The New Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin Offers Luxury Cruises on the Li River
March 10, 2010 By: Mary Winston Nicklin
Celebrated for "the finest mountains and rivers under heaven," Guilin has long been a favorite of backpackers traversing China, its breathtaking scenery immortalized in poems and paintings. But with this week's opening of the Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin, the luxury-seeking traveler will also revel in the region. Perched on the banks of the Li Jiang River, the 449-room hotel certainly ups the luxury quotient in town. The property is home to the city's largest guestrooms, a wedding pagoda, meeting facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and a health club.
One of the best ways to take in Guilin's scenery is from the river. The Shangri-La is making waves by being the first hotel to offer luxury cruises. Departing from Long Chuan Ping Jetty, the boat sails for 10 kilometers to Die Cai Mountain, passing sheer rock formations and Guilin's most famous peaks along the way (Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Seven Star Hill and Laoren Hill). The hotel is currently running a special package that pairs Executive Suite accommodations with a sailing on the river, including a gourmet four-course meal cooked on-board by the hotel's chef. The two-night Suite Cruise package, priced from RMB 8,888 for two, also includes a 90-minute tour, daily breakfast, full Horizon Club access, and roundtrip airport transfers by limo.
