Prairie
November 13, 2023
Truthfully, I am having time finding words, and that's unusual for me. I must admit I was disappointed when Yangshuo Mountain Retreat cancelled my booking because of a wedding that had booked the place, but the photos of the garden sold me. I've been to Yangshuo perhaps five times over the last 10 years, and have stayed in every kind of place there-from a cheap hostel to the boutique rooms but my dream was to stay at YMR, where I always stop and have a whiskey by the river.
When we pulled into Liqui Town, I realized I had not explored this part of the valley and was disoriented. But then the staff greeted us, carried in our bags, gave us tea, peanuts, and oranges, and set to taking care of our every need. They were this way with us from start to finish-sending us off with a bag of fresh mandarin oranges and hugs-and a promise to send an invoice for our remaining expenses-which we still have not gotten!
Apart from the wonder of just those details, the food was exquisite, our farmhouse room was stylish and simple yet so thoroughly Chinese-in the most real and unassuming way. It was an honor and a pleasure to sip tea in the farmhouse and look at the many woodcut posters and Chinese propaganda songs on the walls while staring up from the tea table to the simply elegant clay tile roof resting on the original beams, feeling the mud bricks breathe out their history silently under a soft rain and the early crows of the neighborhood roosters. I
If one is quiet and still, I believe this little gem will give up her secrets, her history, and the story and true feeling of old-time village life amongst the stunning splatters of karst and water. We enjoyed watching the staff use the traditional well to clean up around the property, and the garden did not disappoint. Truly magical and filled with bonsai that some local master has been enjoying for many years. The food was excellent. We spoke with some Chinese tourists on the way out who were very disappointed with the local version of beer fish, ah but ours was exquisite, along with the drinks and italian food. It's very rare to find this mix of culture, authenticity, generosity, and good service all wrapped into a package that does nearly guarantee the fulfillment of the motto the girls wear on their shirts, "be inspired...."
I would recommend this to anyone. 谢谢你们!