Date: 31st of Jul, 2019 - beautiful historic accommodation - 5/5 on Tripadvisor
we spent 3 nights here and loved it. The hotel is housed in restored Qing dynasty buildings that have lots of character and are very comfortable. The hotel is in a small village about 20 min. drive from downtown Yangshuo, not far from the river but outside of the restricted area. It's very peaceful but with a couple of restaurants nearby and a small shop selling snacks next door. Continue reading..
The staff spoke excellent English which was helpful and there is an on-site restaurant. The receptionist was very helpful assisting us to arrange bikes one day and if we had wanted could also arrange an e-scooter and tickets for shows and activities.
There are no taxis there so the hotel called a car for us when we wanted to go out one evening and then for the trip back, we got a car via Didi (similar to Uber) but they wanted to charge an additional RMB20 due to the hotel being out of the way. View Less...
Date: 27th of Jul, 2019 - Remarkable hospitality - 5/5 on Tripadvisor
The Secret Garden is a lovely countryside inn built into the karsts with amazing food and service. It was a little hard to find 15 minutes from the bustle of Yangshuo, which made it even more quaint, but once inside, Faye and her staff created a uniquely hospitable experience. Not only was the food the best we experienced ANYWHERE in our travels around China, but the service was wonderful, the room clean and comfortable, and the concern for our comfort unusually engaged. Continue reading..
We stayed 4 days, rode bicycles around the area, saw cormorant birds fishing, witnessed the extraordinary light show on the Li River, climbed Moon Hill, and ate great food (said that already!). We are middle aged travelers from the US and there were no language barriers whatsoever. To top it off, when we left to visit the rice paddies of Longji, Faye insisted that the hotel's driver take us there, stay the night, and deliver us to the airport in time for our flight to Beijing. That was extraordinary hospitality. View Less...
Date: 11th of Jun, 2019 - A truly secret hideout - 4/5 on Tripadvisor
Our guide, Jack recommended this place for lunch. While the food is average, the place and the atmosphere made up for it. It is in a quaint and authentic old town set in a good feng shui area. We were told the owner is a South African who refurbished the place into a boutique hotel.
Date: 24th of May, 2019 - I did not stay here, only came for the restaurant - 4/5 on Tripadvisor
The dining area was clean, and food served promptly. I also ordered take-away for my upcoming train trip, as was not that hungry. It was carefully and securely packaged, and did not spill the car ride to station, and was very tasty.
Date: 4th of May, 2019 - A wonderful oasis of peace and calm - 5/5 on Tripadvisor
I couldn't recommend Secret Garden highly enough. As we drove in on the country roads I really wondered what I would find at the end of the journey. Stepping through the old stone arch into the hotel I was immediately greeted with a very warm welcome and a real sense of peace and calm.
The hotel has amazing character - redveloped from a set of old farm buildings 7 years ago the owner has managed to maintain the character and charm of the old buildings and features from the history of the building, while at the same time creating an incredibly comfortable place to stay. Continue reading..
Large rooms, comfortable bed, and some lovely cozy sitting areas surrounded by original wood and stone decor. At night the lanterns in the couryard provide a warm glow to go with the incredibly friendly service.
The restaurant has a great array of food, and the meals I had were fresh and really delicious. And there was great coffee too!
Above all, the staff were amazingly helpful - organising for my sunrise tour up Xianggong Mountain, followed by a hike and finally a personal interaction with one of the cormorant fishermen in Xingping. Whether it was bikes, scooters or any other requests Ding Ding and everyone else in the hotel were so helpful and made my stay an absolute delight.
Secret Garden was a great place to come back to after the day's activities to relax and regenerate - a real oasis! View Less...
Date: 23rd of Apr, 2019 - Charming Boutique Hotel out of the Ciity - 5/5 on Tripadvisor
Stayed for 3 nights in this lovely hotel and really enjoyed everything there. Our room (Jasmine) was spacious, very clean and cozy. The bed was comfortable and you have hot water in the shower. We paid for additional breakfast and the price was correct (5-10US for the set). Had dinner there as well and the food was really tasty and traditional. Continue reading..
They also have free water refill, which we really appreciated!
The hotel is located about 10-15 minutes from Yangshuo city centre. You can either rent a bike (15rmb/day) or arrange a taxi. It is 45 minutes from Yangshuo train station. The hotel offers a pick up but it is quite expensive compared to what you could get with taxis/drivers at the station. (We paid 100rbm for a van)
We did a day tour arranged by the hotel and had an excellent English-speaking guide. Massages are ok there - the masseuses are not professionals but did a good job. Don't expect anything fantastic but foot massages was nice enough for the price (160rmb/an hour)
Location wise, it is superb if you look for something quite and traditional. A bit far from the city centre so you need to arrange your trips but there are a few other eating options in the village and it was fine for us in the evenings.
Wifi works but it is slow - normal for China I guess... Bikes are fine but don't expect to use them for anything else than flat roads. Service is great and all people there speak English.
We highly recommend this place in Yanghuo for couples and families who want to have a good get away from the city environment. View Less...
Date: 17th of Apr, 2019 - Excellent! - 5/5 on Tripadvisor
Cozy and charming hotel, with comfortable rooms, good food and most of all, excellent service! Ding and her colleagues are very kind and caring, and they help you organize your stay every morning. The hotel provides bikes, can help rent scooters and book taichi & calligraphy classes. The location is in a tiny village not far from Yulong bridge and about 5-6km from Yangshuo. Continue reading..
The hotel is installed in an old house and decorated in traditional style. It has all modern amenities with heating and comfortable beds View Less...
Date: 4th of Apr, 2019 - A countryside escape dripping with old world charm and beauty - 5/5 on Tripadvisor
We love coming to the Secret Garden cafe whenever we come to Yangshuo, but this was the second time staying in a suite here at the hotel with our friends. Everytime we come, we are captivated by the charm and beauty of the location, the hidden alleyways and doors and plants everywhere. It feels like everywhere you look there is some lovely detail to discover! The suites are wonderfully spacious and comfortable. Continue reading..
My only little complaint is the beds are a bit hard and there was some construction/renovating of the common areas which was a bit disappointing but we know it has to be done some time! The staff are all lovely and friendly and accomodating, even finding a hidden spot for our friend whose passion is horseback riding! The food is delicious, our favorite dishes were the lemon chicken, the eggplant and green beans, honeyed crepes, and the exquisite pots of ginger tea and jasmine tea. They have both Asian and Western style food which is just perfect for weary Westerners such as ourselves seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of the mega city! We can't wait for our next visit to the Secret Garden! View Less...
