Middlesbrough-born South African designer Ian Hamlinton (nicknamed ‘Crazy One’ by the locals) has energetically and lovingly converted a cluster of Ming dynasty houses in the village of Jiuxian into a gorgeous western-style boutique hotel with a choice selection of classy rooms. Its restaurant does burgers and pizzas, along with local Guangxi cuisine and homemade wine made using seasonal fruits.
There's also an open-air platform used for yoga, taichi and tea ceremonies. A taxi to Yangshuo from here costs ¥50; it takes about 20 minutes to half an hour by electric scooter.