We stayed for 3 nights at the TUI BLUE Yangshuo 5-star hotel while visiting Guilin & Yangshuo. I recommend overseas visitors download the DIDI and Alipay apps before arriving in China, link your international credit card to Alipay, and set 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 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 using the Didi app to book a taxi when you land (just like you do with Uber in the US). Didi saves almost half compared with prepaid options from Viator or Get Your Guide. I always prefer staying in Yangshuo instead of Guilin to be closer to the scenery, and the taxi ride takes about an hour on well-paved roads.
Scenery from Guilin to Yangshuo
First-time visitors to Guilin will be amazed by Guangxi’s breathtaking landscape, with views of the Yulong River and surrounding karst hills. You can’t help but notice that the beautiful Guilin valley looks less appealing near the cities because of buildings with no clear structure or layout, plus electric poles and wires visible everywhere.
Why did I choose the TUI Blue hotel in Yangshuo?
Guilin and Yangshuo have plenty of highly rated accommodations, and I found 89 properties on Booking.com (see image below). I was looking for a reasonably priced suite, 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).
A large seating area is near the front desk, and our check-in process was smooth. One person spoke good English, but we had to use Google Translate a lot during our stay to communicate with all staff members. The hotel promptly takes full payment at check-in, and we had no trouble using 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 had 1,238 ft² of space, with several large windows and remote-operated window shades/drapes. It had a large king bed, which was round and inconvenient to get in and out of. A tub in one corner can be filled with water so you can sit in it and enjoy the view. The bathroom is large, with two sinks and separate shower and toilet areas (see images below).
The balcony is the suite’s highlight, 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 on for a long time compared to the indoor sofas.
Hotel Wi-Fi
The hotel has free Wi-Fi, but we couldn’t get internet on any of our US-based devices because of the strict Chinese firewall policy. My Google Fi worked at LTE speeds in Guilin, and I could use the hotspot to browse on my laptop.
Free Breakfast
TUI Blue offers an excellent breakfast with a good selection of fresh fruit, breads, cereals, meats, and an egg station where we choose omelet, fried, or scrambled eggs.
Outdoor Pool
A nice outdoor unheated pool sits on the top floor, with great views of the mountain range and a Giant Song Fairy Statue from the nearby Guilin Romance Park. Its distinct three-headed design makes it easy to mistake the Song Fairy Statue for a Hindu deity, but it is a piece of local Chinese folklore. The monument depicts the legendary Song Fairy of the Zhuang ethnic minority and celebrates the rich culture of the Guangxi region (see images below).
Nearby Dining
We took Didi rides twice a day to the city center to 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 and drift past some of the world’s most surreal, breathtaking limestone karst peaks.
- Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
- Impression Liu Sanjie: This massive outdoor nighttime show, directed by Zhang Yimou, uses the 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 Xianghong Mountain Scenic View for 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 upon request, and you must pay the driver directly 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.