Where Mountains and Waters Merge, Creating the Future (A Complete Guide to Eating, Staying, Traveling, Playing, Shopping, and Entertainment at Guilin Sunac International Resort)

If mountains and waters are like a dream, may the future be worth expecting.

Are you, like me, wishing to rush toward distant horizons on every ordinary day?

Located at the heart of the Guilin–Yangshuo Li River tourism belt, Guilin Sunac International Resort covers a planned area of approximately 3,907 mu (about 260 hectares) with a total investment of 16 billion RMB. Inspired by Guilin's landscape and ethnic culture, the resort features the Sea World, Happy Tribe, Water World, the grand ethnic show "Magnificent Li River," the Military Expo Park, Sunac hotel cluster, characteristic homestay inns, and the Lijiang Backwaters Commercial Town, among many other tourism and leisure facilities. It aims to become a tourism destination and theme park with Guangxi ethnic characteristics, a culturally attractive project in northern Guangxi, and a new industrial form for Guilin tourism.

Meanwhile, in every park and commercial town, you can see the theme image of Sunac's well-known IP Ali. The slogan "Play in mountains and waters, Ali Ali" cleverly blends ethnic minority folk songs with the Ali theme.

I. Park Guide

Overview and recommended attractions for each park:

Sea World: Covers an area of 85,300 square meters, consisting of two zones: the Aquarium and the Bubble Spring Town.

Two Leagues Under the Deep Sea: Mermaids dance gracefully, surrounded by deep-sea fish schools. Here you can also experience scuba diving and freely explore the underwater world.

Vibrant Ocean: More than a hundred species of rainforest animals from around the world gather here, allowing you to step into a fantastical rainforest world without leaving the country.

Dolphin Theater: Little sea lions interact wonderfully with visitors, and little dolphins perform elegant water ballet. Here you can feel the harmonious beauty between humans, animals, and nature.

Additionally, at Sea World, you can interact closely with cute land pets, starting a wonderful nature journey for children.

Other attractions: Otter Fire Station, Squirrel Climbing Camp, Town Police Station, Town Hall, Parrot School.

Performance theaters: Joy Theater, Fisherman's Wharf.

I wish to be a jellyfish in my next life—they say it has no heart, feels no sadness, drifts and wanders in the sea every day, and after death turns into water, leaving no trace, as if it never existed...

Common types of jellyfish found in aquariums and oceanariums today include:

1. Pacific Sea Nettle: Also known as the golden coffee jellyfish, found in the Pacific Ocean. Characteristics: large jellyfish, with 24 tentacles 4–5 meters long and oral arms, body length 50–100 cm. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans, mollusks, fish eggs, and other small jellyfish.

2. Black Sea Nettle: Found in the Pacific, northern Atlantic, and Arctic Ocean. The bell has a large black star shape, golden body, bell diameter over 15 cm, smaller size, more delicate body structure. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans, mollusks, fish eggs, and other small jellyfish.

3. Atlantic Sea Nettle: Found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, common on the east coast of the United States. Bell color varies greatly by location—pink, maroon, gray, yellow, or transparent. Bell diameter 10–25 cm. Unlike most jellyfish, Atlantic sea nettles can survive in low-salinity water, inhabiting brackish estuaries, low-salinity bays, and high-salinity open seas.

4. Moon Jellyfish: Found in waters from 70°N to 40°S in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They have an umbrella-shaped membrane and tentacles attached to the underside, with four distinct crescent-shaped gonads below the stomach. Body length 25–49 cm. Feeds mainly on plankton, including mollusks, crustaceans, tunicate larvae, rotifers, juvenile polychaetes, protozoans, diatoms, fish eggs, and other small organisms.

I think, out on the open sea, if I just say "I love you," schools of fish will follow me back to land.

Kites have wind, dolphins have the sea, and you have me.

Usually, the dolphin performances we see in aquariums and oceanariums are performed by bottlenose dolphins, which have gray-black backs, white undersides, and short, thick beaks. Bottlenose dolphins are widely distributed in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They are highly intelligent and often trained by humans to perform complex actions. The basic training method is a repeated positive reinforcement conditioned reflex.

Happy Tribe: Covers an area of 91,200 square meters, consisting of three zones: Jungle Mystery, Lost Valley, and Origin Place.

Eye of Guilin: A 108-meter-high Ferris wheel with changing lights, 48 cabins each seating 6 people. To overlook the Guilin landscape in the Yanshan area, you must ride the Eye of Guilin. Cabins No. 10 and 18 are equipped with KTV sound systems and microphones. Everyone has probably ridden a Ferris wheel, but have you ever tried karaoke inside one?

