A modern structure inspired by traditional architecture.

About an hour outside Yangshuo, the karst mountains begin. They’re unique and consist of spectacular conical pillars of rock forming a violent jagged skyline. Yangshuo itself is nestled between several of these karst pillars so it's a pretty town catering mainly for tourists who’ve come to gawk at the mountains and to visit the nearby picturesque Li River

The main street of Yangshou, Xi Jie, or Western Street, is a pedestrian mall lined with modern shops and restaurants in old two-story buildings. It's quite pleasant in spite of all the glowing advertising signs and throngs of tourists and it’s here that you’ll find the Hongfu Palace Hotel, located within a magnificent 400-year old edifice that once housed the Jiangxi Guild Hall. French twins and antique collectors Luke and Christopher have converted the building into a charming hotel, furnished with exquisite pieces from their own collections. However, the guest rooms are nothing special, but as most of the other hotels are either backpacker hostels or sterile Chinese tourist piles, it’s the best place to stay in downtown Yangshou. Plus you’ll be in the hands of David Wong, a former English teacher, who now manages the hotel and is extremely knowledgeable about the area.

This little gem packs a real punch. It's unpretentious and somewhere special to stay just outside of town, away from the noise and right on the banks of the Li River where the scenery is totally breathtaking. Here you’ll awake to the most amazing views (tip: it’s worthwhile lashing out on their best room…it’s absolutely huge and has floor to ceiling windows on three sides) before heading down to the terrace to tackle a delicious hearty breakfast. 

The Retreat is located directly across the river from an impressive array of karst peaks and, looking downstream towards Yangshou, you’ll see the famous Dragon Head Hill and the Li River zigzagging through more karst peaks.

All the rooms are large and comfortable, with private bathrooms and air conditioning, but the best feature of all are the huge windows designed to take in as much of the scenery as possible. However, the best views are saved for the rooftop patio, where you can sit all day in a comfy chair and absorb your surroundings. Late in the afternoon the patio is transformed into the Sundowner Bar, with a great selection of drinks and soothing traditional Chinese music. You can also choose to eat on the rooftop patio, or down on the terrace. Either way, the cooks at the Retreat have been consistently rated as the best in Yangshou and you’ll be blown away by their delicious Chinese meals, prepared with only the freshest of ingredients from the local markets, or try some of their Western comfort food, like pizza and huge hamburgers. 

The amount of things to do in and around Yangshou is staggering and bike hire can easily be arranged from the farmer down the road. Alternatively, the very friendly and helpful staff can arrange all manner of local sightseeing, including private river cruises and tickets to the spectacular Liu San Jie performance on the Li River.

Just behind the Yangshou Village Inn, overlooking a vegetable garden and pomelo grove is the latest gem from American entrepreneur, Chris Barclay.

Rescued from demolition, Chris has given this traditional mud brick house a total makeover whilst retaining its simple, original design. The Farmhouse is one of a fast-disappearing breed of traditional mud brick dwellings that are being replaced by multi-story concrete ‘horrors’ that many Chinese farmers can now afford to build. Unfortunately, in their haste to modernise, the farmers raze the original mud brick houses and use the rubble as foundations for the new buildings, so they’re being lost forever. Thank God for people like Chris!

The Farmhouse is ideal for small groups of friends or large families. There are three spacious bedrooms on the ground floor and another two in the loft, formerly used for grain storage.

The original mud bricks form a double wall with amazing insulation qualities that retain heat in winter and cool air in summer. Glass tiles have been added to the traditional roof tiles over the building’s 8-meter high main hall and the bedrooms have all been fitted with oversize insulated glass windows to bring in the natural daylight. Traditional metal and glass lanterns and a unique antler chandelier provide a wonderful ambiance to the evenings, as does the 21^st Century sound system.

Overlooking the rear vegetable garden and pomelo grove is a large covered deck, with amazing views of the village and surrounding karst peaks. The entire emphasis is on privacy and seclusion, but it’s only a 50-meter walk next door to the Village Inn for breakfast, happy hour and all the other dining facilities, including the wonderful rooftop Italian restaurant, Luna. The Farmhouse also shares the Village Inn’s very friendly, warm and attentive staff who’ll welcome you like family.

The Yulong River is a much smaller tributary of the nearby Li River and the only boats you’ll see here are bamboo rafts silently powered by hand. It’s the perfect spot to take a break from the rigors of traveling in China, to slow down for a while, ride a bicycle, take a long walk, or go rafting. Along the way you’re likely to meet local fishermen casting their nets, farmers guiding herds of ducks and young boys cutting sugarcane whilst their aunts tend the water buffalo. This is how it was in the old days and how it remains today. The peace and tranquility of the Chinese countryside. In the midst of it all sits a cluster of traditional farmhouses transformed by a young Dutch couple into a modern day guesthouse with the intriguing name of ‘The Giggling Tree’. How could you not have fun in a place with a name like this?

