it’s just that the Li River is basically China’s crowning glory when looking for some of that stunning scenery that you’ve seen portrayed in any classical painting of China that you’ve ever clapped eyes upon. That was a bit of a mouthful really, wasn’t it? But basically, Li River is pretty spectacular, so if you’re on the search for some staggering scenery, this is one for your list.

Flanked by towering karst peaks and peppered with traditional bamboo rafts, if oriental beauty is what you’re after, then oriental beauty is what you’ll get in this destination – it just doesn’t get better. Sleepy villages are brought to life on market days, bamboo groves line the shores and the hills roll for as far as the eye can see. A journey down this iconic river won’t only transport you from Guilin to Yangshuo, but also back in time. Hello, pastoral China.

And it’s not just as simple as connecting the scenic city of Guilin with the popular tourist town of Yangshuo, this river offers up weeks worth of exploration. But you’ll have to remind yourself to stop watching it through your camera lens, because as many snappable moments that there are on this river, nothing beats taking it in with your own two eyes.