10 Highest-Rated Hotels in Guilin
A Top 10 from Real Reviews, 9.0–9.6/10 — Ranked by Score Alone, from a Yangshuo Resort to a ¥70 Hostel

We open the highest-rated list with the riverside resort that ties for the top score and has the most reviews in the 9.6 group — Banyan Tree Yangshuo scores 9.6/10 from around 5,138 real guest reviews. It's a five-star Banyan Tree resort tucked into a bend of the Li / Yulong River in Fuli Town, Yangshuo, ringed by karst peaks on three sides. What guests say with one voice is that the views are lovely across the whole resort and there's plenty to do — peacocks, alpacas, carp, bamboo rafting, a spa and a gong ceremony — which makes it work for couples who want to unwind and families who want the kids entertained; many reviews praise the clean rooms and the attentive staff. The honest catch: it's out in Yangshuo, about 65km from central Guilin (and out in the countryside beyond that), so it isn't the pick if you want to see the city every day, it's luxury-resort pricing, and you'll want to check the transfer / getting in and out ahead · details compiled from real reviews on Trip.com.

Second place ties the leader on score and is one of China's most celebrated design resorts — Alila Yangshuo scores 9.6/10 from around 2,043 real guest reviews (the same score as Banyan Tree but fewer reviews, so it sits at No.2). This five-star resort is built into a 1960s state-owned sugar mill on the Li River in Yangshuo, keeping the raw concrete columns, brick walls and steel frames as design features. What guests talk about most is the pool laid over the old concrete platform once used to haul sugar, reaching out toward the river, and the architecture that's both striking and steeped in history; reviews praise the design, the service and the riverside karst views. The honest catch: it's out in Yangshuo, about 65km from central Guilin, so it isn't the pick for seeing the city, it's luxury-design-resort pricing, and the garden-view rooms don't get the river (specify a river-view room when booking) · details compiled from real reviews on Trip.com.

The highest-rated hotel in the four-star group, and the clearest example on this list that a good four-star can out-score the five-stars — Atour Hotel (Zhengyang · Two Rivers Four Lakes · Elephant Trunk Hill) scores 9.5/10 from around 2,330 real guest reviews. It's an Atour-brand design midscale on the Zhengyang pedestrian street (正阳步行街) in the city centre, and the edge is a location that walks straight out to Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun & Moon Pagodas — step out of the room and you can eat and wander right away — plus Atour's signatures that guests love: comfortable beds, the brand's own scent and a reading nook, in clean, warm-toned rooms; reviews praise the cleanliness and the beds. The honest catch: it's a midscale with no pool or river view, standard rooms are compact, and it's on a pedestrian street that's busy in the evening (street-facing rooms can get noise — you can ask for an inner room) · details compiled from real reviews.

It ties Atour at peak score but it's the best value on the whole list — Universal Hotel scores 9.5/10 from around 5,293 real guest reviews (more than Atour) and starts at just around ¥130. This four-star is in the city centre by Liberation Bridge (解放桥) in Xiufeng district, an easy walk to the Two Rivers Four Lakes and the Zhengyang pedestrian street, and what guests love is how light the price is for a central spot: it has a Li River sunrise-view room where you open the curtains in the morning to the bridge and karst peaks, plus a 45–50 sqm triple and a ~60 sqm river-view suite; reviews call the rooms clean and great value. The honest catch: it's a four-star with no pool or resort facilities, the entry rooms are twin city views (the river-view / larger rooms need to be specified), and the Liberation Bridge area is busy in the evening · details compiled from real reviews.

A lakeside four-star that scores high because it has both the view and full-service hotel standards — Guilin Bravo Hotel scores 9.4/10 from around 2,245 real guest reviews. It faces Ronghu Lake (榕湖), one of the lakes on the Two Rivers Four Lakes ring, with spacious leafy grounds, and what guests love is the water and peak views from the rooms and the full-service standards of a former Holiday Inn — two restaurants (Western / Asian / local), an airport transfer, and a location a ~10-minute walk from the Zhengyang pedestrian street, the Sun & Moon Pagodas and the night market; reviews praise the calm lakeside spot that's still close to the centre. The honest catch: the hotel has been open a while, so the styling is classic rather than the newest, and the city-view rooms don't get the lake (specify a lake-view room when booking) · details compiled from real reviews.

