A family break at Club Med Guilin

With simplified visa entry for Hong Kong's permanent residents, a trip into mainland China has never been easier. Looking for a change of scenery, Ian Lauder whisked his wife, Carla, and their two sons north of the border for a relaxing long weekend. By Carolynne Dear

Sunset over the dramatic landscape of Guilin (image courtesy Shutterstock)

We were looking for an easy and relaxing getaway and we knew Hong Kong families who had previously visited and recommended Guilin. Myself and Carla had also previously travelled to the city and knew the stunning landscape would make for a memorable family trip. We ended up heading over with another couple and their two children, so in total we were four adults with children aged nine, 11 and 12 years. 

We caught the high-speed train from West Kowloon, something I’ve done a few times on various trips to China, so I’m familiar with the set-up. If you haven’t travelled from West Kowloon before, my top tip would be to download the trip.com app on your phone beforehand as it makes the ticketing process much simpler. The app also allows you to easily check timetables and plan train combinations.

Which brings me to my second tip, while there are direct trains from West Kowloon to Guilin, there’s much more regularity and availability going north from Shenzhen. In the end, we caught a 7am train to Shenzhen North with a half-hour wait for the Guilin connection. My final tip would be to travel first class if budget permits - the seats are larger and it’s overall a much nicer experience. 

We had booked to stay at Club Med Guilin. The property is set in expansive grounds with plenty of space for running, walking and other activities and the setting also affords a fantastic vista of the Guilin mountainscape. Although, a little tired in places, the resort has a family-focused ethos, which is why we had booked it.

We had reserved two adjoining rooms as part of an all inclusive package. There was plenty to keep the kids busy, and they enjoyed archery, horse riding and swimming during our stay, while we adults managed a couple of hikes in the surrounding area. 

We ate exclusively at the hotel as it is set in a very rural location around an hour’s drive from Guilin. Having said that, the hotel restaurant serves a well-stocked buffet for three meals a day and with a great selection of international and local food, perfect for a family break. I was really impressed. There’s also a big, airy bar area which opens in the morning and is included in the package. 

Each evening there’s a kids’ show and live entertainment which was good fun for the boys. 

The highlight of the trip for them was having a little independence. This was the first resort we’ve been to where they had real autonomy; the family nature of a Club Med resort meant they could turn up to breakfast and lunch on their own and they really enjoyed that responsibility. The on-site pool was an obvious hit (tip for parents, it has a swim-up bar!). As for me, I loved running in such amazing countryside and it was great to get some time to hike with Carla. 

While the resort is not the most bling of destinations, it’s extremely relaxing as the kids are really taken care of in terms of activities - you don’t have to think about or plan a thing. My one regret was that we didn’t book an extra night; we felt so relaxed by Sunday and were a bit sorry at having to leave already.

Travel stats

• Guilin is located in southern China's Guangxi region and is renowned for its dramatic limestone mountains and the winding Li River;

• Club Med Guilin is set within a massive 460,000 sqm natural landscape area and surrounded by the region's famous karst mountains;

• Autumn is a great time to visit Guilin, when the skies are clear, temperatures are comfortable and the crowds slightly reduced compared to the busy summer months.