Yangshuo River View Hotel

We stayed in a suite with a little balcony, which was a nice extra. The hotel sits right by the river and has a lovely view of both the river and mountains. The ground-floor restaurant served good food, and breakfast was nice too. We could choose what we wanted ahead of time. Just be ready to take the stairs, there’s no elevator.

The room had a heavy bamboo-like smell, almost like pee, and it was there even on the higher floors because of the restaurant downstairs. It wasn’t cleaned very well: some towels were old and dirty, the shower swung between too hot and too cold, and we saw a dead cockroach. The supposed river view was misleading too, since tall trees blocked the view from the hotel and rooms. The location itself is good, with restaurants and bars within walking distance. Still, the place felt more focused on money than customer satisfaction. That was surprising in China, where everywhere else people had done their best to make our stay pleasant. Walking along the street with the river on your right, you’ll find two much better places to stay, though I can’t remember their names.

The river view just outside the hotel is stunning, with fishermen and magical rock formations. The hotel is close to the lively downtown streets, just around the corner, but tucked away enough to stay quiet while still being near the action. The rooms were very clean, and the staff warm and accommodating. The restaurant looked delicious and popular, though we didn’t get to try it. It’s a lovely room and bathroom, but the toilet is separated from the bedroom by only a curtain. There’s also no elevator.

The room was spacious and had a nice heritage feel. The WiFi was truly dreadful, and there’s no fridge, which were big drawbacks. Still, the place has a lovely atmosphere, and the staff are genuinely helpful and can arrange holidays and transfers. It’s right beside the river, with plenty of restaurants and street food nearby. The centre is a few minutes’ walk away, putting the hotel just at the edge of Yangshuo’s tourist circus.