All the spacious rooms are nicely decorated with woodcarvings, bamboo furniture and posters of old Chinese advertisements and all have a private bathroom with a Western-style toilet. The outlying buildings, which used to be the barn, stable and store, have been converted into a restaurant, kitchen and lounge area. They surround a traditional Chinese courtyard/terrace with wonderful views out over the surrounding landscape. A great place to sit at the end of the day and watch the sun slide slowly behind the magnificent karst mountains. The restaurant can prepare Chinese delicacies like snake and crawfish if you’re game, but can also dish up Western dishes like pizza and hamburgers for the faint-hearted. There’s free WiFi, plus DVD’s to watch and books to read. Then, when you’re ready to venture outside, bicycles are available for rent, plus your friendly hosts can organize hiking tours and bamboo rafting on the nearby Yulong River. 

With landscaped lawns gently rolling down to meet the Yulong River, just outside Yuangshou, the eco-friendly Yangshuo Mountain Retreat is a splendid opportunity to be as close to the Region's fantastic landscape as possible (short of camping). Originally founded as a corporate training retreat by the American entrepreneur, Chris Barclay, who has lived and worked in China for many years, the Mountain Retreat has evolved into a hotel that really knows how to take care of people. The whole place has a relaxed Zen quality to it and Greenies will appreciate touches such as the fragrance of tea tree oil permeating the surrounding air, plus locally produced herbal soaps and shampoos. 


Most of the rooms have stunning views through floor-to-ceiling windows and some even have balconies overlooking the river. Tip: Ask for Room 205, which has a really large balcony! The flat-screen monitor in your room will only play DVDs, but who needs the distraction of television with so much majesty just outside the window? However, if you absolutely need to stay in touch, all rooms feature wireless Internet and a free laptop is available from the front desk if you’ve left yours at home. The Retreat’s restaurant features a balance of Western and local dishes, including beer fish and Yangshuo fried rice with Li River shrimp, all of which can be enjoyed outdoors, riverside, over a candlelit dinner. The staff have been largely recruited from the local villages and trained by Chris, so they’re extremely pleasant and helpful. A big plus in China. You’ll also be happy to know that the hotel allocates 5% of its annual profits to the China-US Medical Foundation, established in 2002 by Chris Barclay. This not-for-profit organisation helps Chinese children with Osteogenesis Imperfectar (Brittle Bone) disease.

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat's real achievement, however, is that it doesn't get in the way of its beautiful location. Indeed, the retreat itself is fully integrated into the landscape and it’s an ideal base to explore the Yulong and Li Rivers, as well as the surrounding dramatic peaks, valleys and local villages.

Yangshuo Outside Inn is a very friendly small guesthouse with a unique

character, located in a set of traditional farmhouses, renovated into rooms with

western standards. The houses are built with 'Adobe' mud bricks, which give

them their typical yellow color. The walls are about 40 cm thick maintaining the

interior relatively cool in summer and warm in winter.

Our Inn is very quietly settled at the edge of a small village in the famous Yulong

river valley, 4 km from Yangshuo. The karst hills are right at our doorstep and we

are surrounded by lush gardens with many trees. Here you will find the old

worldly China that has inspired people for centuries. The traditional Chinese

countryside life is all around us with the most beautiful swimming spot in the

Yulong river just 10 minutes walk away. Yangshuo's famous outdoor activities

start right at our front door.

The Dutch owner has been a guide in the area for 14 years and is a great source

of information. He can help you find the nicest spots for biking and hiking,

avoiding the crowds, point you to traditional villages and viewpoints and tell you

about the real Chinese life.

Either if you're looking for a peaceful retreat in the middle of nature or a perfect

base for Yangshuo's outdoor activities with a great source of information on the

area, you'll feel right at home in this eco-friendly Inn.

The Yangshuo Village Inn is a collaborative effort between the Yu family of Moon Hill Village and American Chris Barclay. Chris is the creator of the Mountain Retreat, Yangshuo's most popular accommodation for the past several years.

His new creation, the Village Inn, is located in the heart of Moon Hill Village and boasts unimpeded views of mystical Moon Hill. Chris has also incorporated much of the same design as the Mountain Retreat into the Village Inn, including polished concrete floors inlaid with reclaimed wood, local Miao artwork, simple wooden furnishings and a general less-is-more aesthetic.

The guest rooms, with down comforters, custom-built bamboo four-poster beds and Arrow bathroom fixtures, are superbly comfortable and arguably the best in Yangshou.

Apart from the accommodation, the Inn boasts one of the finest Italian restaurants found anywhere in China. Called Luna, it’s located on the rooftop with stunning views and with a menu designed by an Italian-trained chef, featuring mouth-watering pizza, al dente pasta and fresh salads prepared with local produce.

Additionally, the Inn has a romantic fireplace lounge, internet café & snack bar, plus free WiFi and, to make a great start to the day, breakfast served outdoors beneath the Inn’s own shady pomelo tree grove. 

The friendly staff speaks above-average English and is accustomed to the requests of Westerners. They’re also able to help organize activities such as cave tours, kayaking, bamboo river rafting and tickets to the inspiring Liu San Jie performance on the Li River.