All the World is Bitter, but You Are Sweet (A Stay at Yangshuo Sugar House)

Often during a journey, people suddenly recall long-buried memories from the past, conjuring up the faces and voices of loved ones who have drifted away. It's as if travel is a solvent that melts the sealed lid, and the warmth of the past rises like smoke.

Yangshuo, renowned as the most beautiful landscape under heaven, is famed for its breathtaking natural scenery. The meandering Li River is flanked by连绵青山 formed by unique karst landforms, creating a Chinese ink-wash painting full of charm. From ancient times to the present, scholars and artists who have visited this land have been captivated by the timeless elegance of the mountains and waters, as well as the warm and simple customs of the local people.

Memories are like sugar, sweet to the point of sadness,

Full of happiness, like the white moonlight,

Gazing intently at your silhouette,

Deeply touching my heart.

Location & Transportation: Yangshuo Sugar House is located at No. 102 Dongling Road, Yangshuo Town, Yangshuo County, Guilin City. It is a 6 km drive from West Street, a 4.5 km drive from Fuli Town Fuli Comprehensive Market, a 28 km drive from Yangshuo Station, a 4.5 km drive from Yangshuo Bus Terminal, an 84 km drive from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, a 68 km drive from Guilin Station, and a 90 km drive from Guilin North Station.

Design Style: The hotel layout includes the front lobby, the main building with full mountain-view guest rooms (5 floors), the Rustic Kitchen, the Spa, the Gallery (1st floor) & Screening Room (1st floor) & Karst Garden Restaurant (2nd floor), the Water Valley Square, the Boutique (1st floor) & Reading Room (2nd floor), the Multi-Function Hall (1st floor) & Heritage Suites (2nd & 3rd floors), the Sugar House Villa, the Pool Villa, the 1969 Bar, the Fitness Center & Kids' Club (indoor children's playground), the Riverside Pool, the Private Pier, and the Pump House (8-seat private dining room). The hotel is converted from an abandoned sugar factory built in the 1960s on the banks of the Li River. The exterior retains the industrial look of the old factory, while the interior spaces have been redesigned. Both public areas, recreational facilities, and guest room interiors exhibit an artistic style that blends the real and the virtual. The combination of nature and modernity, simplicity and luxury, gives every guest and visitor a strong artistic impression. The ingenious renovation design has given new life to the old sugar factory buildings, making it one of the iconic luxury resort hotels in Yangshuo.

The extraordinary artistic atmosphere of Yangshuo Sugar House is reflected in the aesthetic collision of natural landscapes and industrial style, and the ultimate fusion of old architecture and fashionable elements. While preserving the sense of history of the old buildings, it integrates a modern architectural concept of simplicity and grandeur. Through the strong contrast between old and new times and spaces, it perfectly interprets the changes of time and space. The occasional fireworks displays and live DJ events bring colorful fireworks and electronic music of different genres together with the touching natural landscape. The brilliant lights projected around the hotel in the evening narrow the distance of passing time and the unpredictable human heart.

Full Mountain-View Guest Room Main Building: The overall design has a strong sense of line. Out of respect for the local natural landscape and architectural culture, the designer extensively used local stone combined with bamboo, reflecting the blend of hardness and softness in the architecture. Being inside feels like exploring a mysterious cave, full of the joy of discovery throughout the stay.

Front Lobby: Originally the power workshop of the sugar factory, the dominant color is passionate red, reflecting a fashionable and bright modern atmosphere, simple yet warm. The sunken circular sofa area in the center perfectly combines with the casual seating areas arranged in the four corners, creating a comfortable and leisurely environment. The four corners correspond to different functions: the front desk for check-in, a chatting space for friends, a waiting area for groups, and a temporary spot for business meetings. The ingenious design and efficient use of space are remarkable. The mottled old electrical transformer box does not appear out of place in the lobby; instead, it complements the valuable hand-stitched leather single-seat chairs and vintage floor lamps with paper shades, freezing the traces of time.

