This Weekend, Bring the Family and Stay in a Garden in the Heart of the City!

Did you know? Guangzhou has a 36-year-old hotel that was one of China's first three Platinum Five-Star hotels. Today, I'm taking you to check out the Guangzhou Garden Hotel.

From the moment you enter the lobby, the entire hotel sparkles and is impeccably clean, with a pleasant fragrance lingering in the air. The gold-leaf mural of Dream of the Red Chamber in the lobby is spectacular and exquisite, using two kilograms of gold leaf.

Part of the gold-leaf mural depicts the scene where Granny Liu visits the Grand View Garden. Looking closely, you'll be truly amazed—the expressions of the figures are so vivid and lifelike!

Turning around, you'll find an ink wash painting opposite the gold-leaf mural, just as finely detailed!

Glancing up, you'll be right under the golden dragon caisson ceiling!

It's said that above the golden dragon caisson ceiling lies the hotel's open-air swimming pool.

Entering the reception hall from the main door, the first thing that catches your eye is the Painting of a Hundred Beauties, featuring many ancient ladies. This painting is over 36 years old, yet still looks vivid and lively.

Look how happy these ancient beauties are, enjoying themselves.

Opposite the Painting of a Hundred Beauties is the Painting of a Hundred Horses. A sweeping view reveals horses everywhere—some grazing with heads lowered, others galloping—each one a masterpiece.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival right around the corner, the hotel has set up several festive photo spots to celebrate:

In the lobby, a bright moon hangs, light filtering through the glass and casting reflections of lanterns in pink and purple, creating an especially romantic atmosphere full of Mid-Autumn flavor.

Following the scent of the festival, you'll arrive at Liwan Pavilion, where lanterns are hung everywhere.

Personally, I find the most poetic scene is the full moon in the back garden, with little bridges over flowing water, colorful lanterns echoing with the koi fish, and moonlight reflected in the pond—this is exactly what I imagine Mid-Autumn Festival should be like!

The exquisite Japanese restaurant Niwa has also been decorated, with a landscape of moon-gazing jade rabbits. Here, the lunar palace feels within arm’s reach, as if the story of Chang’e flying to the moon is happening right before your eyes.

Upon entering the room, you'll see a lavish welcome fruit platter. What surprised me most was the chocolate atop the box, featuring the gold-leaf mural pattern—so beautiful. Do come and see the cityscape at Guangzhou Garden Hotel when you get a chance.

Now, follow me to admire the room's interior. First, above the bed hangs a very beautiful painting.

It showcases the Grand View Garden from Dream of the Red Chamber, reflecting the charm of Lingnan gardens.

In addition, to celebrate the upcoming National Day, Guangzhou Garden Hotel has specially launched a "National Day Accommodation Package" with a series of offers! You can enjoy a one-night stay in a luxurious and comfortable Garden Suite, complete with a buffet breakfast at the Waterfall Restaurant and a parent-child exploration set at Liwan Pavilion. An extra bed is also available free of charge upon request—what a great deal!

Look, this is the opulent and elegant Garden Suite! It features a modern office area, fitness equipment, and a spacious bathing area. Staying here for a night is so cozy and relaxing!

After a tiring journey, you'll definitely be hungry upon arriving at the hotel. Bored of luxurious Western afternoon tea? Come try a fusion of East and West at the Waterfall Restaurant. To my surprise, the Guangzhou Garden Hotel has a full waterfall, beneath which sits a glass conservatory. It's truly gorgeous—this is where we had afternoon tea, the Waterfall Restaurant. It looks really spectacular, as if you’re behind a water curtain cave.

The unique Lingnan charm blends with a minimalist, dark-tone Western style, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows make it bright and airy, with a sense of openness reminiscent of Singapore's Changi Airport.

Enjoying an incredibly great-value afternoon tea in such a wonderful setting, listening to the waterfall outside the garden, you'll feel like you're in nature itself...

Isn’t the scene of little bridges and flowing water just too beautiful? It’s almost like being in Singapore.

When I posted it on WeChat Moments, people kept asking if I was abroad again~ In the afternoon, there’s also a buffet-style Cantonese afternoon tea here, with traditional dim sum items and Western desserts. There can be quite a crowd checking in, but the food is still decent.

If afternoon tea isn't enough, head over to Liwan Pavilion. As the saying goes, "Gourmets eat in Guangzhou." If you want quality food, a charming environment, great service, and a touch of nostalgia, plus the chance to leisurely sip tea without the noise, this is the place! It's perfect for hosting guests or enjoying morning tea with family!

The restaurant is steeped in old Xiguan ambiance, vividly recreating the scene of Guangzhou's once-famous Liwan night market. Every corner oozes boat-like character: a giant teapot greeting you at the entrance, a chess game under a banyan tree, walls decorated with oyster shells, finely carved wooden flower boats, and lychee trees scattered throughout—everywhere brims with rich Xiguan flavor.

First, the chef at Liwan Pavilion showed off his skills, preparing lychee wood char siu right on the spot—deliciously tempting.

Next, I was drawn by the storyteller’s narration in the restaurant.

Then, I was captivated by the silken tofu—a bowl of snow-white tenderness drizzled with syrup, sweet and delicate. I absolutely loved it!

By the time I returned to the table, the dishes were nearly all served. Now it's time to officially savor the delicacies of Liwan Pavilion!

Steamed black-bone chicken with gorgon fruit and red dates has a subtle, delicate fragrance.

Egg flowers (allamanda) with gold and silver eggs carry a faint floral scent and are very refreshing.

