"Among the two hotels I stayed at during my Guilin trip, Rong Lake Hotel was one of them. I chose this hotel after extensive online comparisons, as it seemed to offer good value for money and had just completed renovations, reopening in 2026. While researching, I learned it's a long-standing state guesthouse in Guilin, with a rich history. I stayed in the 'Rongyue Garden View Deluxe Twin Room'. Here are my honest impressions.
Pros: The hotel is situated in the core scenic area of 'Two Rivers and Four Lakes', resembling a landscaped garden, offering a tranquil and peaceful environment away from the city's hustle and bustle. The back gate leads directly to the Rong Lake walking trail, making it easy to stroll along the lake in the evening. The Sun and Moon Pagodas and the ancient South Gate's night views are practically at your doorstep, and Elephant Trunk Hill isn't far either. Its location is truly irreplaceable. Check-in at the front desk was efficient, and the bellhop proactively helped with luggage. The guest rooms are equipped with smart control systems, and the hotel also offers Cantonese cuisine. The price for a standard room is reasonable.
Cons: Perhaps due to Guilin's humid weather, there was a noticeable damp smell in the corridors. The moment I opened the room door upon check-in, a wave of dampness (I'm unsure if it also included a musty smell) hit me, and the bedding also felt damp (in contrast, the guesthouse I stayed at in Yangshuo didn't have this issue). The carpet in the room looked very old; I'm not sure if that's its original color or if old carpets were simply laid down. I genuinely recommend the hotel consider removing carpets, otherwise, the damp smell is simply too strong. Even though I used disposable sheets and duvet covers, the bedding still had a damp smell after a few days. The bathroom also lacked a ventilation system, and the shower room was separated from the rest of the bathroom by only a glass panel, allowing water to leak onto the bathroom floor after showering through the gaps in the glass. The ambiance and variety of the hotel's Cantonese restaurant were average. I originally planned to dine there in the evening; the front desk had given me a paper menu with breakfast on one side and either lunch or dinner on the other. When I went that evening, as soon as I reached for the paper menu on the table, the staff immediately took it away and insisted on ordering via tablet. The same dish on the tablet was more expensive than on the paper menu. When I asked the staff about the paper menu, they just took it away and told me to order from the tablet, without giving a clear explanation, so we didn't press further. Perhaps due to its state-owned enterprise nature, the overall service felt inferior to the guesthouse-style hotel we stayed at in Yangshuo.
Furthermore, the hotel's soundproofing wasn't great. During my last two days, the neighboring rooms were fully occupied, likely by a family traveling together, with their doors wide open morning and evening and children running up and down the corridor. However, since it was only for the last two days, it wasn't a major issue.
Overall Impression:
The value for money is decent, and the hotel's interior environment is indeed impeccable and very pleasant; I saw people taking photos there every day. Since the price for a standard room isn't high, one can't expect too much. However, for a newly renovated (or rebuilt) hotel, there's still a certain discrepancy between the in-room hardware facilities and what was advertised."