Guest Room Views: Sugar House has a total of 113 guest rooms. The main room types are Mountain-View King/Twin Rooms (1st-3rd floors) and Mountain-View King/Twin Rooms (4th & 5th floors), each with an area of 66 square meters. There is also a Family Suite with one king bed and one bunk bed, two bedrooms, one living room, and one bathroom, covering 101 square meters. The single-bedroom villas come in two types: Sugar House Villa and Pool Villa. The Pool Villa is a standalone building of 186 square meters, with only 2 such villas in the entire hotel. The Sugar House Villa is a townhouse-style building of 109 square meters. There are 2 two-bedroom Heritage Suites, named Gongnongqiao and Chaoyangcun. As the top-tier guest rooms in the hotel, both Heritage Suites have the same area of 131 square meters, except that Chaoyangcun is on a higher floor and has a protruding glass viewing platform.

The modern and comfortable design of the Sugar House Mountain-View rooms allows every guest to enjoy stylish home furnishings and beautiful local scenery during a high-quality stay. Each Mountain-View room has a comfortable balcony, where guests can enjoy leisure time while taking in views of the karst rock formations and courtyard landscapes. They can also watch challenging rock climbing activities and recall innocent memories of the past from a hanging basket. Rooms on the first floor even have direct access to the outdoor lawn from the balcony, allowing close interaction with the hotel's mascot rabbits, or a closer look at the rock climbing experience on the mountain behind. If you want to find another mascot, the ducks, you need to go to the ponds near Water Valley Square and the villa area, which are the free-range areas for the ducks.

Amenities & Toiletries: The brand is Maison Margiela from Paris, France. Its product lines include haute couture fashion, footwear, jewelry, eyewear, and perfumes. Known for its deconstructivist approach, anti-mainstream attitude, avant-garde design concepts, unconventional even quirky style, and always unexpected expressions and presentations, the brand has continuously inspired and influenced global design trends since the late 1980s. The hotel's travel toiletry set includes shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, and soap.

Beyond basic quality criteria like cleansing power and longevity, the fragrance is what sets this set apart. This REPLICA classic collection series is inspired by a jazz club in Brooklyn, New York City, USA in 2013, aiming to capture beautiful moments in life with scents. The fragrance is described as intoxicating cocktails and cigars.

Fragrance notes: Woody Leather

Top notes: Lemon, Pink Pepper, Neroli Oil;

Middle notes: Clary Sage, Rum, Vetiver;

Base notes: Styrax, Tobacco Leaf, Vanilla Bean.

New York hosts countless jazz performances every night, and jazz has long become part of the city's culture. The jazz scene in New York, with its many masters, delights jazz lovers worldwide. For any jazz musician, experiencing the New York jazz scene is a must. If you casually walk into a jazz club in Brooklyn, you can sit comfortably in armchairs, enjoy freshly made cocktails and the scent of cigars, accompanied by melodious brass music, or settle into high stools and leather sofas to relax with jazz and rum. This REPLICA classic collection series is like an anthology of notes and brass tones, blending tobacco, alcohol, and jazz, smooth tones flowing in the dim corners of the city night. Rum and vanilla bean create an amber-hued richness; pure tobacco mingles with pink pepper, capturing the elegance and purity of select cigars.

Bathroom Fixtures: Shower, rain shower, bathtub, faucets are from Hansgrohe. Wall-hung concealed toilet and washbasin are from Duravit. These mainstream bathroom brands, standard in high-end international hotels, bring guests a blissful time with water. The dense water flow provides both psychological and physical comfort and relaxation, a joy from the depths of the heart.

Bedding & Linens: Mattress brand is King Koil. Linens brand is Jiangsu Sidefu. Whether local or international, professional manufacturers of natural textile and bedding products focus on enhancing user comfort, ensuring soft and skin-friendly products, spinal support, and quiet sleep, allowing guests to have sweet dreams and a good night's rest.

Smart Devices: LG LCD TVs, one of the standard brands in high-end international hotels, serve to meet guests' needs for information, basic reading habits, and simple audiovisual leisure. Additionally, the minibar soft drinks are complimentary and can be replenished during consecutive stays.

Facilities: Due to the abundance, they are categorized below.

Experiences & Activities: The hotel organizes a variety of activities daily, including: Tai Chi/Yoga classes (free), rock climbing experience, Li River bamboo rafting, stand-up paddleboarding & cave exploration, Sugar House Tour (free), cormorant fishing performance (free on Fridays and Saturdays), sidecar bike ride (1 hour), and fireworks show. The 24-hour fitness center is located in a sunken space beside the riverside pool, equipped with Life Fitness professional commercial fitness equipment.