Braised tofu in a clay pot, accompanied by a few green vegetables, is both beautiful and delicious.

Stewed oxtail with tomatoes and red kidney beans is cooked to perfection—neither tough nor mushy.

Ginger-laced pig kidneys are fresh and flavorful.

Steamed chicken with red dates and shiitake mushrooms on a copper plate is unique because it’s served in a copper dish.

The sweet, smooth lychee egg tart, with its crispy crust, velvety filling, and crunchy sweet lychee flesh, is hands down the best egg tart I've ever eaten!

After dinner, take a walk in the lobby, pass through a secret corridor, look up and see the flickering daylight, as if you've stepped into a hidden forest in the city. Then you enter a blue-tone jazz-style space—I've arrived at Koi Bar.

Approaching Koi Bar, the first thing you see are adorable yet delicious pastries, all available as a self-service buffet.

In the evening, happy hour begins, blending music and fine food. Chat with friends, listen to the sounds of nature, and quietly enjoy time slowing down.

Some words are only fit to share with the bartender. The drinks in his hands seem magical, conjuring a cocktail that’s uniquely yours. Here, there's not only a wide array of cocktails and cuisine but also vibrant, ever-changing jazz music.

Tucked away in the bustling Huanshi East commercial district, this exclusive space by the garden’s koi pond is a hidden gem. As you pass through the mysterious glass corridor scattered with falling petals, you arrive at the blues bar, where you can soak up enchanting outdoor views, follow the captivating tunes of a live blues band, and indulge in a variety of handcrafted cocktails, wines, whiskies, and other drinks and delicate snacks.

The bartender has extensive experience and can wonderfully fuse guests’ preferences with distinctive ingredients.

This is the daily special cocktail for happy hour at Koi Bar. I wonder what magic the bartender has infused into this drink—one just isn't enough.

This Peachy Delight looks so good, you just know it must be delicious.

Have you ever wondered what having breakfast in Guangzhou is like? You might picture a bustling teahouse, lively and noisy, enjoying dim sum while chatting until noon. But let me tell you, there’s another extremely pleasant way at the Garden Hotel.

Koi Bar’s breakfast is also very generous—let's have a look together.

Of course, eating outdoors gives you a whole different feeling.

Dining outside also allows you to take photos with the waterfall and various green trees—so stylish. It’s hard to find such a tranquil environment in Guangzhou’s city center anymore. No more words, I’m digging into breakfast first.

The hotel grounds are just too beautiful! Lush forests and vibrant flowers, truly living up to its name as a garden hotel! The glasshouse, stone paths, bamboo bridge—every design detail exudes refinement!

Seeing such lovely garden scenery, I couldn't help taking a leisurely walk after breakfast.

It's really rare to find such an environment with small bridges and flowing water right in the heart of Guangzhou. Beneath the bridge, koi fish swim, and you can also admire the waterfall. Crossing the bridge, you'll see all kinds of subtropical plants and a huge rockery with pavilions and a waterfall on top.

The back garden of the Guangzhou Garden Hotel is truly expansive, with waterfalls and a large lawn—perfect for little ones to play. And at this time, there aren't many people!! Don't miss this hidden gem of a garden!

Tip: To the left of the Waterfall Restaurant corridor, guests can swipe their room key card to enter the garden. If you’re just coming for afternoon tea, you can also ask a waiter to show you in.

It's so rare to find a pavilion right in the city center. The waterfall, fish pond, and greenery complement each other beautifully—having a wedding first look here feels like a chance encounter in a garden, so romantic.

In sweltering July, everyone seems eager to chase summer’s brilliance and heat, running toward romantic seasides or retreating to cozy mountain forests. But for me, who doesn't want to travel far, the Guangzhou Garden Hotel is a rare summer sanctuary.

Walking along the path, I occasionally heard birdsong in the distance. Suddenly, I realized how seldom I've heard birds chirping in Guangzhou these years.

Looking at this, wouldn’t you like to visit this garden yourself?

Next, we were fortunate to visit the hotel’s Peach Garden Restaurant, a restaurant themed after the Oath of the Peach Garden from the Three Kingdoms era. Don’t underestimate it—it’s a Michelin-recommended restaurant!

The restaurant's interior decor is fresh, elegant, and rich in traditional Chinese culture.

One distinctive feature is the eight VIP rooms named after historical figures from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, such as Xiao Qiao, Big Qiao, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and so on. Each room has its own character, and I think you can choose according to your favorite Three Kingdoms character.

After touring Peach Garden Restaurant, we naturally had to taste how good this Michelin-recommended spot really is!

Eight-treasure winter melon soup—served inside a small winter melon as the container.

Nine-section platter of mixed roast meats—a must-try for roast meat lovers.

Steamed marble goby with olive oil—incredibly fresh.

Thinly sliced wagyu with black garlic—truly lives up to its Michelin recommendation, utterly delicious.

Claypot rice with fresh matsutake mushrooms, paired with seasonal greens—the only word to describe it is refreshing!

Earlier I told you how beautiful the Garden Hotel is, but I never imagined that this old building would have an open-air swimming pool on top, and it’s kept so beautifully.

On the 4th floor, the swimming pool exudes a strong Southeast Asian vibe. I think this is what best reflects Guangzhou’s character. There are palm trees up here, something many places lack.

I used to stay in hotels in Thailand and Singapore with such lovely tropical plants—now I’m experiencing it at the Guangzhou Garden Hotel.

Make sure to come to the Guangzhou Garden Hotel with family and friends when you get the chance!

This weekend, bring your family and stay in this garden right in the heart of Guangzhou!