Yangshuo MoonDance Hotel Surrounded by Scenic Mountains and Rivers!

▲ The reading area in the hotel lobby also serves as a mini library for local children. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ruizhong, the same below)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Yangshuo

On the banks of the Jinbao River in Yangshuo, there stands a three-story building that blends Chinese and Western architectural styles, surrounded by lush green lawns and picturesque landscapes in a tranquil setting. This is a small resort hotel with the elegant name“MoonDance”.

▲ Most rooms use natural wood materials, adding a warm touch.

MoonDance has a total of 21 rooms, which isn’t very large. Rather than feeling like a resort hotel, it gives off more of the vibe of a mountain chalet in Europe. Within the wooden décor, you’ll find Western-style fireplaces, bar counters, and social spaces where guests can chat and relax. If guests prefer to lounge in the lobby, they can pick a novel from the bookshelf, order a coffee, and spend the afternoon on the sofa.

▲ MoonDance Resort Hotel.

The two owners of MoonDance are from Northeast China and the Netherlands respectively. Two seemingly unrelated cultures have been layered together through friendship at MoonDance, resulting in a blend of both Chinese and Western elements that merge seamlessly. Compared to the standardized tourist hotels on the mainland, the atmosphere here is more akin to a cozy, character-filled guesthouse in Taiwan—with a touch more leisure, comfort, and human warmth.

▲ Fireplace, stone flooring, and wooden tables and chairs create a quintessential European-style chalet ambiance.

The name “MoonDance” actually comes from Van Morrison’s song “Moondance,” hence the hotel’s name. It turns out the owners are fans of classic Western music, so in addition to standard room numbers like 302 or 205, each room also has a unique name inspired by a Western song. These include Eternal Flame (The Bangles), Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel), and Starry Night (Don McLean), among others. For travelers familiar with classic Western tunes, seeing their room named after a beloved song is sure to bring an extra sense of warmth and delightful surprise.

▲ Every room type in the hotel has a name derived from a song title.

To take in the world-renowned landscape of Yangshuo, the lobby and rooms feature large wooden-framed glass windows that offer both natural light and expansive views. The rooms mostly use warm wood materials as well. Amidst the European-style décor, traditional Chinese antique cabinets or wooden carved ruyi (scepters) are often used as decorative accents—like adding a spoonful of Chinese spice to a Western dish, giving it an extra layer of flavor.

▲ From the hotel entrance, you can sit and admire the scenery of Yangshuo’s mountains and rivers.

According to staff, MoonDance is not just a resort hotel—the reading area also doubles as a library for a nearby elementary school. Moreover, the owners have compiled a selection of the songs that inspired room names into a compilation CD for sale, with proceeds going toward a local elementary school education fund, adding an educational mission to the hotel’s identity.

MoonDance Resort Hotel
Address: No. 1, Fenglou Village, Gaotian Town, Yangshuo
Phone: 0773-8778999
Rates: From 380–780 RMB in the low season, from 480–880 RMB in the high season. (1 RMB ≈ 5.06 TWD)