Hotels with Bars in Chongzuo

After a 2-hour drive from Nanning, we arrived at Lux* Chongzuo, Guangxi, a resort I'd had on my wishlist for ages. I'd read countless reviews and scrolled through many Xiaohongshu posts, with opinions being quite mixed. My personal experience, however, was that it truly is a secluded sanctuary nestled amidst karst landscapes!. Situated by the Mingshi River, our room was spacious and airy, with a balcony directly facing the continuous peaks. Opening the window felt like stepping into a traditional Chinese landscape painting. Our butler, Mia, had already added me on WeChat. When I mentioned it was our anniversary, she arranged some incredibly thoughtful surprises. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a welcome ceremony featuring local ethnic customs, walked through the famous banana leaf pathway, and were immediately struck by the breathtaking lobby views. The view from the selected Lux* room was absolutely stunning! The infinity pool, lounge areas, stargazing cinema, bamboo raft excursions, and the Secret Farm where you can feed small animals kept us entertained all day without needing to leave the resort. The environment is serene and healing, and the facilities are of high quality. Here, you can truly unwind and immerse yourself in a countryside getaway, perfect for escaping the city hustle and bustle. Breakfast was semi-buffet style, with daily menu updates. There are three restaurants, two of which only serve dinner and require advance reservations. Oh, and they also offer sweet soup in the evenings. All in all, this stay was extremely satisfying.

I stayed at Mingshi Yaju in room 8202 on July 10th, and then at Zaiye Starlight Rainforest on the 11th. While the latter was one-third more expensive, the overall experience at Mingshi Yaju was definitely superior. It was the rainy season, and the Black River had high water levels, but the entire Mingshi countryside was breathtakingly beautiful in the mist and rain. The continuous karst peaks surrounding the emerald green fields were refreshing and therapeutic, and it didn't affect our sightseeing at all. The Torch Festival was the biggest surprise of the entire trip. The event lasted a full two hours, and the atmosphere was incredible from start to finish, far exceeding our expectations. The performers, both young men and women, were exceptionally energetic and dedicated, showcasing various torch tricks one after another. As they swung the torches, sparks flew everywhere, and the firelight reflecting on the mountains and water created an amazing ambiance. High-difficulty acts like fire-breathing, torch spinning, and acrobatic juggling were thrilling and spectacular, with a strong visual impact. I watched wide-eyed the whole time, and every performance segment was simply astonishing. My 15-year-old son had just finished his junior high school exams, so I specifically brought him along to relax and unwind. He's usually shy and introverted and rarely participates in such group activities. It was the first time I saw him completely let loose, actively joining the crowd in torch parades and dancing around the bonfire. He was smiling and having a fantastic time throughout. This immersive Zhuang ethnic folk activity truly healed his tense mind after preparing for exams. Our stay also included a complimentary boat tour of the countryside. Tea and snacks on the boat were all free. The boatman told us that a single bamboo raft ride outside the scenic area costs 130 RMB per person, so being able to experience it for free as a guest was excellent value for money. The details when checking out truly surprised me: we received a complimentary souvenir – a set of postcards and local Mingshi countryside rice. Other guests were checking out at the same time, and I was already in the parking lot, ready to leave. A staff member from the hotel specifically drove after me to insist on handing me the souvenir and even thoughtfully wished me a safe journey. This level of dedication was incredibly touching. However, what impressed me most on this trip was the overall quality of all the staff at the guesthouse. Nowadays, hotel service often feels mechanical and standardized, but the employees at Mingshi Yaju had a sparkle in their eyes, exuding a sense of happiness. They weren't perfunctory in their interactions and consistently provided ample emotional value throughout our stay. I distinctly remember on the afternoon of the 10th, around 4 PM, when it started raining, a friendly lady with a ponytail chatted with me for quite a while. She was very approachable, gentle, and attentive, repeatedly reminding me about safety precautions for rainy day outings, which was very heartwarming. During our casual chat, two staff members learned that my next stop was Zaiye Starlight Rainforest. Their broad-mindedness was commendable: they objectively highlighted their own advantages while generously acknowledging the merits of their competitor. They didn't boast about themselves or disparage others, and even proactively shared local specialties and helped plan our itinerary. Their overall caliber was truly rare. That said, Mingshi Yaju does have areas for improvement: compared to Zaiye Starlight Rainforest, their afternoon tea experience was outstanding, and their breakfast selection was rich and comprehensive, offering Guilin rice noodles, Luosifen, and Laoyoufen. Mingshi Yaju's breakfast lacked authentic local noodle dishes, indicating room for improvement in their dining options. One small suggestion: since the guesthouse has access to boat resources, it would be wonderful if they could offer lunch and dinner packages on the boat. Imagine enjoying local specialty dishes on a boat while cruising amidst the mountains and water – the experience would be even more spectacular. Despite the minor flaws in the dining, the overall experience was excellent, with fantastic scenery, unique activities, and top-notch staff service. Comparing the two, if I ever return to Chongzuo, I will definitely choose to stay at Mingshi Yaju again.

Extremely satisfied with this guesthouse! I initially chose this location because the electric scooter parking at Yu Lin Ba (Fish Scale Dam) costs money, so I figured I'd stay here, see the dam, and then rent a scooter. That turned out to be a great decision – the location is incredibly advantageous, and currently, this guesthouse offers the best value and is the prettiest in the area. The hotel rooms come with washing machines, there's a 'Sky Mirror' on the rooftop, and a kids' pool downstairs. What really stands out is how attentive they are to every detail. Every corner is spotless. When I went to the Sky Mirror at noon, an auntie even specially cleaned the glass. The swimming rings by the pool were all nice and new, not tattered at all. The room also had a Tmall Genie, and the cleaning was impeccable. I arrived early, and they opened one room for me, and I practically watched them prepare the adjacent one. When we checked in, the staff immediately took photos of our license plate to link it to the parking system. The service was incredibly thoughtful, and we even received brown sugar as a parting gift when we checked out. A truly delightful stay!

This stay exceeded my expectations! The guesthouse is nestled amidst mountains and water, in a tranquil and peaceful environment with exceptionally fresh air. The entire room was spotless, the bedding was soft and breathable, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered stunning views. The butler was patient and attentive throughout, providing travel tips in advance and preparing a delicious breakfast. Everything was well-maintained and in good working order. At night, you can see a sky full of stars. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it was incredibly relaxing and perfect for a short getaway. I've already recommended it to friends!

The room has a nice view, is clean and hygienic, is spacious, the bed and mattress are comfortable, and the rooms in the back row are quiet. The lobby is also worthy of the price. The disadvantages are: the air conditioning in the room cannot be adjusted by each guest, it is fixed at 25 degrees, and the quilt on the bed is very thick. In short, it is hot when covered with the quilt, and cold when not covered with the quilt. It is not a good sleep at night. The room does not have a small table, so it is impossible to make tea. There is a Shanye Mixiangcai restaurant near the hotel, which is delicious, and the average consumption per person is about 100 yuan.

The room facilities, though a bit dated, were very well-maintained and clean, showing the hotel's dedication. The hotel is located near the Guichun River within the scenic area, offering views of the Vietnamese people across the river, though the barbed wire fence is a bit of a letdown. However, the hotel's garden restaurant is an absolute disaster—the food is unappetizing and truly awful. I'd recommend eating before you check in or returning to the hotel to rest after you've had a meal elsewhere.