Soar like a bird over the Li River in China

Far East specialists Bamboo Travel has teamed up with an Australian hot air ballooning company to offer hour-long balloon flights from Yangshuo over the Li River in Southern China.

The peaceful flight follows the river as it meanders through inspirational scenery of lush paddy fields studded with limestone pinnacles covered in dense foliage, which until recently could only be viewed from the often-crowded fleet of tourist boats plying the river from nearby Guilin.

Yangshuo itself is a small town in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi, set in an area of exceptional beauty which has been the inspiration for many Chinese paintings and poetry. Visitors to the area are also appealed by its laid back atmosphere, and the variety of activities available which include cycling tours, rock-climbing, caving, trekking and bamboo rafting, all of which offer a pleasant contrast to the sightseeing in other parts of China.

For a bird’s eye view of this mystical landscape Bamboo Travel’s 12 day “Mystical China” tour includes this once in a lifetime balloon trip. This private guided tour visits Beijing, Xian and Guilin before an overnight stay in Guangxi’s famous rice terraces at Longsheng for the opportunity to trek along the Dragon’s Backbone and meet minority villagers. The tour ends in Yangshuo for the balloon flight over the Li River and time for other activities in the surrounding countryside.

The tour costs from £1,995 per person based on two sharing which includes return BA flights, 9 nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotels, a private compartment on the overnight train from Beijing to Xian, comprehensive private sightseeing, a 60-minute balloon ride from Yangshuo, private airport transfers, daily breakfasts, 8 lunches and 2 dinners.

For more information on ballooning in Yangshuo, or any of Bamboo Travel’s China tours, log on to bambootravel.co.uk.