Guilin Li River Cruise: 3-Star vs 4-Star – An Expert Guide

A journey down the Li River is a poem written in water and stone. It’s an experience that stays with you forever. The dream-like karst peaks, the gentle flow of the river, the cormorant fishermen on their bamboo rafts—this is the China of ancient scrolls. If you are planning a trip to Guilin, this cruise is not just a recommendation; it’s essential.

But planning can be confusing. You are faced with a key decision: the 3-star or the 4-star cruise? The price difference is clear, but what do you actually get for your money? Is the 4-star worth the splurge? Or is the 3-star cruise a savvy way to save?

We have local office based in Guilin. We have traveled on these boats more times than we can count. We have seen the evolution of the cruises over the years. We have listened to the feedback from thousands of travelers. Our goal here is simple. We want to give you a clear, honest, and in-depth comparison. We will cut through the marketing jargon. We will provide you with the details that other articles miss. This guide is based on our firsthand experience and the latest information for 2025. We want to empower you to make the best choice for your trip.

3-Star vs. 4-Star Cruise: Key Differences at a Glance

Before we dive deep, let’s start with a clear, side-by-side summary. Think of this as your cheat sheet. The primary differences lie in comfort, dining, and the overall onboard atmosphere.

The Onboard Experience: A Deep Dive into Your 4-Hour Journey

The four-hour journey from Guilin to Yangshuo is the core of your Li River experience. While the world-class scenery remains the same regardless of your ticket, your comfort, personal space, and ability to enjoy that scenery are vastly different between a 3-star and a 4-star vessel. Let’s break down the tangible differences we’ve observed from countless trips and feedback from our travelers.

The 4-Star Cruise: A Modern, Business-Class Feel

Our Viewpoint: Think of the 4-star cruise as upgrading from an economy to a business-class flight. The investment translates directly into comfort and a more relaxed atmosphere. This is the option we recommend for 90% of our clients, especially families, couples, and first-time visitors who want to fully soak in the experience without distractions. It transforms the journey from simple transit into a memorable part of your vacation.

The Vessel and Atmosphere

The 4-star boats are noticeably newer, cleaner, and better maintained. Many of the newer vessels, like those in the “Shengjing” (盛景) or “Dijia” (帝佳) series, were launched between 2018 and 2023. They have a much lower passenger capacity, typically capped at 70-80 passengers, compared to the 120-150 on a 3-star boat.

This isn’t just a number—it fundamentally changes the vibe. From the moment you step on board at the less-crowded Zhujiang Pier, you feel the difference. There’s no rush or crowding. The aisles are wider. The staff is more attentive. The entire boat feels more serene, allowing the stunning landscape outside to be the main focus.

Seating and Comfort

This is one of the most significant upgrades and a major reason we advocate for the 4-star option. Forget the rows of cramped, functional seats. On a 4-star cruise, you’ll find:

• Larger, cushioned sofa-style seats. These are often arranged in pairs or fours around a proper table. This is invaluable for families or couples who want their own personal space to relax, chat, and place their belongings.
• Significantly more legroom and wider seats allow you to stretch out and get comfortable for the four-hour journey.
• Large, panoramic windows that are kept clean. This offers excellent, unobstructed views even when you are seated.

A verified review from one of our travelers in 2025 noted, “The comfortable seat by the window on our 4-star boat was a game-changer. We could put our cameras and water on the table, sit back, and just watch the karst peaks float by. On the pier, we saw the 3-star passengers boarding, and it looked far more chaotic. We were so glad we paid the extra.”

The Viewing Deck

The upper deck is where you’ll spend a lot of time, capturing those iconic Li River photos. On a 4-star boat, the deck is a key selling point. It is significantly more spacious. There is often high-quality synthetic turf flooring and sometimes even some outdoor seating.

With half the number of passengers, you don’t have to compete for a spot at the railing. This is a crucial, often overlooked, advantage. You can move from the port side to the starboard side freely as the scenery changes. When you approach the famous “20 RMB Note” viewpoint, you can take your time to frame the perfect shot without someone’s elbow in your frame. It’s a more civilized and enjoyable experience.

Facilities

The restrooms are a small but important detail over a four-hour trip. The 4-star vessels feature modern, clean facilities. They almost always include Western-style toilets and proper sinks with running water and soap. It’s a small touch of comfort that makes a big difference, especially for international travelers and families with children.

The 3-Star Cruise: A Functional, Economy-Class Choice

Our Viewpoint: The 3-star cruise is a functional and budget-conscious way to see the Li River. It gets the job done, and you will see the exact same breathtaking scenery. However, you must be prepared to trade comfort for cost savings. We recommend this for hardcore backpackers, solo travelers on a very tight budget, and those who are primarily focused on the destination (Yangshuo) rather than the journey itself.

