Norton Riverside Estate, Yangshuo | Yulong River & Shili Gallery

Disappointing Stay – Misleading Advertising and Poor Service Our stay was very disappointing, mainly because the hotel's advertising is extremely misleading. In the promotional photos, the property appears to be surrounded by mountains in a peaceful, natural setting. In reality, it is located in an unattractive, underdeveloped suburban area, with unpleasant surroundings and access. The photographs have been heavily edited to remove important elements of the actual environment. We understand that marketing approaches may differ culturally, but the extent of the Photoshop manipulation felt deliberately dishonest. We also had two particularly unpleasant experiences. First, we booked a room advertised as having a river view, only to discover that our window overlooked a construction site. After complaining, we were upgraded to a better room. Second, we were told dinner was served from 9 to 10 PM. When we arrived at 9 PM, the staff informed us that the chef had already left. After complaining to the front desk, the manager intervened, reprimanded the employee, and arranged for dinner to be prepared. While we appreciated management's willingness to resolve these issues, both situations reflected a serious lack of professionalism. The front desk service was generally disappointing as well. Some female staff members were helpful, but the male staff we interacted with showed very little initiative, seemed poorly prepared to assist international guests, and often appeared uninterested in helping. To be fair, the hotel itself is quite pleasant once inside, and management made genuine efforts to improve our stay. However, the misleading advertising and inconsistent customer service are significant problems that shouldn't be overlooked. Potential guests deserve to know what the property and its surroundings actually look like before booking. Overall, despite some positive aspects, I would not recommend this hotel at all.