The Two Rivers and Four Lakes system is a sprawling 7.33-kilometer circular canal loop. Boats depart from several different piers depending on your exact ticket booking: Wenyuange Pier (文昌桥码头), Jiefang Bridge Pier (解放桥码头), or Sun & Moon Twin Pagodas Pier (日月湾码头).
Always double-check the precise Chinese pier name printed on your e-voucher before setting off. Walking between Wenyuange and Jiefang Bridge takes 30+ minutes—missing your scheduled departure window forfeits your ticket without refund.
1. Engineering & Urban Vision: The “Venice of the East”
Originally constructed during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) as a defensive moat system enclosing the walled garrison of Guilin, the interconnected waterways gradually silted up over the 20th century. In 1998, a monumental municipal engineering project dredged the four downtown lakes, constructed water locks to bridge river water-level differentials, and created a navigable 7.3-kilometer ring canal connecting:
- Two Rivers: The majestic Li River (漓江) and the serpentine Peach Blossom River (桃花江).
- Four Lakes: Shan Lake (杉湖), Rong Lake (榕湖), Gui Lake (桂湖), and Mulong Lake (木龙湖).
2. Iconic Highlights Along the Night Voyage
Sailing through the canal under illuminated historic stone bridges (modeled after Paris’s Pont Alexandre III, Venice’s Rialto, and Beijing’s Marco Polo Bridge), you will encounter several world-famous visual spectacles:
1. The Sun & Moon Twin Pagodas (日月双塔) on Shan Lake
- The Sun Pagoda (日塔): Standing 41 meters tall (9 stories), it is recognized as the world’s highest bronze pagoda, constructed from 350 tons of pure copper and bathed in brilliant golden floodlights.
- The Moon Pagoda (月塔): Standing 35 meters tall (7 stories), it is built of glazed porcelain tile and glows with ethereal cool blue and white luminescence.
- Underwater Tunnel: An underwater glass promenade links both pagodas beneath the lake surface.
2. Mulong Lake Ancient City Wall & Song Folk Performance
As your boat enters Mulong Lake, giant replica Tang-Song city gates and illuminated wooden drum towers rise above the water. Actors in traditional Hanfu attire play the ancient guqin (Chinese zither) and dance on floating pavilions as your vessel glides past.
3. Subterranean Water Locks (船闸升降)
Because the water level of the inner lakes sits roughly 2 meters higher than the Li River, your boat enters a hydraulic ship lock elevator chamber near Mulong Lake. Massive steel gates close behind you as the water level rises or drops in a fascinating 5-minute engineering display.
3. Comparison of Ticket Tiers
| Cruise Type | Duration & Route | Inclusions & Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Two Rivers & Four Lakes Full Cruise (一类豪华空调船) · Recommended | ~65–75 mins · Full loop through Li River + Peach River + 4 Lakes | Enclosed glass panoramic salon with high-definition windows and central A/C; English audio narration |
| Four Lakes Classic Night Tour (仅游四湖) | ~50 mins · Shan, Rong, Gui, Mulong lakes only (No river lock) | Budget alternative; skips the Li River riverbank sections but covers Twin Pagodas |
| Open-Air Traditional Wooden Boat (仿古木质摇橹船) | ~50 mins · Rong & Shan lakes area | Charming breezy open wooden boat; best for photographers, but seasonal and weather-dependent |
4. Alternative: The Free Lakeside Promenade Stroll
If you prefer not to take the paid boat cruise, walking around Shan Lake and Rong Lake is 100% free of charge!
- The Stroll Route: Start at the Sun & Moon Pagodas on Shan Lake around 19:30. Walk west under the ancient stone archway into Rong Lake, admiring the illuminated Banyan Bridge, Zigzag Glass Bridge, and riverside tea pavilions.
- Duration: An easy, flat 45-minute evening stroll perfect for post-dinner exercise.
- Atmosphere: Lively local Guilin life—retirees singing traditional Guangxi folk songs, street musicians, and water fountain light shows.