This was published 6 years ago
Banyan Tree Yangshuo, China, review: Unmatched classical beauty
Banyan Tree Yangshuo.
THE PLACE
Far removed from the country's smog-ridden main and defiantly modern mega-cities, many with a population to match Australia's, the five-star Banyan Tree Yangshuo resort is located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China. It's a part of the country where it's still possible to glimpse China's more traditional past in a location unmatched for beauty.
THE SETTING
A tranquil morning in Banyan Tree Yangshuo.
For once, it's by no means a cliche to note that Yangshuo and the surrounding countryside is the stuff of a classic Chinese painting. Banyan Tree Yangshuo – part of the eponymous brand known for its luxurious and distinctive resorts and hotel across Asia and the Midde East – is situated in the middle of a landscape festooned with hundreds of limestone karst mountains and hills protruding between rivers and rice-fields. The 142 villa and suite resort is beside the Li River, popular for pleasure cruising and bamboo rafting, which runs all the way to the bustling though liveable city of Guilin, under two hours by road. The area is known for its colourful ethnic groups and the fabled and and now anachronistic practice of cormorant fishing.
THE SPACE
Despite its relative small number of rooms, this attractive resort, designed in a classic Chinese architectural style, sprawls across a generous landscaped river and lakeside site framed by Instagram-perfect receding karst peaks. Really, it's difficult to conceive a better location for such a resort in China.
Banyan Tree Yangshuo by night.
THE ROOM
My huge and luxurious "oriental-style" 66-square metre Karst discovery suite, set in a somewhat distant wing of the resort, includes a balcony from which views of the mountains and hills can be enjoyed as well as a king-sized bed, oversized bathroom and tub and all of the mod-cons you could reasonably expect.
THE FOOD
Banyan Tree Yangshuo lies among stunning karst peaks.
The resort's two restaurants, the more formal Bai Yun and the casual Ming Yue, serve excellent and at times creative Chinese and western cuisine in pleasant and comfortable surroundings. While service standards in China remain uneven and timid at best, even in the larger cities, the staff here are well-trained and extremely friendly.
STEPPING OUT
There's no shortage of outdoor activities in this part of China. Aside from touring the local area to marvel at the stunning scenery and ancient villages, Banyan Tree guests can enjoy a bamboo-raft ride from on the Li River while the mainly flat countryside between the peaks is well-suited to cycling. The city of Yangshuo is worth a visit, particularly at night, to experience its impressive new pedestrianised city centre, complete with a network of European-style canals. Be sure to book tickets to the elaborate Yangshuo Light Show, an outdoor evening spectacular on the Li River that showcases the region's local ethnic groups and the area's unique karst landscapes that are illuminated to striking effect.
THE VERDICT
Yangshuo, along with Guilin, are some of the most rewarding corners of China, with this Banyan Tree resort providing an impressive and indulgent base from which to savour it. If your budget allows, or if you fancy a splurge, opt for one of the lavish riverside villas.
THE DETAILS
Doubles start from CNY2500 a night, low season, including breakfast for two, for a Karst discovery suite. See banyantree.com
OUR RATING
HIGHLIGHT
The mountain, river and countryside scenery that surrounds the resort is magnificent and memorable.
LOWLIGHT
The reviewer's room, luxurious as it is, can feel slightly isolated from the main building as well as the river.
Anthony Dennis was a guest of Banyan Tree Yangshuo
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