Cormorant Fishing Performance: Fishermen on the Li River use cormorants, their "good buddies," rather than fishing rods and nets to catch fish. In the last century, old fishermen liked to gather at night on bamboo rafts on the Li River, using kerosene lamps to guide the cormorants to find fish swimming under the water. Each fisherman's cormorants were specially trained. Fishermen would tie a small knot around the cormorants' throats to prevent them from swallowing large fish, allowing them only to swallow small ones. Raised from a young age, the cormorants are more like pets to the fishermen.

Nowadays, for fishermen dressed in modern clothing and using "bamboo rafts" made of fiberglass with diesel engines, cormorant fishing is no longer a means of livelihood but has evolved into a paid performance for tourists.

Spa: Located in the underground space behind the main building of the full mountain-view guest rooms, originally the syrup tank of the sugar factory. The predominant color is natural rock tones, and a spiral staircase takes guests through a feeling of exploring a cave. The spa offers treatments combining authentic Balinese spa techniques with local Yao herbal remedies, injecting fresh vitality into the tired bodies and minds of guests.

Multi-Function Hall: Originally the large boiler room of the sugar factory. Guests can join local craftsmen here to experience various handmade workshops, such as sugar making, painting, and candle making.

Gallery & Screening Room: Periodically exhibit works by artists related to Yangshuo and screen old movies like "Third Sister Liu" as well as historical stories of the old sugar factory spanning decades, bringing viewers back to old times.

Boutique & Reading Room: Originally the small boiler room of the sugar factory. It offers a wide range of Sugar House branded cultural and creative products, fine crafts made by local artisans, and artworks co-branded with artists. They are perfect gifts for friends and family or souvenirs for guests.

Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy a quiet and comfortable exclusive space in the upstairs reading room. The literary books on the shelves, paired with warm lighting reminiscent of a lazy afternoon sun, create a safe haven free from disturbance.

1969 Bar: Originally the pressing workshop of the sugar factory, designed in the style of a rum distillery to showcase modern industrial design. You can order an artist-collaborated cocktail with sugar and rum themes, then enjoy it on a beach chair by the riverside pool. I must say, the 1969 Bar is really popular on weekend nights. Accompanied by lively and passionate electronic music by the riverside pool, everyone is immersed in the charming natural scenery and joyful state of mind.

Live DJ: Music always reaches people's hearts more directly than other art forms, creating emotional resonance. Therefore, Sugar House holds Live DJ events every weekend. These professional DJs are not only skilled in immersive mixing but also masters of beat juggling, song blending, and music integration. They perfectly connect different styles of electronic music, balancing climaxes and lulls rhythmically, thus controlling the atmosphere of the event. The joyful laughter and songs of the guests fill the Li River landscape, echoing through the ages.

Fireworks Show: Every Saturday night, Sugar House puts on a brilliant fireworks display by the riverside pool, set against the backdrop of the ancient industrial trusses, creating a dazzling spectacle in the dark night sky.

Rise, bloom, and finally fall. Beautiful things always happen in an instant. The things that cannot be kept are the most precious, right?

The beauty of fireworks is briefer than human life; the charm of the universe is more eternal than humanity. But their occurrence is only meant to leave an impression of beauty in our hearts. Nothing is more lasting than true love.

Old buildings carry time and memory; new styles express ideas and attitudes. Bitter and sweet, it is the dual nature of people, the eternal dialectical relationship of the world.

City Excursions: If you don't want to stay in the hotel, you can explore the surroundings. Yangshuo West Street, Guilin Eternal Love, Impression Sanjie Liu, Xianggong Mountain Sunrise, and Shitoucheng Sunset are all great destinations and shows. However, with such diverse hotel activities and complete facilities, do you have time to go out? Based on my personal test, at least a three-day, two-night stay is sufficient.

Love is like sugar, sweet to the point of burning,

Its beauty beyond imagination,

Your gaze makes my heart flutter,

I long to fall into your arms.

The Karst Garden Restaurant is located in the former refining workshop of the sugar factory. It offers all-day dining, presenting fresh local ingredients with a "farm-to-table" concept, and has internationally renowned chefs tailoring its menu.

The buffet breakfast is rich in variety, covering both Chinese and Western cuisines. Chinese hot dishes and Western pastries are well-prepared. The international cuisine accommodates the dietary habits and taste preferences of guests from all over. Although it is said that you must try Guilin rice noodles when visiting Guilin, I recommend their beef noodles and pork rib noodles instead. You can choose between thin noodles or knife-cut noodles. The broth is rich, the meat is tender and flavorful. Adding the soulful condiment—Guilin chili sauce—makes it truly delicious.