Log Raft Expedition: Visitors rush down a 26-meter-high chute on a boat, thrilling and testing courage.

Valley Rush: Uses French-imported go-karts on an F1-style track. Experience speed and passion amid the beautiful Guilin landscape—the track is life itself.

Other attractions: Coconut Grove Song, Jungle Spin, Harvest Dance, Crazy Lingbo Dance, Warrior Watchtower, Tribal Council Hall, Fantasy Drift, Jungle Crossing, Valley Adventure, Stream Fun, Jungle Splash, Chief's House, Happy Party.

Water World: Covers an area of 44,100 square meters, consisting of three zones: Mysterious Garden, Fishing Village Tribe, and Joy Coast.

Giant Wave Bay: A volcano DJ stage surrounds a 4,000-square-meter wave pool, realistically simulating six types of ocean waves—surging, thrilling, and exciting.

Racing Slide: A 10-meter-high slide with multiple slopes; each one accelerates the heartbeat of participants and spectators.

Super Vortex: Visitors descend rapidly from 15 meters straight down, then rise sharply upon entering the horn, creating a feeling of weightlessness. When thrown to the top, scream your heart out to release all unease, discomfort, and unhappiness, and then re-enter the water as if reborn.

Other attractions: Splash Plaza, Water Expansion, Water Castle, Winding Slide, Adult Wading Pool, Children's Slide, Lazy River, Soaking Pools.

Magnificent Li River Ethnic Grand Show: Combines music, dance, acrobatics, stunts, and other performance forms, carefully created over three years. "Magnificent Li River" tells a gripping story with twists and turns, showcasing the life themes of the Zhuang people's lifelong love and homeland guardianship. Using the world's most beautiful landscapes as a carrier and the passionate songs and dances of heaven and earth as expression, through the story of the Zhuang girl Gui'er's extraordinary fate and poignant watch, it portrays the steadfastness and inheritance of the deepest love in the land of Bagui.

Backwaters Town: Gathers many popular brands, covering clothing, shoes, hats, accessories, outdoor gear, dining, supermarkets, cultural creative products, and more—everything you need.

Address: No. 398 Dayan Road, Yanshan District, Guilin City

Public transport: Bus No. 5 to Yuanboyuan Road intersection, then walk 670 meters. Bus K96 to Yanshan Street, then walk 199 meters. Fare: 2 yuan. For visitors who only take taxis to the park, it is recommended to take a taxi directly to the park parking lot. For those staying at the hotel, it is recommended to take a taxi first to the Sunac hotel cluster to store luggage or check in, then take the hotel's free shuttle bus to the park. The hotel to the park (Tourist Distribution Center / Park Parking Lot) is about 1–2 km by car, taxi fare 12–13 yuan.

September park opening hours: 10:00–21:00

September square performance times:

"Zhuang Wedding" 19:00–19:10, location: Guzang Square, closed every Monday

"Street Dance" 19:30–21:00, location: Guzang Square, closed every Tuesday

September operating hours and ticket prices for each park:

Sea World: 10:00–18:00, adult ticket 168 yuan, concession ticket 108 yuan

Happy Tribe: 10:00–18:00, adult ticket 125 yuan, concession ticket 85 yuan

Water World: 11:00–20:00, adult ticket 128 yuan, concession ticket 88 yuan

From October 1 to October 7, all operating hours extended to 21:00.

Magnificent Li River: 20:00–21:00, regular seat 150 yuan, VIP seat 170 yuan

Park electric cart rental: Two-person cart: 90 yuan/hour, 300 yuan for whole day until 17:00. Three-person cart: 120 yuan/hour, 400 yuan for whole day until 17:00. Four-person cart: 180 yuan/hour, 600 yuan for whole day until 17:00.

Luggage storage: Small piece 20 yuan/piece, large piece 30 yuan/piece.

II. Hotel Experience

I hate Guilin's summer, the lingering sun,

I hate complicated things, seasonal allergies,

I hate watching romantic movies when no one is with me.

I love Guilin's mountains and waters, their endless stretch,

I love simple interactions, happy play,

I love the roller coaster in the park, holding hands tightly.

If you know what I need, here my heart finds home.

Location and transportation: Guilin Sunac Wanda Realm Hotel is located at No. 398 Dayan Road, Yanshan District, Guilin City, within the Sunac International Resort hotel cluster. It is about 50 km by car from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, about 27 km from Guilin Railway Station, about 48 km from Guilin North Railway Station, and about 28 km from Guilin city center.

