A Chinese Chateau

Located in the middle of one of China’s most beautiful landscapes and half way between Yangshuo and Guilin, art lovers will find a second home at HOMA Libre – the hotel of modern art. HOMA Libre’s quirky architecture and huge outdoor art park offers a welcome dose of cultural relief for stressed-out HKers. And if you’re an artist looking for inspiration, Guilin has inspired some of China’s greatest poets and painters with its stunning rice paddies, dramatic mountains and scenic lakes.

Hidden away in Yuzi park, about an hour outside of Guilin city, it’s a place to retreat from the outside world. Comprising a courtyard, chateau, and public art park filled with sculptures by international artists, the décor is très ‘Chinese chic’: you might stay in a room which has been done up ‘A-Kan’ style, takes inspiration from the area’s caves, the great outdoors or is just classic and contemporary – they’re all unique.

Dine in their glamorous restaurant (which looks very Philippe Starck) or al fresco by the lake. The hotel also has bikes for hire which you can use to whizz around the park and view all the sculptures, many of which have been created on-site in the artist’s atelier. Of course, being a hotel of modern art, should the creative mood strike, you’re more than welcome to take part in an art workshop: jewellery making, pottery, painting and Chinese calligraphy are just a few of the classes on offer.

Don’t miss out on HOMA’s latest promotion – ‘A Candlelight Escape’, which offers the perfect getaway for all you romantics looking for something quiet and classy. The two-night package includes roundtrip airport transfers, a stay in a standard room, two breakfasts and two dinners in the hotel. For art lovers, there’s a planned art park tour, one-hour art class for two, and frontier experience before you come back and relax with a 60 minute couples’ luxury spa treatment. The Candlelight Escape costs RMB 6,900+ for up to two people until the end of December 2010.

HOMA Libre is an ideal place for a family holiday, a short break from hectic HK or even a solo trip for those looking for something new.

Psst – don’t forget to book a private dining experience in their secret cave while you’re there! Deluxe rooms from RMB 2,500+ (RMB 2,000 from December to March).

For more information, please contact sassy@quintessentially.com.

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