Free afternoon tea is delivered to the guest room balcony by staff shaking a rattle drum. It includes bottled passion fruit juice, monk fruit tea, Pu'er tea, and self-sealing bags of rice puffs and taro sticks. Guests on upper floors can lower a basket to pick it up, reliving the fun of childhood. Of course, the restaurant also offers a la carte afternoon tea or set menus.

Since you are staying at the hotel, you must try the main meals at the Karst Garden Restaurant. For dishes, I recommend local specialties, which have been adjusted to suit general tastes, as Guilin cuisine tends to be spicy and salty. Additionally, although the unit prices are not cheap, the portions are generous, and the staff will promptly remind you not to order too much. Their service attitude is very considerate. The dishes are excellent in color, aroma, and taste. The cooking techniques and quality are consistent and stable. The ingredients, whether meat or vegetables, are fresh and of high quality. The Western food is also quite authentic. During my stay, every time I went to the restaurant (for photography or dining), I saw foreign tourists dining there. Pizza had a high order rate, and there were also dedicated children's meals. Objectively speaking, the restaurant's quality matches the hotel's grade, as is evident to all.

Sharing the two-night menu:

Cold marinated beef shank with mint, glass crispy squab, crispy fried chicken (half), sesame-mixed shredded tripe, Yangshuo taro beer duck, lotus pond moonlight, soda water.

Clay pot beer fish, amber walnut sweet and sour black pork, Guangxi-style kailan stir-fried Fuli beef steak, sakura shrimp stir-fried silver sprouts.

Restaurant opening hours:

Breakfast: Weekdays 0700-1000, Weekends and holidays 0700-1030

Lunch: 1100-1400

Dinner: 1730-2130 (24-hour in-room dining service)

Fireworks location & time: Riverside Pool, every Saturday 2130

Live DJ location & time: Riverside Pool & 1969 Bar, every Saturday & Sunday 1600-2330

Hotel Spirit: As the first resort hotel under the AURUA brand that combines arts and culture with traditional hotel operations, Yangshuo Sugar House continuously enriches the traditional hotel model with diverse art and cultural experiences, breaking traditional boundaries and injecting more possibilities into the hotel industry.

Since its inception, the AURUA brand has been dedicated to creating unique living experiences and lifestyles, helping people who have lived in cities for a long time to reawaken their physical and mental awareness, re-establish their connection with nature, and gain the inner moment of sudden clarity—the "aura." The core DNA of the AURUA brand is defined as: Terroir (deep integration with local folk culture), Nature (harmonious coexistence with the environment), Presence (fusion and elevation of landscape, architecture, and service), and Aura (inspiring higher levels of artistic creation). It is these four core genes that make AURUA a hub of creativity. Through art, literature, music, dance, drama, philosophy, and more, it brings "aura" back to people through each experience, mending the increasingly distant relationship between humans and nature. The AURUA brand explores stunning remote places across China and the world, building unique spiritual homes for people. It is understood that besides Yangshuo Sugar House, the AURUA brand has plans for new hotels in Yixian, Huangshan; Changbai Mountain; Lhasa; Dunhuang, and other places.

Sweet and honey,

Soft and sticky,

Sticking to your left shoulder,

Sweetening your heart,

Melting slowly in the mouth,

Condensing all my dreams.

Mountains and rivers,

Sky and ocean,

The road under your feet,

Dreams ahead of you.

There is no one in this world without wounds. No matter when, you must believe that only you can truly heal yourself. Don't complain, don't fear loneliness, strive to settle. The world is full of bitterness, only you can cross yourself. May your heart be vast with mountains and rivers, and always believe that life is worthwhile.

Sugar House is a paradise among the mountains and waters. A short two-day rest here allows you to forget the superficiality and noise of the outside world, experience various forms of artistic expression and the rich cultural heritage behind them, settle your inner world, elevate your spiritual realm, and gain sweet and gentle peace.

Original text and photo copyright owned by @Tianlan Niandai. Reproduction requires permission.

I am an invited photographer for AirAsia, Malaysia Tourism Board, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Canadian Embassy in China. I am also a financial writer, multimedia professional, contracted traveler, contracted photographer, and winner of Yunnan News Awards (Internet Commentary Award, Innovative News Award).