On a recent stay at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat with my family that includes (at the time of writing) a seven-year-old and a two-year-old, I found the YMR a great countryside retreat for all of us. The small hotel is staffed by super-friendly local people who really try to accommodate the needs and requests of guests. While sitting on our balcony and watching the boats go by was almost activity enough, there is so much to do in the area and the staff is so happy to help you arrange your activities, you can easily fill up a week. We stayed a long weekend and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat is located just over an hour's drive from Guilin and about 8 kilometers south of the town of Yangshuo - a major tourist draw in the area. The resort is built off the road down along the banks of the Yulong River, a smaller river that leads into the Li River (a major tourist thoroughfare taking folks from Guilin to Yangshuo). From the hotel, it takes about fifteen minutes by car or 40 minutes by bike to get into Yangshuo. The hotel is nestled right in the karst limestone mountains that make this area such an attraction and the views from the hotel are stunning.
The grounds are very nice. As you walk down the small path from the road (cars have to park along the road), you get a glimpse of the river below. Entry is through a little gate and a green lawn spreads in front of you with the hotel to your right and the river to your left. They have many tables and chairs in the garden along the riverfront for guests to enjoy meals or drinks as well as lounge chairs in which guests can just relax. The tourist traffic on the river starts early in the morning so there's always something to watch if beautiful mountain scenery isn't enough.
Further along from the dining area is a nice big lawn space with plenty of room for kids to run around. There's a little area down from here where the bamboo boats will dock to let passengers off at the hotel. Here kids can mess around in the shallow water and look for fish and other creatures.
The hotel itself is constructed of local gray brick and stone floors. Guestrooms have wooden floors. The main building has a small lobby and a large dining room and lounge. Guest rooms are upstairs and in an annex building next door. When booking, ask for a room with a river view as it would be a shame to have a room without a balcony from which to watch river life go by.
The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat is located just over an hour's drive from Guilin and about 8 kilometers south of the town of Yangshuo - a major tourist draw in the area. The resort is built off the road down along the banks of the Yulong River, a smaller river that leads into the Li River (a major tourist thoroughfare taking folks from Guilin to Yangshuo). From the hotel, it takes about fifteen minutes by car or 40 minutes by bike to get into Yangshuo. The hotel is nestled right in the karst limestone mountains that make this area such an attraction and the views from the hotel are stunning.
The grounds are very nice. As you walk down the small path from the road (cars have to park along the road), you get a glimpse of the river below. Entry is through a little gate and a green lawn spreads in front of you with the hotel to your right and the river to your left. They have many tables and chairs in the garden along the riverfront for guests to enjoy meals or drinks as well as lounge chairs in which guests can just relax. The tourist traffic on the river starts early in the morning so there's always something to watch if beautiful mountain scenery isn't enough.
Further along from the dining area is a nice big lawn space with plenty of room for kids to run around. There's a little area down from here where the bamboo boats will dock to let passengers off at the hotel. Here kids can mess around in the shallow water and look for fish and other creatures.
The hotel itself is constructed of local gray brick and stone floors. Guestrooms have wooden floors. The main building has a small lobby and a large dining room and lounge. Guest rooms are upstairs and in an annex building next door. When booking, ask for a room with a river view as it would be a shame to have a room without a balcony from which to watch river life go by.