Guilin China

We spent three nights at Club Med Guilin over Easter and had a truly memorable family getaway. While the resort is aging and some areas could use updating, the staff’s warmth and energy more than made up for it.

The GM and Host – Warm, Personal Service
One of the most memorable parts of our stay was the exceptional hospitality from the leadership team. General Manager Lim set a welcoming tone throughout the resort—visible, approachable, and clearly committed to ensuring guests had a great experience.

A special mention goes to Circle, our host, who went above and beyond. From the moment we arrived, she made us feel genuinely cared for. Circle and Lim personally checked in with us daily at both lunch and dinner, remembered our names, and always took the time to ask how our stay was going. Her warm presence and consistent attentiveness added a truly personal touch that made us feel more like guests in someone’s home than just visitors at a resort.

The entire Go Team literally did a song and dance to ensure everyone had a good time!

Family Fun & Activities
The resort grounds are vast, surrounded by dramatic karst mountains and filled with art installations. Activities were plentiful and well-run by the energetic GO (Gentle Organizers) team. Our child especially enjoyed the Kids Club, which had a magical final night with a variety show, carnival-style games, cotton candy, a huge candy bar, and even fireworks—a fantastic touch for families.

That said, the Kids Club did feel understaffed at times, and the check-in process was slow and paper-based. Kids were often left waiting to be registered, which could be improved with a more modern system.

Food & Drink
The buffet was extremely average. It offered variety (Chinese, Italian, etc.) but rarely impressed. Taste and quality were underwhelming, though the layout was efficient. Even during peak hours, it was easy to find a seat and serve yourself without delays.

The hot pot specialty restaurant was popular and enjoyable for some (my wife loved it), but booking it required lining up at 11 a.m. in person—an outdated system that could easily be replaced with digital reservations.

Drinks were available all day, but the quality of alcohol was poor. The red wine was nearly undrinkable, and mixed drinks, while well-prepared, used low-quality spirits. You had to pay extra for premium options, which felt like a letdown for an all-inclusive resort.

The Resort
Facilities are showing their age—faded paint, mold spots, dated décor, and some areas of untidy landscaping. It doesn’t feel like a five-star property in terms of polish or upkeep. That said, the resort is spacious and never felt overcrowded, even at full capacity.

Getting There
We traveled via bullet train from Hong Kong and took a Didi from Guilin West Station (about 45–60 minutes). The journey was smooth. Although rain was forecast, we were lucky with beautiful weather, which was important as most activities are outdoors.

Paid Experiences
The resort offers several extra paid activities. Prices weren’t cheap but were reasonable and added good variety to the experience.

Final Verdict
If you have young kids and are looking for a self-contained, activity-filled getaway, Club Med Guilin delivers. Despite the resort’s age and a few operational drawbacks, the staff’s warmth and attentiveness—especially from Lim and Circle—elevated the entire experience. If you're traveling without children, you may want to look elsewhere, but for families, it’s a fun and memorable option that’s close to home.

Had a wonderful 4 night stay at Club Med Guilin with my 3 kids. They loved the outdoor activities and facilities, as well as the daily night entertainment. They also loved the kid friendly food options as well. We had our own share of fun with the guided tours inside and outside of the property. Thank you to Lim, Circle and their passionate team of staff for making our stay truly memorable!

Club med has always been a favourite for our family and this is our first China experience. The location is beautiful being an old art gallery and framed by beautiful famous Guilin mountains and lake. Biking and horse riding was fantastic. Going during school holidays the mini club was too crowded so that was disappointing. Chief Lim and Event manager Peggy are exceptional leaders who brought joy, energy and fun to everyone in their radius. GO LouLou is a huge pleasant surprise with her multi-talent and friendly personality. The GOs are always what makes the premium price worth it. I can see them working extra hard to catering for a more shy crowd of GMs. Shuttle buses are not enough so expect to walk the large grounds often on top of numerous exercises. Gym equipment is quite old and not enough aircon which is a struggle for hotter days. Yoga glasses are popular and paddle board yoga should be more popular - they actually use a floating platform so isn't as difficult as paddleboards.
The usual archery, golf, tennis, etc are all there. Pickleball court should be fixed and tennis courts a little cracked. Soccer golf was very cute.
Usually we happily stay at the club but this region is too beautiful not to go out to explore so expect to stay more days in order not to miss out.

This place is great for families and kids. Every member of staff is helpful and friendly - from the GM to the wait staff and buggy drivers. They work tirelessly to keep the kids entertained and everyone happy. All kids’ needs are catered for - a variety of kids cutlery at every meal, high chairs, arm bands and swim vests at the pool, the kids club (as a heads up it’s only for 4yo+ for most of the year), endless entertainment. They remember all the kids’ names, which makes every kid feel special. Big shout out to Lim, Circle, Appy, Wind, Jeff, Victor, and so many more.