Checking in at Guilin Shangri-La, a Stunning Family Resort by the Li River

Summer vacation is here, so naturally I had to take Xiao Meng out for some fun. This year, we went to the summer camp activities at the Guilin Shangri-La hotel. As the saying goes, 'Guilin's landscapes are the finest under heaven.' I remember bringing Xiao Meng to Guilin when she was very young, so this trip was like revisiting old memories.

Guilin Shangri-La is located in the city center of Guilin, offering a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle. It's very close to various attractions in downtown Guilin, about a 45-minute drive from the airport and just a 20-minute drive from the high-speed rail station, making transportation very convenient.

For this stay, we booked the Executive Mountain View Balcony Room. The room was spacious, and a pink tent was specially prepared for the kids—perfect for a family of three.

The hotel also prepared a gift pack for the summer camp children, including an adorable mascot named LULU, a talking doll.

As soon as Zhang Xiaomeng entered the room, she noticed that our photos had been printed out and was amazed, asking how they got her picture. It turned out the hotel had carefully arranged this, and the photo base was made of white chocolate—edible!

The next morning, the packed summer camp itinerary began.

Guilin Shangri-La boasts a huge lawn by the Li River. The hotel arranged a Tai Chi and meditation healing experience for us. This was my first time trying such an experience, and it felt very special! Amid the sound of singing bowls mixed with the chirping of insects and birds in nature, closing my eyes made my body feel like it had entered another space.

A delicate outdoor breakfast kicked off a vibrant day.

If meditation is for adults, the kids' day started with fun wake-up exercises.

Children have no resistance to water. Guilin Shangri-La specially set up a water park for them, featuring electric boats, hand-rowed boats, and more. Xiao Meng had so much fun she didn't want to get out.

The chef from Shangri-La personally taught the kids to make pizza. Every child was extremely serious about making their own small pizza. After about an hour-long class, the pizzas were baked and given to the children. When the kids received their handmade pizzas, they felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

The hotel's children's facilities are very complete—it has the most family-friendly amenities of any Shangri-La I've visited. The Kids' Paradise here is huge, with two floors and a giant slide. Upstairs, there are trampolines, swings, and more... one of Xiao Meng's favorite spots.

The play area on the second floor is suitable for older kids, with retro red-and-white game consoles from our childhood and the latest Xbox game consoles. There are also basketball shooting machines and other activities for adults.

Rock climbing was a dual challenge of strength and courage for the children. Under the patient guidance of the coach, Xiao Meng eventually took on the challenge. Although she didn't climb very high, she still deserves praise. This activity is suitable for kids aged 6 and above, as there are certain height and strength requirements.

Xiao Meng's favorite activity was drawing. At Guilin Shangri-La, we couldn't miss the creative art class of the summer camp. Here, we used colorful clay as paint to create a piece inspired by Guilin's landscapes.

Take a look at the finished product—not bad, right?

During afternoon tea time, the hotel delivered afternoon tea directly to our room. Our room had a super large balcony overlooking the Li River and the Guilin landscape.

I really love this environment.

The hotel room also prepared various ethnic costumes for both adults and children. Before we knew it, we had a costume change.

At the Shangri-La, there was even a 'Happy Farm.' It grows various organic green vegetables. In the afternoon, we took Xiao Meng for a family picking session. This season, tomatoes, chili peppers, and winter melons were ripe. After picking, we brought them to the Shang Palace to taste fresh organic vegetables.

The bamboo pole dance is a traditional dance of the Zhuang ethnic group. Poles are knocked on the ground, and dancers jump between them, skillfully avoiding the poles to the rhythm of the music, creating a fun dance.

Every Shangri-La has a Shang Palace. No matter where you are in the world, if you want Chinese food, the Shang Palace is the place to go. The Shang Palace in Guilin seemed to have brought all the delicacies of Guangxi to the Shangri-La. After the chef's skillful cooking, every dish became exquisite and delicious.

After a day at the hotel, I highly recommend a night boat ride on Guilin's Two Rivers and Four Lakes. The night scene will definitely show you a different side of Guilin's beauty.

The Two Rivers and Four Lakes refer to the Li River, Taohua River, Rong Lake, Shan Lake, Gui Lake, and Mulong Lake. These attractions connect to make downtown Guilin look like a green and water-rich version of Venice. The night view of Guilin is completely different from the daytime—only the word 'dreamy' can describe it. The colorful tones make you fully immersed in a feast of lights.

On the second day of the summer camp, the kids started learning tent setup and had a fun sports meet.

This was also Xiao Meng's first time learning how to pitch a tent outdoors.

The garden at Guilin Shangri-La is very large, covering 6,300 square meters. Taking the little train is undoubtedly the best way to go around the whole garden. Riding the little train with its tinkling bell around the garden is adorable. And you can enjoy the beautiful scenery without walking—very relaxing.

There is also a small zoo in the hotel garden, featuring ostriches, peacocks, fish, ducks, pigeons, and other small animals. Kids can get feed to feed these cute creatures.

Summer goes best with a pool. At the Guilin Shangri-La pool, with a rainbow-colored swim ring, the vacation vibe instantly sets in.

At the buffet restaurant Li Coffee, we happened to catch the Guilin Shangri-La Xi'an Food Festival. Even while surrounded by the mountains and rivers of Guilin, we could enjoy authentic Xi'an cuisine.

Exploring the Wonders of Nature, 'Shang' Company 'Child' Summer Camp

July 1, 2021 - August 31, 2021

Hotel mascot-themed rooms, abundant recreational facilities, and fun educational activities allow children and families to enjoy moments together through outdoor activities, water fun, fitness dances, creative art, and paddle boating. Spend quality family time in a serene fairyland.

👉 Daily buffet breakfast and Tai Chi class for 2 adults and 1 child under 12

👉 One Li Coffee buffet lunch during stay for 2 adults and 1 child under 12

👉 One-time hotel recreational activities for one child under 12: Name tag DIY, wake-up exercises, outdoor sports time (weekdays)/Weekend K20 session, creative art, water fun, movie night, little train tour, bumper boat experience. Unlimited access to Kids' Paradise and Play Area

👉 One mystery gift for child

👉 For weekend stays (Saturday & Sunday): One 60-minute meditation class for 2 adults

👉 Cormorant-themed room setup includes one tent for free (limited availability, first-come-first-served)

👉 50% discount on 'Premium Breakfast Package' for third consecutive night stay

👉 One coupon worth 68 RMB for family afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge

👉 Free access to fitness center, indoor pool, and outdoor pool during stay

Terms & Conditions

👉 Minimum stay of two consecutive nights required for booking

👉 This offer cannot be combined with other promotions or campaigns

👉 Room, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, hotel recreational activities, and meditation class must be booked in advance

👉 Coupons can only be used on the regular room rate, no change given, cannot be combined with other offers, non-refundable, non-exchangeable for cash, and no invoice issued

👉 Children must be accompanied by an adult for hotel recreational activities

👉 Some outdoor activities are subject to weather conditions