The highest-scoring of the five-star brands on the list — Shangri-La Hotel Guilin scores 9.3/10 from around 4,143 real guest reviews. It sits on the east bank of the Li River in Qixing district, with spacious grounds and a pool, and what guests praise is the lovely river views and the reliable Shangri-La service, plus an edge you won't find elsewhere — you can walk to Seven Star Park (七星公园) and its giant pandas, since it's right next door; reviews highlight the relaxing grounds and pool and the Li River views. The honest catch: it's on the east bank, not in the walkable sightseeing core (a ~10-minute taxi to Central Square), the city-view rooms don't get the river (specify a river-view room when booking), and it's five-star pricing · details compiled from real reviews.

The hotel with the most reviews on the whole list, and it keeps the score steady — Lavande Hotel (Central Square · Elephant Trunk Hill) scores 9.2/10 from around 6,528 real guest reviews, and that many reviews tells you the score is genuinely consistent, not a fluke. It's a midscale Lavande (丽枫) chain hotel on the Zhengyang pedestrian street (正阳步行街) in central Xiufeng district, and what guests love is a starting price as light as ¥95 (฿475) with a location that walks to every landmark — Central Square, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Sun & Moon Pagodas — plus the 丽枫 brand's clean, crisp, warm-toned rooms with a lavender scent, and a breakfast that gets praise; guests call it good value and dependable. The honest catch: it's a three-star chain, the standard rooms aren't large, there's no pool or river view, and it's on a pedestrian street that's busy in the evening (street-facing rooms can get noise) · details compiled from real reviews.

A city landmark with a trick no one else has — Lijiang Waterfall Hotel scores 9.1/10 from around 2,996 real guest reviews. The tower stands right by Central Square (中心广场), facing Shanhu Lake, an easy walk to the Sun & Moon Pagodas and the Zhengyang pedestrian street, and its signature is a record-setting (Guinness) façade waterfall released on a schedule that's a much-photographed sight, plus a central location you can walk everywhere from and Shanhu Lake / waterfall-view rooms; guests praise the walk-to-everything spot and a five-star starting price that's lighter than its rivals. The honest catch: it's one of the city's older landmark towers, so parts feel classic, the city-view rooms don't get the lake / waterfall, and Central Square is a busy area (lively at times) · details compiled from real reviews.

The big-brand five-star with the edge on location, the best central spot on the list — Sheraton Guilin Hotel scores 9.1/10 from around 4,876 real guest reviews. It sits on the Li River on Binjiang Road in Xiufeng district, and the standout is that it's a ~5-minute walk to Elephant Trunk Hill and an easy walk to the Two Rivers Four Lakes and the Zhengyang pedestrian street (so you can walk to food in the evening without taxis); it has a pool, family / connecting rooms, and Li River-view rooms that aren't easy to find from a city-centre hotel, and guests praise the walk-everywhere location and the Sheraton-brand service. The honest catch: the building has been open a while, so the styling is classic rather than the newest in town, the city-view rooms don't get the river, and rates rise in high season and on holidays · details compiled from real reviews.

We close the highest-rated list with proof that a ¥70-a-bed hostel can make a Top 10 if it genuinely keeps guests happy — Guilin Wada Hostel scores 9.0/10 (compiled across review platforms). It's a long-running backpacker hostel under the Wada brand (open since around 2009), in the city centre on Huancheng West Road, steps from Central Square, Shanhu Lake and the Sun & Moon Pagodas. What foreign travellers love is the fluent English-speaking staff who actually help plan the trip — arranging a car to Yangshuo, booking tickets and planning routes — plus a fellow-traveller vibe with a café and a common lounge; from around ¥70 (฿350) it's the cheapest on the list, and guests praise the location, the price and the helpful team. The honest catch: it's a long-running hostel, so the facilities are simple (dorms share bathrooms) and it suits backpackers / solo travellers more than families who want privacy — there are private rooms if you'd rather · details compiled from real reviews.