Raft reforms bring order to Lijiang River

Local authorities are tightening controls on tourist raft operations and vessel pollution along the Lijiang River in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, seeking to protect both the renowned waterway and the tourism livelihoods it supports.

The river's sightseeing boats and bamboo-style rafts carry visitors through one of China's best-known limestone landscapes while providing work for raft operators, boat crews and people running guesthouses, restaurants and other tourism businesses.

For years, tourist rafts were largely operated by individual households or small businesses. Maritime officials said the fragmented model led to uneven safety and service standards, disorderly pricing and intense competition for passengers.

"The river cannot be managed safely when operators work separately and follow different standards," said Luo Huwen, head of the vessel supervision department at the Guilin Maritime Safety Administration. "We needed to bring order to the sector — making trips safer, protecting the Lijiang and ensuring tourism continues to support local communities."

Maritime, transport and tourism authorities have since introduced common operating rules, more transparent pricing and standardized services.

Huang Jinfeng, deputy general manager of the Yangshuo County Lijiang River Scenic Area Management Corp, said the quality of a trip previously depended heavily on which operator a visitor chose.

"Before, every operator competed for passengers on their own, so the level of service could vary considerably," Huang said. "That affected confidence in the whole sector. Common rules and clearer pricing have made the experience more reliable for visitors."

The new model has also provided more villagers with steadier jobs as raft operators and support staff, according to local tourism authorities. Homestays, restaurants and other businesses along the river have also benefited from a more orderly tourism market.

Pollution controls have been strengthened alongside the reforms to raft operations.

Since the 1990s, Guilin has gradually tightened environmental requirements for sightseeing vessels. By 2000, tourism boats were required to install equipment to store pollutants on board, ending the routine discharge of sewage directly from passenger vessels, according to the local maritime administration.

Under the current system, domestic sewage, oily water and garbage are stored on board, transferred ashore and sent for treatment or disposal. Digital records track the collection, transportation and treatment of vessel waste, helping prevent regulated vessels from discharging pollutants directly into the river.

The Lijiang River's shallow stretches, sharp bends and narrow channels also pose challenges for maritime patrols.

To improve enforcement, authorities have deployed the pure-electric patrol vessel Haixun 10765. The vessel has a draft of about 0.5 meters and can rotate in place, move sideways and turn 360 degrees. Its electric propulsion reduces exhaust emissions and engine noise while enabling officers to reach waters that are difficult for larger patrol boats to access.

"The Lijiang is shallow, winding and environmentally sensitive, so vessels designed for other waterways cannot simply be used here without modification," said Li Qingyu, head of a research center specializing in new energy vessel batteries at Guangxi Normal University. "The technology has to be adapted to the river's particular conditions."

For communities along the Lijiang River, protecting the water also means protecting the foundation of the local economy. Clean water, safe journeys and reliable services are central to both the visitor experience and the livelihoods that have developed along the river.