Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

The river and hills make for a stunning setting, and I loved watching the bamboo rafts from the open lawn. The path by Yulong River goes right past the hotel, and you can walk 12km all the way to Yulong bridge. I was disappointed by the rear-view room, though. Its marketing picture didn’t show that the balcony was surrounded by walkways and other room entrances, so I wouldn’t choose that room again. The other rooms with views are much better. Getting there was a hassle too, since Didi didn’t show the hotel, only another name, Shangdi (?) .

We stayed one night while visiting Guilin, and it felt like a real retreat. The service was great and they took care of our needs. Breakfast in the restaurant came with lovely views of the river and passing bamboo boats. I was especially glad the bed had a heating mat.

The Yulong River setting is hard to beat. Karst peaks rise above the green landscape, with bamboo groves along the river, and watching rafts drift past from the balcony was lovely, especially in the mist or at sunset. This felt like a peaceful escape from the busier parts of China. The staff were caring and welcoming. They greeted me with lemon tea and biscuits and showed me to a spacious room styled like a traditional Chinese home, with dark wood, carved details, and a four-poster canopy bed. The stone basin and bamboo touches continued in the bathroom, which had regular and rainfall showers. The rainfall head could use replacing, but everything was clean and well cared for. I appreciated the refillable glass bottles instead of single-use plastic, and the free bikes for exploring the countryside. When I had trouble with a restriction on carrying a power bank in China, staff called the post office, checked the rules, and offered to handle the arrangements. It turned out to be impossible, but I was grateful for their effort. One small annoyance was that the room only had sweetened 2-in-1 coffee sachets with powdered milk. Unsweetened dairy products are uncommon in China, so that may just be local taste, but plain black coffee would be a welcome option. There wasn’t a spoon or stirrer either, so I improvised with my toothbrush. My main disappointment was the bed. The mattress was very firm, basically a thin topper of around 10 cm over a hard base with no give. Even if you’re used to firm beds, it’s unforgiving. I put all the spare pillows under the sheet to soften it, which helped a little, but sleeping comfort matters. A better mattress or some extra cushioning would make a real difference. Despite that, the scenery, sense of place, and genuinely caring service make this an enchanting spot. A more comfortable bed would bring it close to perfect.

I stayed here in September, 2025, and loved how relaxing it was. I liked ordering a pot of tea and sitting outside to unwind.