SYYF Hotel(Guilin Shiyuyuanfang)

SYYF Hotel sits on the riverbank in Guilin near Fubo Hill and the Sun and Moon Pagodas, close to Elephant Trunk Hill — the train station is about 4 km away. Many rooms have river views, with some facing the sunrise and others the sunset.

The hotel offers activities that are unusual for the city: cormorant and eagle shows, fishing rods right at the hotel, and workshops in local crafts. There's a free laundry with drying, a spa, a pool, a restaurant and bar, and pets are allowed.

Who it's for: solo travelers and families with kids who want to combine a central Guilin location and river views with unusual activities like fishing and bird shows.

To be fair: some of the standard rooms are pretty basic (one review noted there wasn't even a desk), and there's no free transfer from the station or airport — it's a paid service that, according to one guest, ended up costing more than a regular taxi. It's worth confirming the room layout and transfer cost in advance if that matters to you.