ALILA YANGSHUO

SET AMONG THE TOWERING peaks, river-etched valleys, and bamboo-swathed glens that have inspired Chinese poets and artists for centuries, Alila Yangshuo in Guilin is housed within a former Mao-era sugar mill above a bend in the Li River. The original 1960s buildings have been spruced up by Beijing-based Vector Architects to include a series of lofty public spaces and heritage suites, while the rest of the rooms inhabit an understated new structure that slots seamlessly into its surroundings. On misty days, the view of the pool from the mod-industrial 1969 Bar (which distills its own rum) is especially evocative, though more adventurous guests will thrill to the prospect of guided hikes and rock climbing in Yangshuo’s karst mountainscape. Between activities, you can indulge in treatments that utilize local ingredients like black sugar at Spa Alila, or linger over meals at the Sugar House restaurant, where chef Philip Zhu sends out crowdpleasing Chinese plates such as Guilin noodle soup topped with pickled vegetables, crispy pork, and beef. —86-773/888-3999; alilahotels .com; doubles from US$200