Where to Stay in Guilin?
10 Hotels in the Li River Karst City — ¥70 to a Yangshuo Design Resort

We open the list with the design resort that scores highest on the whole list — Alila Yangshuo scores 9.6/10 from around 2,043 real guest reviews. It's a five-star resort converted from a 1960s sugar mill on the Li River in Yangshuo, with raw brick-and-concrete shells blended into contemporary architecture that has become the draw in itself, and a swimming pool set on the old sugar-conveyor platform looking out at the karst peaks. Guests say the same things over and over: the architecture is striking, the atmosphere is calm, the service is good, and the mountain-and-river views are worth the trip. The honest catch: it's in Yangshuo, about 65km from central Guilin (a ~1–1.5hr drive), so it's not the pick if you mainly want to see the city of Guilin, and it's design-resort pricing.

This is the luxury riverside resort that ties for the top score, and it has the biggest review base of the Yangshuo group — Banyan Tree Yangshuo scores 9.6/10 from around 5,138 real guest reviews. It's a five-star villa resort in southern-Chinese style on the Li / Yulong rivers at Fuli Town, Yangshuo, with karst peaks on three sides; the rooms are villas looking out over the river and the peaks, and there are top-tier villas with a private pool. Guests love the privacy, the mountain-and-river views, the Banyan Tree-level service, and the relaxed honeymoon-friendly mood. The honest catch: it's in Yangshuo, ~65km from central Guilin (and Fuli Town is further out again from Yangshuo town itself), it's not the pick for seeing the city, and it has the highest from-price on the list.

This is Guilin's flagship riverside five-star — 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, by Seven Star Park, with spacious grounds, and the river-view rooms look out over the water with the karst peaks behind. Guests praise the lovely river views, the reliable Shangri-La service, the relaxing grounds and pool, and the Horizon Club rooms with lounge access. The honest catch: it's on the east bank, not in the walkable sightseeing core (a ~10-minute taxi to Central Square / the pedestrian street), the city-view rooms don't get the river (specify a river-view room when booking), and it's five-star pricing.

This is the big-brand five-star with the edge on location — the most central 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. Guests praise the walk-everywhere location, the Li River-view rooms (not easy to find from a city-centre hotel), the Sheraton-brand service, and the Executive rooms with Club Lounge access. 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.

This is a city landmark at the most reachable price in the five-star group — 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. Guests praise the walk-to-everything central location, the pretty lake / waterfall-view rooms, 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).

We open the four-star group with the best value on the list — and notably, it scores higher than several of the city-centre five-stars: Universal Hotel scores 9.5/10 from around 5,293 real guest reviews. It's a value four-star 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 rave about most is the Li River sunrise-view room — open the curtains in the morning to the bridge and karst peaks over the water. Rooms are clean and well-equipped, and it's great value in a central spot starting at just around ¥130 (฿650). The honest catch: it's a four-star with no resort facilities, the entry rooms are city views (the river-view rooms cost more and need to be specified), and the Liberation Bridge area is busy in the evening.

This is an Atour-brand design midscale that ties Universal at peak score, and scores higher than several of the city-centre five-stars — Atour Hotel (Zhengyang · Two Rivers Four Lakes · Elephant Trunk Hill) scores 9.5/10 from around 2,330 real guest reviews. It sits on the Zhengyang pedestrian street (正阳步行街) in the city centre, and the edge is a location that walks easily to Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun & Moon Pagodas. Guests praise the clean, warm-toned design rooms, Atour's signature beds, scent and reading nook, the comfortable beds, and good value in a central spot starting around ¥360 (฿1,800). 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 may get noise).

This is a four-star with a lovely lakeside setting and good value — Guilin Bravo Hotel scores 9.4/10 from around 2,245 real guest reviews. It's a four-star that used to be the Holiday Inn Guilin, on Ronghu Lake (榕湖), where the lake-view rooms open onto the water and the peaks behind. Guests praise the leafy, calm lakeside setting, the lake-view rooms as the best value, the Grand Wing in better condition than the older section, and the ~10-minute walk to the city centre and night market. The honest catch: the main building is older with some classic-condition parts (pick the Grand Wing if you want a newer room), the entry rooms in the main building don't get the lake view, and it's not right on the pedestrian street (a ~10-minute walk).

This is the value three-star chain with the most reviews on the whole list — Lavande Hotel (Central Square · Elephant Trunk Hill) scores 9.2/10 from around 6,528 real guest reviews. This Lavande (丽枫) chain hotel is on the Zhengyang pedestrian street (正阳步行街) in the city centre, an easy walk to the Sun & Moon Pagodas and Central Square. Guests almost unanimously call the rooms modern and clean, great value, and a predictable chain standard, with a location you can shop and eat from the moment you arrive. The honest catch: it's a practical three-star chain with no resort facilities, the Superior rooms are compact, the lobby is on the 5th floor of a commercial building (find the right entrance), and the pedestrian-street area is busy in the evening.

We close the list with the hostel option — the floor on price, and a top-rated social hostel. Guilin Wada Hostel is a backpacker hostel with both dorm beds from ¥70 and private rooms, scoring around 9.0/10 (a cross-platform rating). It has a central location within walking distance of Central Square. What guests praise most is the English-speaking desk and the help with cruises and Yangshuo transfers (great for solo travellers who don't speak Chinese), the common space for meeting fellow travellers, and the lightest prices on the list. The honest catch: it's a hostel with basic facilities, the dorm beds use shared bathrooms, and as a local property, it's worth confirming foreign-passport check-in and your arrival time when you book.