Alila Yangshuo

Top choice in Yangshuo


One of Yangshuo's most memorable stays is this old, Chinese sugarbeet factory – complete with Cultural Revolution slogans – that's been converted into a hub of luxury and design. Set among limestone karst peaks, its location is stunning, and one you can bask in from its opulent infinity pool. Room design is sleek, minimalist and modernist-inspired with ambient lighting and stylish industrial touches.

Its restaurant and bar are set up in the old sugar-pressing room, with farm-to-table inspired fusion cuisine, accompanied by a long list of cocktails. Movies are shown in the evening, plus there's a spa offering Balinese massage and treatments. Staff are friendly, but temper your expectations if you're expecting five-star service.

It's 6km northeast from Yangshuo, and there's a complimentary shuttle into town throughout the day.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Yangshuo attractions

1. Li Riverside Path

1.4 MILES

When Xijie, the crowds and postcard hawkers get too much, head down the steps to the Li River. Unfolding before you is a beautiful panorama of karst peaks…

2. House of Xu Beihong

1.42 MILES

This small shrine to the 20th-century artist Xu Beihong (famed chiefly for his pictures of galloping horses) – in a small one-storey house where he once…

3. Green Lotus Peak

1.47 MILES

Located in the southeastern corner of town, this is Yangshuo's main peak; it's also the most accessible (it can be climbed in half an hour). Because it…

4. Big Banyan Tree

3.99 MILES

This colossal banyan tree, its limbs propped up by wooden poles, is quite a sight set against the karst hills. It's also a major tourist magnet, so don't…

5. Deyue Building

4.42 MILES

Once among Li River's most beautiful buildings, Deyue, with its ornate embellishments, stands weather-beaten by the river like a frail diva. The name…

6. Moon Hill

4.88 MILES

A 30-minute – extremely sweaty – climb up steps to the magnificent natural arch that adorns Moon Hill (380m) is rewarded with both lost calories and some…

7. Longtan Village

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This fascinating village about 1.5km beyond Moon Hill is a treasure trove of traditional Qing dynasty architecture. Beyond the initial, slightly cheesy…

8. Yangshuo Water Caves

6.45 MILES

There are several caves open to tourists in the area around Yangshuo that are formed by underground rivers, and ornamented with an array of otherworldly…