Guilin's Light-Chasing Journey | Falling in Love with the Sunset by the Yulong River

The photographer always says, "Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven." It wasn't until I sat on a bamboo raft, gazing at the mountains melting into the golden glow of the sunset, that I truly understood what it means to be breathtakingly beautiful 🌄! 📍My Secret Chill Spots 1. Xingping Bamboo Raft Drift Hop on a bamboo raft an hour before sunset (don’t forget to haggle!), and pay an extra HK$22 to have the boatman cast a fishing net. The moment the bamboo pole breaks the golden water surface, grab your phone and snap away—karst mountain silhouettes, shimmering reflections, and side profiles all come together to create a scene that’s absolutely magical! ✨ (Pro tip: Wear a white dress and a flowing hat for the perfect shot.) 2. Fuli Bridge’s Magical Hour Rush to the center of the bridge to claim your spot! Use a telephoto lens to compress the emerald river and the evening glow—the entire Yulong River looks like molten silk flowing by. I was so greedy I took 50 shots, and the lady next to me chuckled, "Young lady, have you taken enough to make it worth it?" (Dark tip: Bring mosquito repellent; those little bloodsuckers love fresh blood 😭.) 3. Rooftop Café with a Golden City View Climb to the rooftop café on West Street and order a cup of Osmanthus Latte (around HK$38). Lounge in a rattan chair and wait for the fiery clouds. Watching the rooftops of Yangshuo transform from green to orange to purple, my bestie and I were so quiet that all you could hear was our breathing... This kind of romance is more priceless than a designer handbag 💫. 🍜 Small Culinary Joys Find a stall by the Li River selling bamboo tube rice! The uncle chops fresh bamboo and grills it on the spot, the aroma of cured meat mixed with bamboo is irresistible (around HK$30). I didn’t even care about the rice crust on the corner of my mouth! Pair it with a chilled Li Quan beer (around HK$12) by the riverbank—this luxurious combo of mountains and beer is something even a five-star hotel can’t offer 🍻. > Lessons Learned: > - Avoid "free photo" fishermen—they’ll chase you down for a hefty fee later. > - During the rainy season, always carry a foldable umbrella; mountain fog rolls in faster than an ex’s mood swings. > - The stone steps on Fuli Bridge are slippery; wear flat shoes to protect your ankles. The craziest moment of this trip? When the Li River swallowed the last bit of the salted egg yolk sun, I touched my chest and thought, "There really is a paradise on Earth, and you don’t even need a ten-hour flight to get there." ✈️