Ox Gorge to Water-Dropping Village

The second section from the Ox Gorge to Water-Dropping Village is the most magnificent part of the river cruise with a couple of attractions including Yearning-for-Husband's-Return Rock, Crown Cave, Half-Side Ferry, Mural Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal and Xingping Town.

Crown Cave

It is a twelve kilometers (7.45 miles) long underground waterway in ancient times and got the name of 'Crown Cave' for its crown-like appearance. A nearly one kilometer (3,280 feet) long subterranean canal has opened to the public as a sightseeing attraction with a range of sightseeing tours by elevators, tram cars or wooden canoes. There are a collection of poem inscriptions on the interior wall of the cave and to the right of the cave entrance, there is big terrace offering a charming view of the surrounding river and mountain sceneries.

Half-Side Ferry

A few minute cruise downstream from the Crown Cave on the western river bank, there is a steep hill cliff going down abruptly into the river. It cuts a trail along the riverside into two parts, on each of which the villagers have to take ferries to reach the other side. To being differentiated from a usual ferry, which takes people from one side of a river to the other side, this ferry is called Half-Side Ferry.
 

Mural Hill

Mural Hill, as its name indicates, is a group of hill cliffs, on the surface of which the stratified rocks in different shades of colors resembling a painting of nine horses. The rock surfaces have been weathered badly through ages and are speckled with colors in yellow, red, green, white and other mixed shades. When being looked afar, the hill cliff presents a huge painting of nine galloping horses and it is said that the one who can distinguish all the nine horses on the hill is considered to be a smart person.

Yellow Cloth Shoal

Not very far from the Mural Hill, a huge yellow broad flagstone can be seen from the water surface, resembling a piece of yellow cloth. On each side of the river stand a group of seven verdant peaks like seven fairy girls. A legend goes that the peaks are seven fairy girls from the Heaven, who were enthralled by the charming scenery and refused the God's order and became into the seven peaks in this area. The reflection of the verdant peaks on the limpid water creates an enchanting scene.

Xingping Town

Xingping is an ancient town with a long history of over 1300 years. The river takes a big bend in this area and creates a spectacular scene with an endless presentation of a group grotesque rock formation on the river bank. The enthralling scenery of this area has been reputed as the very best in the whole cruise trip, for which most photography lovers run out of their films!

How to Get to Xingping from Guilin
There are direct coaches to Xingping Town at Guilin General Bus Station. It takes about 1.5 hours and costs CNY30-35.