Reflection of Yellow Cloth

Reflection of Yellow Cloth

The Reflection of Yellow Cloth is a provincial-level nature reserve.

The Reflection of Yellow Cloth is the essence of the essence of the Li River, located within Xingping Ancient Town in the 83-kilometer highlight section of the Li River. As the cruise boat passes Yangdi and goes beyond the Nine-Horse Mural Hill, the river gradually widens, the water becomes as smooth as a mirror, and the reflections of green peaks are breathtakingly beautiful. Not far south of the Mural Hill lies Yellow Cloth Shoal. The beauty of the Li River’s landscape lies in its reflections; and the beauty of the Li River’s reflections reaches its peak at Yellow Cloth Shoal. The river water here is clear and jade-green, transparent to the bottom, where you can see a large, beige stone slab on the riverbed, several yards in both length and width, lying flat like a piece of yellow cloth spread over the riverbed—hence the shoal gets its name.

On the cliff face, there is a rock whose patterns resemble those of a large black horse, which locals say is the lagging horse among the Nine Horses of the Mural Hill. On both sides of the shoal, there are seven peaks of varying sizes that look like fairy maidens emerging from the water—thus, they are called the “Seven Fairies Descending to Earth.” Legend has it that one day, seven sisters from the heavens discovered that the scenery around Yellow Cloth Shoal was extraordinarily beautiful, so they secretly came down to play. Captivated by the landscape, they lingered and forgot to return. When the Heavenly Emperor found out, he ordered them back to heaven. But the sisters, enthralled by the Li River’s beauty, proclaimed, “We’d rather be people of Guilin than immortals,” choosing to stay in the human world rather than return to the heavens. So each blew a breath of fairy air to turn themselves into stone, forever remaining by the riverside. On windless, sunny days, their beautiful reflections are clearly visible in the water, making it nearly impossible to tell where the green mountains end and their reflections begin—thus forming the “Reflection of Yellow Cloth” scene.

Here the river is wide, the water calm as a mirror, with green bamboo lining the banks and continuous ranges of unique peaks. The reflections of these peaks in the river blend so seamlessly that it's hard to tell which is mountain and which is shadow. The Qing Dynasty poet Yuan Mei vividly described this: “Clearly seeing the mountaintops, the boat seems to sail atop the green peaks.” Thus, the “Reflection of Yellow Cloth” became one of the famous scenic wonders of the Li River.

Viewing the reflections depends on the weather: on rainy days, the reflections are broken by raindrops; on foggy days, they may be swallowed by thick mist. Only on bright, cloudless days are the reflections at their clearest. That’s when the Seven Fairies are willing to reveal their stunning beauty. The best angle to view the Reflection of Yellow Cloth is when the boat turns into the area of Mazhuangzhou—here, sparse bamboo groves and the reflections of the seven graceful peaks in the fresh green waters appear vivid and breathtaking, making it the prime spot for photography.

As the cruise boat continues along the river, it reaches the stretch between Yellow Cloth Shoal and Zhubi Shoal. The waters here are broad and the current gentle. The Li River reflects the nearby yellow cliffs as if they were a piece of dyed yellow cloth. On Yellow Cloth Shoal stands a small hill that resembles a seal popping out of the water—hence it’s called Seal Mountain. On the cliff face, there is a rock whose patterns resemble those of a large black horse, which locals say is the lagging horse among the Nine Horses of the Mural Hill.

Here the river flows quietly and clearly, with reflections of cloud-covered peaks and underwater scenes painting a picturesque panorama everywhere—truly “peaks reflected in water, no mountain or water not divine.” The Reflection of Yellow Cloth is one of China’s representative natural landscapes. In 2000, when the People’s Bank of China issued the fifth set of RMB, the back of the 20-yuan note featured a scene of the Li River—the Reflection of Yellow Cloth. At the Chinese Embassy at the United Nations Headquarters, there are two large paintings: one is the “Great Wall,” representing China’s cultural landscape, and the other is the “Reflection of Yellow Cloth,” representing China’s natural landscape.

Address:

Within Xingping Ancient Town in the 83-kilometer highlight section of the Li River, Yangshuo County, Guilin City

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Admission Fee:

Free admission

Best Time to Visit:

April to October. During this period, Guilin enjoys mild weather, abundant rainfall, and ample sunshine.

Peak tourist season brings high demand for accommodations and transportation, with prices higher than usual—so it's best to avoid this time if possible.

River Cruises:

The Reflection of Yellow Cloth can be seen after departure from Yangshuo along the 83-kilometer Li River section, located in Xingping, not far south of the Nine-Horse Mural Hill.

Li River Scenic Area

Guilin Elephant Trunk Hill

Crown Cave Scenic Area on the Li River

Nine-Horse Mural Hill Canyon Rafting Scenic Area

Daxu Ancient Town

Li River Boat Cruise

Yellow Ox Gorge

Langshi Scenery

Father-Son Rock

Guilin Tower Hill

Xingping Ancient Town

Yangdi

Yangshuo Landscape Garden