Navigation resumed Monday on the picturesque Lijiang River in the scenic city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, after a one-day suspension caused by a lengthy downpour, according to the city marine affairs administration.

More than 6,000 tourists from home and abroad aboard 64 yachts cruising on the river on Monday morning.

The water level of the Lijiang River began to ebb Sunday night and moved back to 143.54 meters by 8 AM Monday, said an official with Guilin City Marine Affairs Administration.

Sudden but lingering torrential rains pelted the river and Guilin City Saturday night, inundating numerous places in the city and causing the river's water level to surge significantly.

On Sunday morning, the water line of the elegant river stood at146.08 meters, 1.08 meters higher than the cautionary level.

Local travel agencies have taken emergency measures to give refunds to more than 3,000 tourists who registered to go boating on the Lijiang River previously.

According to the local meteorological station, Guilin is to witness heavy rain in upcoming two days. Afterward, rainfall in the city will be on the decrease.

Once the water level of the Lijiang River reaches or exceeds the warning line of 145 meters, navigation on the river will be suspended immediately, an official with the local marine affairs administration said.

The Lijiang River, widely known for its limpid water with adjacent vivid, fancy mountain scenes, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2005)