We stayed for 3 nights at the TUI BLUE Yangshuo 5-star hotel while visiting Guilin & Yangshuo. I recommend overseas visitors to download the DIDI and ALIPAY apps before arriving in China, and link your international credit card with Alipay and choose it as the default payment method in Didi. While it is easy to add the same credit card to Didi, having Alipay makes it easier to pay at several stores when eating out or shopping.
Shanghai to Guilin Flights
I used Flying Blue miles to book business class flights between PVG and KWL, which offers a decent points redemption value (see images below).
Getting from Guilin airport to Yangshuo
Instead of prebooking expensive airport pick-up and hotel drop-off options, I recommend simply using the Didi app to book a taxi upon landing at the airport (just like you do with Uber in the US). Using Didi saves almost half off when compared to prepaid options from Viator or Get Your Guide. I always prefer staying at Yangshuo instead of Guilin to be closer to the scenic nature, and the taxi ride takes around an hour on a well-paved road.
Scenery from Guilin to Yangshuo
First-time visitors to Guilin will be amazed by the breathtaking landscape of Guangxi, overlooking the Yulong River and the surrounding karst hills. You can’t help but notice that the beautiful Guilin valley appears unattractive near the cities due to several buildings without a clear structure or layout, along with the electric poles with wires visible everywhere.
Why did I choose the TUI Blue hotel in Yangshuo?
There is no shortage of highly rated accommodations in Guilin and Yangshuo, and I found 89 properties on Booking.com (see image below). I was looking for a reasonably priced option for a suite room, and I ended up choosing the TUI Blue Yangshuo hotel.
TUI BLUE Hotel Location & Lobby
TUI Blue is a massive hotel built on a busy street with a unique layout and elevation. The architecture is quite impressive the moment you enter the hotel, including the entrance (see images below).
There is a large seating area near the front desk, and our check-in process was smooth. There was one person who spoke good English, but we had to use Google Translate a lot during our stay to communicate with all the staff members. The hotel promptly takes the full payment at the time of check-in, and we had no trouble using the overseas credit cards (I split the payment between two of our Chase Reserve cards, which triggered the $300 travel credit).
Suite with Balcony
Our suite with a balcony contained a 1238 ft² massive area with several large windows with remote-operated window shades/drapes. There was a large king bed, which was shaped round and inconvenient to get in and out of. There is a tub in one corner that can be filled with water and sit in to enjoy the view. The bathroom is large with two sinks and separate sections for shower and toilet (see images below).
The balcony is the highlight of the suite with beautiful mountain views and a large rock where we saw a few mountain climbers. The outdoor seating is very comfortable with an angled back and easy to sit for a long time compared to the indoor sofas.
Hotel Wi-Fi
The hotel has free Wi-Fi, but we were unable to get any internet on any of our US-based devices due to the strict Chinese firewall policy. My Google Fi worked at LTE speeds while in Guilin, and I was able to use the hotspot to browse on my laptop.
Free Breakfast
TUI Blue has an excellent breakfast with a good selection of fresh fruits, breads, cereals, meats, and an egg station where we requested our choice of Omelette, fried, and scrambled eggs.
Outdoor Pool
There is a nice outdoor unheated pool on the top floor with great views of the mountain range and a Giant Song Fairy Statue from the nearby Guilin Romance Park. It is easy to mistake the Song Fairy Statue for a Hindu deity due to its distinct three-headed design, but it is a piece of local Chinese folklore. The monument depicts the legendary Song Fairy of the Zhuang ethnic minority, celebrating the rich culture of the Guangxi region (see images below)l.
Nearby Dining
We were taking Didi rides two times a day to go out to the city center and eat at restaurants. We went several times to Ganga Indian restaurant, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Dairy Queen, and were surprised to find them in Yangshuo.
Things to do in Guilin
- Sun and Moon Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta).
- Elephant Trunk Hill.
- Reed Flute Cave.
- East-West Alley (Dongxi Xiang).
Things to do in Yangshuo
- Li River Cruise: Take a 4-hour boat ride from Guilin to Yangshuo to drift past some of the most surreal and breathtaking limestone karst peaks in the world.
- Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
- Impression Liu Sanjie: This massive outdoor nighttime show is directed by Zhang Yimou and uses the actual Li River as its stage, with hundreds of locals performing against the lit-up karst mountains.
Xianghong Mountain scenic view
I highly recommend taking a round-trip taxi (160-200 RMB) from the hotel to the Xianghong Mountain scenic view as a day trip. The taxi driver will wait while you pay for the tickets, climb the steps to the top, take pictures, and return in about 30-40 minutes. The hotel front desk will arrange a taxi for you upon request, and you have to directly pay the driver via the Didi/Alipay app.
Summary
We had an excellent stay at the TUI Blue Yangshuo, and I highly recommend staying here if you are planning to explore Guilin on your next trip.