Little East River in Guilin

Little East River in Guilin

The Little East River is a tributary of the Li River. It originates from the Shangguan Second River Mouth within the district area, flows southward along the eastern bank of the Li River, passes through Yangjiabei and Fulongyuan, and meets the Lingjian Stream flowing from the east at Huaqiao. It then continues southward through Zhangjiayuan, Shijiayuan, Jiangdong Village, Chuanshan Park, and rejoins the Li River at the southwestern foot of Chuanshan Mountain. The river stretches 5.8 kilometers in total, with an average riverbed width of about 50 meters. In the past, the waters were clear and the bends gentle, making it ideal for leisurely boat rides to admire scenic spots such as Putuo Mountain, Huaqiao, Crescent Hill, Longyin Cave, Chuanshan, and Tower Hill. It was a renowned waterway for sightseeing east of Guilin city. Inside Longyin Rock, there remains a cliff inscription from the third year of Shaosheng during the Song Dynasty (1096), which records how Liang Caifu and his family set off by boat from Fubo Mountain’s Zhenzhu Cave, landed at the Little East River’s Shangguan Second River Mouth, ascended Longyin Rock, then continued downstream along the Li River, went up the Ningyuan River past Zhishan, and visited Shouningsi Temple. Later poets wrote about the scenery of the Little East River: “At the two river mouths, great and small, the waters flow eastward; its tributaries run clear as silk, while the long fields curve like bows. Waters wind around peaks, graceful and fair, enriching the land with bountiful yield.” Today, the riverside landscape has expanded to include landmarks such as Huiji Bridge (New Bridge), Li River Folk Custom Garden, Guilin Stone Carving Museum, Longyin Bridge, and Guilin Grand Hotel. However, several sections of the waterway have become blocked, and apart from the stretch between Huaqiao and Longyin Cave and the area around Chuanshan Park, it no longer offers the same convenience for boat tours as in the past.