The sight of cormorant fishing boats on the Li River is one of the most iconic images of Guilin, yet many travelers don’t realize they are witnessing a way of life that is quickly disappearing. These bamboo rafts, each with a flickering lantern and a few trained birds, represent a fishing method that has been passed down for over a thousand years. But today, fewer than a dozen families still practice it.
Why fishermen still use birds on the Li River
The ancient technique of cormorant fishing is not a performance, though many tourists treat it as one. Fishermen tie a snare around the bird’s throat, preventing it from swallowing larger fish. The bird dives, catches prey, and returns to the raft. The fisherman then retrieves the fish from the bird’s beak. It sounds brutal, but the cormorants are treated well. They are fed and rested, and many fishermen consider them partners rather than tools.
On the Li River, this method was born out of necessity. The river is deep and the currents are strong. Nets are difficult to use. Cormorants, on the other hand, can dive to the bottom and chase fish into rocky crevices. For generations, this was how families along the river put food on the table. The boats were simple bamboo structures, lashed together with rope and bamboo strips. At night, the fishermen lit oil lamps to attract fish to the surface. The scene was quiet, almost sacred.
How to see real fishing boats on the Li River today
Most tourists see fake fishing boats staged for photo opportunities near Yangshuo. These are not the real thing. The fishermen are hired actors, and the birds are rented. The lanterns are LED lights powered by batteries. The whole scene is put on for cameras. If you want to see the real deal, you have to go deeper.
The real fishermen work near Xingping and a few villages upstream. They go out before dawn, not at sunset. They don’t stop for photos. They are working. You can hire a local guide who knows the remaining families. Some fishermen will let you ride along for a small fee, but they will not perform. They will fish. That is the experience worth having.
The boats themselves are deteriorating. The younger generation has no interest in this life. Modern fishing boats with motors and nets are more efficient. The government has also restricted fishing to protect the river ecosystem. The old bamboo rafts are slowly rotting on the banks. To see them in action,you need to go now. In ten years, the Li River fishing boats may only exist in photographs.