The Vessel and Atmosphere

These are older, more basic boats. They are built for efficiency, which means maximizing passenger numbers. Expect to share your journey with up to 150 other people. The atmosphere is bustling, energetic, and can feel crowded and noisy. This is immediately apparent at the Mopanshan Pier, which is a much larger and more hectic public pier than the 4-star Zhujiang Pier. Boarding can feel like a rush.

Seating and Comfort

The seating is purely functional, with no frills. Expect:

• Narrower, plastic or thinly-padded seats arranged in tight, forward-facing rows.
• Limited legroom, which can become uncomfortable over a four-hour period.
• The fixed, forward-facing arrangement makes it less social and difficult to have a conversation if you’re traveling in a group.

A common piece of feedback we hear is that the seats become uncomfortable about halfway through the journey. As one traveler aptly put it in a 2024 travel forum post, “The 3-star boat was fine for the first hour, but after that, we spent the whole time on the crowded upper deck just to stretch our legs. The seats were just too cramped for a long trip.”

The Viewing Deck

The upper deck on a 3-star boat offers the same million-dollar view, but you’ll be sharing it with many more people. It is often just a bare deck with railings. During peak viewing times, such as passing the Nine Horse Fresco Hill or the 20 RMB note scene, it can become very crowded. You have to be patient and a bit assertive to get your turn at the railing. Getting a clean, unobstructed photograph can be a real challenge.

The Unique Value Proposition

The undeniable value of the 3-star cruise is the price. For a significantly lower cost, you are seeing the exact same UNESCO-worthy landscape. If you can mentally frame it as a form of public transport with a world-class view, you will find it to be an excellent value. You are paying for the destination, not the journey.

Food on the River: A Tale of Two Lunches

The meal served onboard is another major point of difference and a clear indicator of the service level you can expect.

Dining on a 4-Star Cruise: A Proper Buffet Meal

Included in your 4-star ticket price is a proper buffet lunch. While you shouldn’t expect a Michelin-star experience, it is a satisfying and enjoyable meal. The quality is comparable to a good hotel buffet in China.

You can typically expect:

• A variety of hot Chinese dishes. This usually includes 6-8 options like Kung Pao Chicken, stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour fish, and fried rice or noodles.
• Some Western-friendly options, such as pasta, salads, or bread rolls.
• Fresh fruit platters.
• Drinks like juice, tea, and sometimes coffee.

The food is served in a dedicated dining area on the lower deck. You can fill your plate and eat at your comfortable table. It breaks up the journey nicely and means you arrive in Yangshuo feeling refreshed and ready to explore, not hungry.

Dining on a 3-Star Cruise: A Basic Boxed Lunch

The dining experience on a 3-star cruise is far more basic. What you get can vary. Some 3-star tickets include a simple boxed lunch. This typically consists of a portion of rice with one or two small, pre-cooked toppings, like some minced pork and preserved vegetables. It is often served lukewarm.

Crucially, some of the cheapest 3-star cruise tickets do not include any meal at all. You are expected to buy snacks or instant noodles onboard at inflated prices.

Our advice: If you choose the 3-star cruise, we strongly recommend bringing your own food. Pack some sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and a bottle of water. This will be far more satisfying and better value than the onboard offerings.

The Financial Breakdown: How Much Do the Cruises Actually Cost?

Talk about comfort and food is important, but for most travelers, the decision comes down to one key factor: the price. Let’s break down the real-world costs you can expect for the 3-star and 4-star Li River cruises in 2025.

It is crucial to understand that there is no single, fixed price. Costs fluctuate significantly based on several factors:

• Seasonality: Peak season (April to October) is always more expensive than the low season (November to March).
• Holidays: Expect major price hikes during Chinese national holidays like Golden Week (first week of October) and May Day.
• Booking Channel: Prices vary depending on whether you book through an online travel agency (like Trip.com), a local tour operator (like us), directly at the pier (not recommended), or as part of a larger tour package.
• Inclusions: Some tickets are for the boat cruise only, while others include hotel pickup and drop-off services.

Based on our verification of prices across major platforms and official vendor channels for the upcoming year, here is a realistic budget range.

Estimated Price Comparison for 2025 (Per Person)

Is the 4-Star Cruise Worth the Extra Cost? An Honest Analysis

Looking at the numbers, you’re typically paying around $30 to $35 extra to upgrade from a 3-star to a 4-star cruise.

Now, let’s put that cost into perspective. For the price of a moderate dinner for two in a major city, you are fundamentally upgrading your entire four-to-five-hour experience. This $30 difference buys you:

1. A proper buffet lunch, saving you the hassle and cost of buying or packing your own food.
2. A guaranteed comfortable seat with more space, which becomes invaluable two hours into the journey.
3. A far less crowded environment, especially on the upper viewing deck, ensuring you can get those perfect, unobstructed photos of the stunning scenery.
4. Cleaner, more modern facilities and a generally more relaxed and premium atmosphere.