Decoration style: The hotel's exterior color and height scale layout harmonize with the surrounding landscape, while the interior decoration incorporates ethnic minority regional and cultural elements unique to northern Guangxi.

Room view: Recommended lake view rooms allow you to capture a photo with the near mountains and water, the Sunac Wanda Vista Hotel villa buildings, the distant resort amusement park, and Guilin's new landmark—the Eye of Guilin—all in one frame. Such scenery needs no praise. In the early morning, I suggest walking or jogging along the lakeside path, watching golden sunlight spill over green hills and clear waters, filling you with joy.

Toiletries: Acca Kappa, a small luxury brand originating from an Italian family business in 1869. All Acca Kappa products respect environmental concepts from manufacturing to production, following three basic principles: simple design, high-quality manufacturing, and natural materials, ensuring an excellent user experience. Acca Kappa's bath care and deodorant products use natural organic ingredients and plant extracts such as honey, yeast, wheat germ, and aloe vera. Accessories use all-natural materials like boar bristle, beechwood, Egyptian cotton, sisal, and natural sponge.

The hotel's toiletries are the classic Acca Kappa White Musk shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, and soap. Don't give up just because the White Musk scent seems rich and heavy at first, different from the fresh fragrance you imagined. As a body care product, the scent softens slightly and leaves a subtle fragrance on hair ends and skin surface, with a very long-lasting effect. Especially the body lotion—a casual breath can catch its presence, and that moment is truly enjoyable.

Bathroom fixtures: Toilets from TOTO, showers, handheld showers, bathtubs, and sinks from KOHLER. High-quality equipment, user-friendly operation, and fast constant-temperature heating are commendable.

Bedding and linens: Linens and bedding from Canasin, mattresses from King Koil. I have experienced King Koil mattresses more than once—comfort and support have made them my unchallenged choice. I just want to say: King Koil mattress is YYDS (eternal god).

Smart devices: LeTV TVs are standard. Additionally, a large mosquito repellent lamp is thoughtfully provided, practically odorless and effective—suitable for resort hotels built amid mountains and waters where mosquitoes are relatively abundant.

Supporting facilities: Swimming pool, gym, outdoor children's play area, bicycle riding experience, paddleboard and kayak experience/training, Sunac International Convention Center—suitable for both business travel and family vacations.

Guilin Sunac Wanda Realm Hotel offers free shuttle buses to the park, running from 10:00 to 21:00 with scheduled departures. Route: Wanda Vista Hotel parking lot → Wanda Realm Hotel lobby → Park Tourist Distribution Center. Travel time 10–20 minutes. Reservations required 1 hour in advance by calling the hotel front desk.

Buffet breakfast: On the 1st floor, Harvest Court all-day restaurant. Wide variety of dishes, from authentic Guilin rice noodles to classic Western pastries, everything available—standard and satisfactory.

Operating hours: Mon–Fri 06:30–10:30, Sat–Sun 06:30–11:00.

Dinner: This time I tried the Chinese set meal at the Lakeside Pavilion on the 3rd floor: Cold dishes: aged vinegar wood ear mushrooms, Shanghai smoked fish. Soup: dragon bone soup with king trumpet mushroom. Main dishes: marinated meat platter, Yangshuo bowl of fresh, Li River Double Treasures, volcanic stone smoked beef short ribs. Vegetables: soup vegetables. Staple: selenium-rich rice. Fruit: exquisite fruit platter. Dessert: mango pomelo sago.

Overall, although it's hard to define by a single cuisine, every dish ensures fresh ingredients and consistent quality, matching the flavor profile of each item. For example, Yangshuo Bowl of Fresh and Li River Double Treasures I consider Guilin cuisine, with a sour, spicy, and umami taste. Shanghai smoked fish is sweet and rich. The marinated meat platter has Cantonese cooking style and flavor. Volcanic stone smoked beef short ribs are tender and perfectly cooked—a standard Western dish. Mango pomelo sago, as a representative Cantonese dessert, is perfectly executed by the hotel chef.

Meeting your needs, created for you—I think Sunac International Resort can open a new model for Guilin tourism. So come and experience it.

Original text and photos copyright © Skywalker (Tianlan Niandai). Please contact for reprint.

I am the invited photographer for AirAsia, Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Embassy of Canada to China. Financial writer, multi-platform media person, contracted traveler, contracted photographer, winner of Yunnan News Award (Online Commentary Award, Innovative News Award).