Travel Guides & Tips in this video
Streamer Jake and a companion race to a whitewater rafting park near Guiyang and get through the gate just before closing for a 2-hour ride down the river. After buying cheap shoes, shorts, a bag and a hat on the way, they change, store their shoes and set off as the last boat of the day. The inflatable boat has holes in the bottom, so they keep bailing water as they hit rapid after rapid, pass signs warning of the most dangerous part, and see lifeguards posted after the scary drops. They stop at the first of ten rest areas, ride a concrete tube through a tunnel, drink hot tea on the river and find that the electronics bag got wet despite being wrapped three times. Further down they meet locals drinking beer with ducks and an uncle swimming in the river. At the landing vendors sell towels and dry clothes, and a stall makes a wood-fired margherita pizza for $4. With no shuttle cars left at 7:00 p.m., they bargain for a ride back to their car.
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Jake (jakenbakeLIVE) and his companion arrive at a rafting park near Guiyang in a rush, saying the ride is a 2-hour rafting adventure and that Jake has never been rafting. On the way they bought two pairs of shoes, two pairs of shorts, a bag and a hat for about $11 to $12, with no time to bargain further. Jake cannot buy a ticket as a foreigner, while the companion had already bought one online. They make it with about a minute to spare; storage and bathrooms are inside. Staff say the park closes at 5:00 and visitors should arrive before 4:30, though another worker said entry before 5:00 was fine. The shoes they get have coffee stains inside, they put their own shoes in storage, and there is a changing room at the back. They note rafting usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, so 2 hours is unusual, and stress these are whitewater rapids, not a lazy river, and the water is cold. Two lifeguards follow behind them as the last boat. The boat has holes in the bottom and they keep bailing water out; they almost capsize. Signs along the river say 'really crazy, be careful' and later that the most dangerous part is coming. Keeping your mouth closed when splashed is called the key. Lifeguards sit on chairs after scary sections because people probably flip a lot, and the staff behind them make sure everything is safe. A bag holding Jake's streaming gear, wrapped three times, lets water in. At the first rest area there is a bathroom and food, and you can get off and rest; it is one of 10 rest stops. They switch to sitting tandem and slide through a concrete tube into a tunnel, which they later call the wildest part. Jake feels cold, talks about hypothermia and wishes he had worn long pants. Rest stops let you stop and eat, and they take hot tea onto the boat, spilling some. With about 40 more minutes to go they continue, noting they have no towel. A local says there is an even crazier rafting route out here. Food stations line the river, ducks and geese swim past, a group invites them to drink alcohol, and an uncle swims and showers in the river. At the end they dock, vendors sell towels and dry clothes, and they look at T-shirts where a 5 XL is like an American medium; vendors bargain between 23 and 20 RMB, and they say the place only opens in summer. A stall bakes wood-fired pizza in an oven with gas on one side and coal and wood on the other; Jake's margherita costs $4 and has a chewy dough and crisp base. At 7:00 p.m. there are no more cars going back; they realise they could have parked at the bottom. Motorcycle riders offer rides, a quote of 60 seems a scam for a 4.9 km trip, and they take a car for 30 RMB back to their car under the moon. Jake's gear got a little damp but works.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How long is the rafting ride near Guiyang?
- A: The ride takes about 2 hours; the creators note a normal rafting trip is usually around 20 to 30 minutes.
- Q: What time does the rafting park close?
- A: Staff said the park closes at 5:00 and told them to arrive before 4:30, although another worker said you can still enter before 5:00.
- Q: Can foreigners buy rafting tickets at the gate?
- A: Jake could not buy a ticket at the counter as a foreigner; his companion had already bought one online.
- Q: Are there rest stops along the river?
- A: Yes. The first rest area had a bathroom and food, and it is one of 10 stops where you can get off, rest, eat or have hot tea.
- Q: Is the rafting dangerous?
- A: These are whitewater rapids rather than a lazy river. Signs warn of the most dangerous part, lifeguards sit after scary sections, and staff follow the last boats.
- Q: Will you get wet and cold?
- A: Yes. The boat has holes in the bottom, water splashes in constantly, and the river is cold, so long pants and a towel help.
- Q: How do you get back to the start after rafting?
- A: Cars run back to the start, but by 7:00 p.m. there were none left; they took a car for 30 RMB after a quote of 60 seemed a scam.
- Q: Is there food at the end of the rafting route?
- A: Yes. A stall makes wood-fired pizza; Jake's margherita cost $4 and had a chewy dough with a crisp base.
- Q: Is the rafting park open all year?
- A: A local at the landing said they only open during summer time.
