Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.2 Autumn 2018 | Page 64

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LI RIVER, XING PING, CHINA
The cormorant fisherman of the Li
River have been plying their trade for
more than a thousand years, setting
off before first light in reed boats
to bring in their catch for the day.
Forget about a hook, line and sinker,
though: as their name suggests, these
fishermen use trained cormorants to
catch the fish and bring them back to
the boat alive.
This ancient technique is often
described more as an art form than
fishing and the men develop a close
relationship with their aquatic birds,
whom they spend years training. The
cormorants get their fair share, but
the fishermen tie a snare around the
base of the birds’ throats to prevent
them from swallowing the bigger fish,
which they spit out to be sold or eaten
by their masters.
The Li River is famous for more
than just fish. Set against the iconic
Karst Mountains, the main town of
XingPing harks back to a bygone era,
resplendent with architecture from
the Ming Dynasty that has changed
little over the centuries. XingPing
can be reached by road, but a more
fitting way to get there is to travel
on a bamboo raft along the river.
With the smooth water gently pulling
you downstream and the fairytale
mountains surrounding you on all
sides, it’s hard not to feel like you’re
being transported back in time in
this magical corner of China.
Q
GO HERE WITH SURE:
Sure Travel can tailor-make
any itinerary to China, taking in the
best this incredible country has to
offer. Ask your Sure Travel consultant
for details, or visit suretravel.co.za /
call 0861 47 48 49.