Uncovering Unexpected Luxury In China's Countryside
Issue 2: Uncovering Unexpected Luxury in China’s Countryside
Can luxury be both culturally immersive and educational?
The short answer is: Yes.
And this is what Jilux is all about. A few weeks ago, I traveled to China and reaffirmed that luxury is subjective. I found luxury in the people I met and experiences held while not necessarily staying at five-star resorts. Yet for the southeastern countryside of Guilin and Guizhou, it's what they could offer to those adventurers seeking that off-the-beaten path experience, with a side of luxe.
Known for otherworldly landscapes and minority villages as differentiating attractions from the history at the heart of Beijing and Xi’an, the regions of Guilin and Guizhou are still relatively untouched. So, the accommodations I stumbled upon are a reflection of this area’s commitment to attract more visitors and desire to share more of their rich culture with the rest of the world.
If it wasn’t for these unexpected lodges, I wouldn’t have drank rice wine with minority villages like the Miao or Dong throughout Guizhou province, or watched the sunrise over the freshly watered rice terraces in Guilin’s Longsheng County. These are the properties that provided the best of both worlds—luxury and culture colliding to leave me with an unforgettable imprint.
Yangshuo Resort
Nestled in the Yangshuo Valley, overlooking the Li River and its karst mountains, is this postcard-worthy property. The resort plays with its surroundings, bringing water into its corridors with welcoming moats and treehouse-esque bungalows, housing spacious rooms with private terraces. The floor plan is reminiscent of a meditation rock garden, bringing that tranquil air throughout, and making it ideal for unwinding after a day of hiking or rock climbing; popular activities in the region.
Ping An Hotel
A spin on the area’s traditional, multi-level farmhouse, this all-wooden resort is artfully fused into the mountainside. The rooms overlook Longsheng’s prize; the 16,000 acres of rice terraces carved into the Ping’an mountainside since the Yuan Dynasty, in 1271. The rooms are decorated with hand-embroidered textiles that brighten the wooden rooms, a cabin-like space you’d expect to find at the heart of Aspen. Whether you choose to enjoy sunrise with a cup of tea on your exclusive patio, or venture out to some of the best view points throughout the village, you won’t regret waking up with the roosters to watch the golden glow illuminate the masterpiece that is Longsheng Rice Terrace.
Jin Dang Gong
Ditch your ride and hop in one of the village-approved-vans to transport you up to this property, bordering one of the hundreds of Dong villages in this region. A short ride brings you to this multi-level property, carefully positioned to overlook the happenings of the village and surrounding rice field. Take-in the view from your room's sweeping windows, or wander into the village to unearth more tangible interactions. A five-minute jaunt past the main gate brings you to a meditation area amidst the rows of rice and maze of waterwheels. Follow the motorbikes into downtown for a more eventful experience with outdoor markets, live music and every night—a free, live show, exploring some of the Dong’s culture and history.
Sofitel
Internationally renowned for its essence of French-luxury, the Sofitel, is in fact a five-star hotel in the Guizhou region. As the tallest building in the city, and one of the finest properties the area has to offer, the Sofitel marks the significant development of the city, and willingness to adapt, and to provide for, the luxury traveler. At the hub of it all, the hotel is only a short drive to many of the Miao minority villages, stunning waterfalls of the region, and dramatic landscapes--best viewed from a hot air balloon.
And while every trip isn't necessarily steeped in this unique version of luxury, there is a time and place to recognize the efforts of destinations in the process of adapting to such standards. I was moved and surprised by China’s offerings and I hope you’ll have the chance to feel this too.
Xo,
J
