The single most iconic photograph associated with Guangxi: a lone fisherman poling a bamboo raft with trained cormorants perched on the bow, silhouetted against the karst peaks that appear on the back of the RMB 20 note. Most fishermen now pose for photographers for a fee rather than fish commercially, but the scene remains extraordinary at first light.
The scene pairs a single cormorant fisherman poling a bamboo raft against the jagged karst backdrop near Xingping town on the Li River, the same view reproduced on the reverse of the RMB 20 note. The classic frame places the raft and fisherman as a small silhouette in the lower third, with two or three receding rows of limestone peaks stacked behind in soft morning haze, so a mid-telephoto compression flattens the peaks together behind the subject. Best light comes from directly behind the photographer at first light, roughly 20-40 minutes before official sunrise through the first hour after, when the sun is still low over the eastern peaks and back-lights the rising river mist rather than the fisherman, producing the strong silhouette; once the sun clears the ridgeline the light flattens and the mist usually burns off within an hour. The most reliable season runs from March through November, when morning river mist forms most consistently after cool nights meet the warmer river surface; the driest winter months (December-February) can be clear but with far less atmospheric haze to separate the layers of peaks. Because there is no wild cormorant fishing left on the river, the fishermen are hired for photography sessions and pose on a fixed schedule, so the riverbank at Xingping's main viewpoint fills with tripods well before dawn in high season (April-October); arriving even 45 minutes early secures a front-row position, and shooting from a hired raft rather than the bank avoids the crowd entirely, at added cost. Tripods are permitted on the public riverbank and are effectively required for anyone shooting from a moving raft platform in low light; there is no separate photography permit for the riverbank viewpoint itself, though the fisherman's posed session is arranged and paid for directly. Drones are restricted in the immediate vicinity of Xingping's core scenic zone under local airspace rules tied to the wider Li River scenic area, and flights near the riverbank at dawn also risk startling the birds and other photographers' compositions, so operators typically avoid launching there.
| Best time | sunrise |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | easy |
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Mid-telephoto lens (70-200mm) to compress the karst peaks; tripod if shooting from a raft.
Highlights
- Silhouetted fisherman and cormorants framed against layered karst peaks
- Same composition reproduced on the reverse of the RMB 20 note
- Best captured from a hired bamboo raft or the main riverside viewpoint
- Morning mist rising off the Li River adds atmospheric depth
Tips for visiting
- Book the fisherman's posed session through a Xingping guesthouse the evening before
- Arrive at least 30-45 minutes before sunrise to claim a tripod position
- A mid-telephoto lens (70-200mm) compresses the peaks behind the raft
- Expose for the bright sky and let the fisherman and peaks fall into silhouette
- Nearest public restrooms are at the Xingping ferry dock car park
When to visit
Sunrise between March and November, when morning mist over the Li River is most consistent; arrive at least 30 minutes early in peak season (April-October) to secure a position.
Accessibility
The main riverbank viewpoint is reached via a short, flat paved path from the Xingping ferry dock car park and requires no hiking; the alternative raft position requires boarding a bamboo raft from a low riverside platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cormorant fishing real or staged for photographs?
Commercial cormorant fishing on the Li River has largely ended; the fishermen now pose for paid photography sessions arranged in advance rather than fishing for a living.
What time should photographers arrive?
Arriving 30 to 45 minutes before official sunrise secures a clear tripod position and catches the mist before it burns off.
Can the shot be taken from the riverbank without hiring a raft?
Yes, the main Xingping viewpoint on the bank offers the same composition, though a raft allows a lower angle and more control over the boat's position.
Is a drone allowed at this location?
Drone flights are restricted within Xingping's scenic zone, and flying near the riverbank at dawn risks disturbing the fishermen and other photographers.