the Cloud Guesthouse

This award-winning guesthouse was recommended by a design industry veteran, but the road leading to it is quite challenging. I honestly wouldn't recommend it for women; it's even nicknamed Guangdong's Initial D mountain pass. Our room initially had a minor repair issue, so the front desk offered a free upgrade. After checking out the upgraded room, we decided to stick with our original booking as it had a larger yard and the room itself was very spacious, almost a bit empty – a deliberate design choice, I imagine. The design, despite being a decade old, has really stood the test of time, maintaining a simple yet authentic feel. The exterior wood looks quite weathered, but the interior is well-maintained. Designers often appreciate this aged aesthetic; solid wood is actually the most expensive material, costing several times more than the glossy decorative panels often found in more common, 'pretty' designs. However, it's not universally appealing, especially with Guangdong's frequent rain making maintenance difficult. If you're looking for a delicate, refined aesthetic, I wouldn't recommend it. The food in the mountains was just okay, and for such a remote location, the price wasn't overly expensive. The next day, passing through the town, prices were similar, likely due to it being a tourist area. The next morning, looking out, I started to appreciate the spacious design – its advantage truly shone through. It was incredibly relaxing, and I began to feel a subtle difference. This is what's meant by the luxury of large spaces being the most valuable kind of luxury. Now, staying in a small, cramped hotel room feels completely different. There's a small private pool that's good for kids. The water quality is incredibly smooth. The front desk mentioned that the water for brewing tea in the room comes from a natural spring sourced from the valley behind the mountain, just like the pool water. The staff told us that a top Chinese tea master once insisted on using this raw spring water for brewing a multi-million dollar pu-erh tea cake, refusing even filtered water, claiming it was the second best water quality in Guangdong. The tea tasted excellent, and hearing about the water quality, I asked the manager for a large bottle. Due to the room repair, they also gave us a complimentary bag of tea. After returning to Guangzhou and brewing a pot, if they hadn't warned me beforehand, I would have thought the tea was a rip-off. The difference was indeed huge. Using their old testing pen, the data discrepancy was astonishing. The distant mountain views are incredible, but there were quite a few mosquitoes. They should spray more insecticide when there aren't many guests. Also, there aren't many amenities. There's a tea house not too far away on the mountainside where you can pass the time. It's not crowded, and when no one's around, it has a wonderful atmosphere. The higher you go, the better the view. Overall, everything was quite good, and for a semi-wooden cabin, the hygiene was also excellent. I'll definitely come back next time, but I really need to remember to bring a few buckets with me.

Fantastic location! After a heavy rain, the sky cleared up, and the guesthouse was incredibly atmospheric. The views were expansive, the environment was comfortable, and the room was clean with complete amenities. The service was thoughtful, making for a perfect experience. I'll definitely come again.

Yunshangyunzuo is a guesthouse with a fantastic view, and I'm really impressed with the design. It looks like the owner put a lot of thought into it. You can watch the sunset while having dinner in the evening 🌄, maybe with a little wine. The service is excellent; from the moment I arrived, they were incredibly accommodating. The staff proactively helped with my luggage, and the cleaning lady was very friendly. Dinner is usually eaten at the guesthouse, and the prices are reasonable. If the ingredients for dinner could be even fresher – they raise their own free-range chickens and ducks, which are butchered fresh – that would be amazing. The local home-style dishes are delicious. It's a perfect place to relax. Truly a great spot, I'll definitely come again.

Given its mountain location, it's common to encounter small insects. If you're not bothered by this, it could be a good choice. However, there was an issue with the staff regarding the tickets for the Yingxi Peak Forest T3 Organic Tea Garden. We were short-changed on the complimentary tea garden tickets. For our group of three adults and one child, they only provided three tickets instead of the four we should have received. The staff initially claimed that two children could enter with one adult, but upon reaching the tea garden, we were forced to purchase an additional ticket. This meant we were essentially scammed out of one ticket, which was incredibly frustrating. Everything else was largely fine, so I'm baffled why they would cause such an unpleasant experience just to save the cost of a single ticket.

The property is nestled on a hillside. Our room, Muyun, was located on the lowest tier, which unfortunately resulted in a rather limited view. I expect rooms further up the slope would offer much better vistas. The private plunge pool was quite shallow, making it ideal for young children. However, perhaps due to its outdoor, mountain setting, the water quality wasn't ideal, and there were quite a few small insects. Overall, the pricing felt just about acceptable. It's understandable that operating a facility in a mountain area comes with its own set of costs.

The scenery was stunning, but the service was even better. I had a flat tire halfway down the mountain, and a hotel staff member came out in the pouring rain to change it for me, even helping me contact a repair shop. I'm incredibly grateful!

The room was spacious and decent, though the mattress was a bit too soft for my liking. The views, however, were absolutely stunning! We had dinner at the hotel; the price was reasonable, but the taste was rather plain, reminiscent of simple home-cooked food. On the bright side, the breakfast soy milk was delicious, and the fruit quality was excellent. This place is truly perfect for unwinding and contemplation; it's very therapeutic. The drive up the mountain was a bit nerve-wracking the first time, as we drove slowly, cautious of oncoming cars. By the time we drove back down, we'd adapted and felt much more comfortable. It rained throughout our two-day stay, but enjoying the rainy scenery was actually quite pleasant. We'd love to come back when the weather is clear to catch the sunset. Unfortunately, due to the heavy rain, we couldn't make use of the complimentary scenic area tickets.