{"id":56675,"date":"2025-10-24T15:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T13:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/?p=56675"},"modified":"2025-10-27T10:49:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T09:49:46","slug":"toms-adventure-tui-blue-hotels-in-guilin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/toms-adventure-tui-blue-hotels-in-guilin\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom’s adventure: Why China should be on your bucket list"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why should a European visit a TUI BLUE hotel in China? Tom <\/strong>has the answer. He read about the newly opened TUI BLUE Hotel in Guilin, China, on the TUI intranet and came up with the adventurous idea to cycle 500 miles through China to visit the hotel. We asked him how it all came about, especially since this popular destination among the Chinese is relatively unknown to Europeans. Read on to find out how it happened and what he thought of the TUI BLUE Guilin Watermark Promenade<\/a> hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom, how did you come to travel there?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve always been fascinated by geography and drawn to places that spark adventure. My research process usually follows a pattern: I discover somewhere intriguing, check if it’s feasible from London and assess the practicalities. More often than not, the dream ends there as assess this obscure place out of reach for now. The process repeats itself repeatedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Guilin was different. When I came across an article about the new TUI BLUE hotel opening there I followed my normal process. My parents had visited decades ago and their stories about the breathtaking landscape had stayed with me. I expected the usual roadblocks but to my surprise, I found incredibly affordable and convenient flights. Suddenly, spending the same amount to stay within Europe felt uninspiring by comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing led to another and I began to bring the idea to life. Since the hotel was the catalyst for the trip, I reached out to the team directly. They were wonderfully supportive and offered to show me around when I arrived, which gave me the final push of confidence I needed.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Tom in the hotel’s garden taking pictures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It’s rather unusual for Europeans to undertake such a trip to China, especially by bicycle.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn’t start with China. I’ve built my confidence and experience gradually over the years. Taking my bike on planes has become second nature now. Like anything, practice breeds confidence. Each journey has prepared me for the next, more ambitious one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you’d like to see more from this adventure and follow my cycling journeys, you can find my videos on Instagram @CYCLING_TOM<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What was the most strenuous part of your trip and what was the best moment?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most challenging moment came when I unknowingly cycled into an area where foreign nationals aren’t permitted. Since it’s not well-publicised, I had no way of knowing beforehand. I was stopped by police who checked my papers and photos before escorting me out. While it sounds alarming, they were incredibly polite and professional throughout. My concern stemmed more from uncertainty than any real threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the best moment? That’s nearly impossible to choose. Every day brought incredible, unique experiences. One particularly magical day stands out: I followed a river valley for hours with perfect road conditions, beautiful scenery, and lots of downhill cycling. Pure bliss, with no need to navigate I could enjoy the ride to the maximum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But honestly, what makes any trip exceptional for me is the people. When locals are welcoming and friendly, even an ordinary destination becomes extraordinary. China was far from ordinary but the warmth of the people I met made it truly unforgettable. Those countless spontaneous interactions are what I’ll treasure most.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Employee Michael, who showed Tom around at the TUI BLUE Guilin Watermark Promenade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What was your favourite dish or drink at the hotel?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the joys of this trip was how accessible and delicious the food was. During the cycling days, I kept my diet simple and healthy\u2014mainly hearty veggie noodle and rice dishes that cost around 2 euros and tasted absolutely wonderful. Noodles and rice even for breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lunch with a view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Once I reached Guilin and finished cycling, I experimented more. I particularly enjoyed fresh fish dishes<\/strong>. At the TUI BLUE Guilin Watermark Promenade, they served me an exceptional veggie noodle dish with locally-caught salted fish<\/strong> that was delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What kind of cuisine is offered? Only Chinese?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the rural areas where I spent most of my time, you’ll find exclusively local cuisine. Even in the cities, local-style food dominates. You might occasionally spot an “international” restaurant, but they’re quite rare in my experience. There is still famous fast food restaurants in the big cities if you want them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The hotel’s buffets cater for every taste<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fruits and vegetables from the hotel’s organic garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Would you say that non-Chinese guests also feel comfortable at the hotel? Can you get by with English?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely!<\/strong> Apart from that I felt welcome everywhere I went in China and the hotel was no exception. While English isn’t widely spoken, particularly among older generations, younger people often have some English skills. Surprisingly, the language barrier wasn’t an issue at all. A simple translation app was all I needed for my basic requirements: food, water, a toilet, and somewhere to sleep. When you’re cycling solo all day and travelling simply, those needs are easy to communicate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should one definitely see or do in Guilin?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Tom in the hotel garden with an amazing view on Guilin’s famous scenery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Guilin offers a perfect blend of pristine natural beauty and sophisticated luxury. It’s renowned among Chinese travellers as a destination with excellent liveability which means you’ll find wonderful hotels like the TUI BLUE Guilin Watermark Promenade<\/a> and TUI BLUE Yangshuo Xiangheli<\/a>, along with great restaurants and leisure activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I highly recommend taking a river trip down the famous Li River. Spotting the scenic karst limestone formations from the water and seeing the city from this different perspective was amazing.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about the things to see and do in Guilin here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the most beautiful place in the hotel?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Without question, it’s the tea house<\/strong>. The views of the iconic karst limestone peaks from there are absolutely idyllic – a perfect spot to pause and soak in the landscape that makes Guilin so special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for the interview, Tom!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

Are you now tempted to explore China in the comfort of a TUI BLUE hotel?<\/h2>

Explore the TUI BLUE hotels in China!<\/p>

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TUI BLUE Guilin Watermark Promenade\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t
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TUI BLUE Yangshuo Xiangheli\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t
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TUI BLUE Wusongkou Cruise Port\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t
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more details<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why you should have this Chinese destination on your radar. Tom cycled there!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":56661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"loftocean_post_format_gallery":"","loftocean_post_format_gallery_ids":"","loftocean_post_format_gallery_urls":"","loftocean_post_format_video_id":0,"loftocean_post_format_video_url":"","loftocean_post_format_video_type":"","loftocean_post_format_video":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_type":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_url":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_id":0,"loftocean_post_format_audio":"","loftocean-featured-post":"","loftocean-like-count":3,"loftocean-view-count":1543,"loftocean-enable-content-navigation":"","loftocean-content-navigation-position":"","loftocean-content-navigation-heading":"","loftocean-content-navigation-label":"","loftocean-content-navigation-icon":"","loftocean-map-location":"","loftocean-map-latlng":"","loftocean-map-auto-latlng":"","eaven_single_post_hide_thumbnail":"","eaven_single_post_template":"","eaven_single_post_sidebar":"","eaven_hide_before_page_content_ad":"","eaven_hide_after_page_content_ad":"","eaven_advanced_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2542],"tags":[2739,2735],"class_list":{"0":"post-56675","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-destinations","8":"tag-bicycle","9":"tag-china"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56675"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56717,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56675\/revisions\/56717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tui-blue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}