Our verdict: For the vast majority of international travelers, the upgrade is absolutely worth it. The small additional investment dramatically improves the quality of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A Critical Warning: Beware of “Too-Good-To-Be-True” Prices

If you see Li River cruise tickets advertised online for ¥100-¥150, you must be extremely cautious. These are almost never for the official, full-length Guilin to Yangshuo scenic route. These suspiciously cheap tickets are often for:

• Short, hour-long boat trips on less scenic parts of the river.
• Tickets that do not include mandatory fees or taxes.
• Outright scams from unofficial vendors.

Always book through a reputable, licensed travel agency or a verified online platform to ensure you are getting an official ticket for the correct journey. Your Li River experience is too important to risk with a dubious deal.

The Route and Scenery: Are They Different?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and it has a simple answer.

The scenery is exactly the same.

Both 3-star and 4-star cruises travel the most spectacular section of the Li River, from Guilin to Yangshuo. The route is regulated by the local authorities to ensure all tourists see the highlights. You will not miss a single famous peak or viewpoint, regardless of your ticket. You will see:

• Nine Horse Fresco Hill: The famous cliff face where you can try to spot the nine horses.
• Yellow Cloth Shoal: The iconic landscape immortalized on the back of the Chinese 20 RMB banknote.
• Xingping Ancient Town: The picturesque ancient town where the river makes a dramatic bend.

The only geographical difference is the departure pier in Guilin. As mentioned, 4-star cruises depart from the Zhujiang Pier, and 3-star cruises depart from the Mopanshan Pier. These two piers are located very close to each other, so the journey time and the route taken are virtually identical. Do not let any agent tell you that one cruise offers “better scenery.” It is simply not true. You are paying for comfort and experience, not a different view.

Which Cruise Is Right for You? Our Expert Recommendation

So, after all this detail, how should you choose? It comes down to your travel style, priorities, and budget. Let’s match the cruise to the traveler.

Choose the 4-Star Cruise if:

• Comfort is a high priority. You value personal space and want a relaxed, unhurried journey.
• You are a photographer. The less crowded viewing deck is a massive advantage for getting those perfect shots. You’ll have the freedom to move and compose your images without being jostled.
• You are traveling with family, especially children or elderly parents. The extra space, comfortable seating with tables, and cleaner, Western-style facilities make the journey far more manageable and pleasant for everyone.
• It’s your first time on the Li River. You want the best possible experience of this once-in-a-lifetime journey. The 4-star cruise ensures the comfort level matches the world-class scenery.
• You want a hassle-free dining experience. The included buffet lunch is convenient and of decent quality, saving you the trouble of packing your own food.

Choose the 3-Star Cruise if:

• You are on a strict budget. The cost savings are significant and can be better spent on other activities or a nicer hotel in Yangshuo.
• You are an experienced backpacker or a resilient solo traveler. If you are used to more basic travel conditions and don’t mind crowds, the 3-star cruise is a perfectly acceptable option.
• You are traveling in a large, boisterous group of young people. The lively, bustling atmosphere might even be appealing to you.
• Your primary focus is simply getting from A to B while seeing the scenery. If you view the cruise as transport rather than an experience in itself, then the 3-star cruise serves its purpose well.

Pro Tips for Your Li River Cruise

As locals who know this river like the back of our hand, here are a few insider tips to make your cruise experience even better, no matter which star-level you choose.

• Book Your Tickets in Advance. This is non-negotiable, especially during peak seasons (April-October) and Chinese national holidays. Tickets sell out weeks in advance. Booking through a reliable agent like us is the safest bet.
• Arrange Transport to the Pier. The piers are about a 40-minute drive from downtown Guilin. A pre-booked taxi or a tour package that includes hotel pickup will save you a lot of stress in the morning.
• Bring Your Passport. You absolutely need your original passport to board the cruise. Photocopies are not accepted.
• Get a Seat on the Right Side (Starboard). When traveling downstream from Guilin to Yangshuo, some of the most famous sights, including the Nine Horse Fresco Hill, will be on your right-hand side. However, don’t stay glued to your seat!
• Spend Most of Your Time on the Upper Deck. The best, most immersive views are from the open-air deck. Don’t be shy about leaving your seat. The real experience is feeling the wind and seeing the 360-degree panorama.
• Charge Your Devices. You will take more photos and videos than you expect. Bring a portable power bank to ensure your phone and camera last the entire journey.
• Manage Your Luggage. You can bring your luggage on the cruise. There is a designated storage area on the lower deck. Your luggage will be perfectly safe. It will be waiting for you when you disembark in Yangshuo.
• Wear Layers. The weather on the river can be unpredictable. It can be cool and windy even on a warm day. A light jacket or windbreaker is always a good idea.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We hope this detailed guide has been helpful. The Li River is the heart and soul of Guilin, and we are passionate about helping travelers experience it in the best possible way. If you have any more questions or need help planning your trip, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are always here to help.