RONGHU HOTEL

The State Guest House truly lives up to its name – grand, grand, grand, grand! The rooms are bright and spacious, the amenities are complete, and the breakfast offers a wide variety of choices. The swimming pool is also fantastic. Its location is excellent, with the lake right out the back door, offering a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle. It's far superior to the hotels near Elephant Trunk Hill!

Service: This might be a common issue for hotels of this type, as there's almost no service. The staff I encountered were all quite indifferent. Location: The location and environment are indeed very good. It's quite pleasant to take a stroll to Rong Lake and Elephant Trunk Hill on foot. Facilities: The pool is excellent. In the mornings, it's used by training classes, and in the afternoons by hotel guests, so it's practically empty, allowing for a refreshing swim. Aside from its size, the room didn't feel particularly special. Dining: Breakfast is standard for a five-star hotel, not as good as the Shangri-La Guilin, but the dim sum is indeed very good. Hygiene: This was outrageous. In a newly renovated hotel, there were many small flying insects in the sink. On the first night, they seemed to be in their larval state, but by the second night, they were flying everywhere. This led me to cut my planned three-night stay short and quickly move to the Shangri-La on the third day. Summary: I might come back for dim sum next time, but I definitely won't consider staying here again.

Overall, I'm very satisfied! The hygiene was excellent, and the facilities were complete and well-maintained. The front desk service was attentive, and check-in was quick. It was quiet and not noisy. It's suitable for both leisure travel and short stays, highly recommended.

Stayed here in March and again a few months later. The WiFi was briefly unavailable, but thankfully guest services helped out quickly. The room's cleanliness could be improved, especially the carpet which needs a good cleaning. The concierge team also needs more training; their service in March was warm and welcoming, but I didn't experience that this time.

The breakfast selection was extensive, and the room itself was spacious. The toilet in the bathroom didn't have a bidet function, but I imagine this is one of the better hotels in Guilin. The gym equipment was quite limited; I'd suggest adding more.

Among the two hotels I stayed at during my Guilin trip, Rong Lake Hotel was one of them. I chose this hotel after extensive online comparisons, as it seemed to offer good value for money and had just completed renovations, reopening in 2026. While researching, I learned it's a long-standing state guesthouse in Guilin, with a rich history. I stayed in the 'Rongyue Garden View Deluxe Twin Room'. Here are my honest impressions. Pros: The hotel is situated in the core scenic area of 'Two Rivers and Four Lakes', resembling a landscaped garden, offering a tranquil and peaceful environment away from the city's hustle and bustle. The back gate leads directly to the Rong Lake walking trail, making it easy to stroll along the lake in the evening. The Sun and Moon Pagodas and the ancient South Gate's night views are practically at your doorstep, and Elephant Trunk Hill isn't far either. Its location is truly irreplaceable. Check-in at the front desk was efficient, and the bellhop proactively helped with luggage. The guest rooms are equipped with smart control systems, and the hotel also offers Cantonese cuisine. The price for a standard room is reasonable. Cons: Perhaps due to Guilin's humid weather, there was a noticeable damp smell in the corridors. The moment I opened the room door upon check-in, a wave of dampness (I'm unsure if it also included a musty smell) hit me, and the bedding also felt damp (in contrast, the guesthouse I stayed at in Yangshuo didn't have this issue). The carpet in the room looked very old; I'm not sure if that's its original color or if old carpets were simply laid down. I genuinely recommend the hotel consider removing carpets, otherwise, the damp smell is simply too strong. Even though I used disposable sheets and duvet covers, the bedding still had a damp smell after a few days. The bathroom also lacked a ventilation system, and the shower room was separated from the rest of the bathroom by only a glass panel, allowing water to leak onto the bathroom floor after showering through the gaps in the glass. The ambiance and variety of the hotel's Cantonese restaurant were average. I originally planned to dine there in the evening; the front desk had given me a paper menu with breakfast on one side and either lunch or dinner on the other. When I went that evening, as soon as I reached for the paper menu on the table, the staff immediately took it away and insisted on ordering via tablet. The same dish on the tablet was more expensive than on the paper menu. When I asked the staff about the paper menu, they just took it away and told me to order from the tablet, without giving a clear explanation, so we didn't press further. Perhaps due to its state-owned enterprise nature, the overall service felt inferior to the guesthouse-style hotel we stayed at in Yangshuo. Furthermore, the hotel's soundproofing wasn't great. During my last two days, the neighboring rooms were fully occupied, likely by a family traveling together, with their doors wide open morning and evening and children running up and down the corridor. However, since it was only for the last two days, it wasn't a major issue. Overall Impression: The value for money is decent, and the hotel's interior environment is indeed impeccable and very pleasant; I saw people taking photos there every day. Since the price for a standard room isn't high, one can't expect too much. However, for a newly renovated (or rebuilt) hotel, there's still a certain discrepancy between the in-room hardware facilities and what was advertised.

The Banyan Lake Hotel is very well-managed. The rooms are new, and the facilities are thoughtfully designed. The bedding is comfortable, and the rooms are spacious, making for a very pleasant stay. The elevator had a slight odor. The hotel grounds are beautiful, and the breakfast is excellent. The lobby is grand, and the backyard opens directly onto Banyan Lake, offering stunning views.

Perfect! It's an established, re-renovated state guesthouse. Parking is convenient, service is excellent, and breakfast is abundant. The environment is beautiful and grand, complete with a rooftop garden. A side exit leads directly to the riverbank of the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, where you can walk along the river all the way to the free Elephant Trunk Hill Park and see the Twin Pagodas along the way. However, I couldn't see the river view from my room; it was completely obstructed by trees.

The hotel is huge and centrally located, and the rooms are also very spacious. Facilities: Standard, with all necessary amenities. Cleanliness: Very clean and fresh. Even though I arrived on a rainy day, it didn't feel damp at all. Environment: The hotel is beautiful, with lush greenery. Service: Every staff member was very friendly. Breakfast was incredibly rich and the best I've had in Guilin these past few days. It's very convenient for going out, ordering takeout, and visiting attractions. Excellent value for money, highly recommended.