觀雲 GUANYUN
RETREAT
BEGIN THE JOURNEY
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GUANYUN RETREAT, CONTEMPLATING THE CLOUDS TO CULTIVATE THE HEART
Dear community, we are deeply grateful for your interest in joining our exclusive immersion in Yangshuo and Guizhou mountains in Southwest China, a journey centered around authenticity, meaningful connections with local communities, and reverence for Nature. This unique experience will take place from September 15th to 28th, 2025. You can find the full program details on our dedicated webpage here: Guanyun Retreat. The journey will unfold in three steps: an immersion in the stunning mountains and rivers of Yangshuo, a unique experience with a community of Dong indigenous artisans in Guizhou, and a soul-awakening adventure in the sacred Buddhist mountains of Fanjingshan.
We have curated an all-inclusive journey, covering everything except international flights, visas, and mandatory travel & medical insurance for China. We will assist you in choosing the best flight options to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport in Guangxi province and guide you through the visa application process. Please note that several European countries benefit from a 30-day visa-free policy for travel to China.
The price of the immersion includes accommodation, transportation, three healthy meals per day with snacks, classes and workshops with the facilitators and artisans, materials for craft experiences, entrance tickets to site visits, and more. The various immersive accommodations we will be staying at are detailed on this webpage.
For registrations made before June 1st, 2025, you can enjoy an EARLY BIRD discount. We also offer different pricing options for shared and single rooms. We encourage our community to experience this unique journey alongside family or friends. A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required upon registration to secure your spot. Full payment for the retreat must be completed within eight weeks after registration. We offer payment plans on a case-by-case basis. The Terms & Conditions for the retreat are available ici.
This cultural immersion program has been designed by DEYI team as part of our mission to share the essence of Chinese culture with global communities while preserving and supporting the indigenous knowledge and craftsmanship of the Dong people in Guizhou. Your participation will also help support these artisans, whose invaluable textile heritage is at risk of disappearing due to modernization. Many indigenous artisans will be involved in the Guanyun retreat, and by registering, you will directly support several families of the DEYI textile cooperative.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to this transformative experience in China. We are accepting only 14 participants. This retreat has been crafted with care and love, and we cannot wait to share it with you.
For any questions, feel free to contact us at contact@deyi-living.com.
RETREAT FEE
EARLY BIRD (until mAY 31th)
USD 4,700 per person for a shared room
USD 5,500 per person for a single room
FULL Price (FROM JUNE)
USD 5,100 per person for a shared room
USD 5,900 per person for a single room
YOUR HOME ALONG THE JOURNEY
Please note that the schedule may be subject to small adjustments.
We have selected inspiring accommodations for every step of the journey, each deeply connected to Mother-Earth. The experience begins in a serene retreat center set among the karst mountains of Yangshuo. From there, we move on to stay with Dong indigenous artisans in a traditional wooden house. Our journey then leads us to charming lodges nestled on the sacred Buddhist mountain of Fanjingshan, and concludes with a cozy hotel in Guilin, offering a gentle and peaceful end to the experience.
Yangshuo Banyan Tree Mountain Retreat
15-18 SEPTEMBER (3 NIGHTS)
Guangxi province
Set amidst the stunning panorama of Yangshuo’s jade-green karst mountains and the graceful Li River, Banyan Tree Mountain Retreat offers a picture-perfect scene of natural beauty. Overlooking spectacular views of the karst peaks, valleys, and river, the retreat center provides a peaceful haven within an almost surreal landscape.
This sanctuary will be our home for the first three days of the Guanyun retreat, with each student enjoying their own suite overlooking Pagoda Lake and the surrounding mountains. Each suite is equipped with all modern amenities, offering a very comfortable and welcoming place to land in China after a long travel. Twin-bed and king-bed options are available.
Participants will be warmly welcomed with full board at the hotel, where the restaurant celebrates the rich culinary traditions of Guangxi province and the refined flavors of renowned Cantonese cuisine. Each meal will be an invitation to discover the tastes and aromas of southern China.
The hotel also hosts a beautiful spa, which participants are welcome to enjoy at their own expense. As one of the pioneering oriental spas in Asia, Banyan Tree Spa has revived an exotic blend of ancient health and beauty practices passed down through generations. Several treatments feature local medicinal plants and are inspired by traditional Chinese medicine.
DEYI WORKSHOP-GUESTHOUSE IN QIANDONGNAN MOUNTAINS
18-24 September (6 nights)
GUIZHOU PROVINCE
Our journey then takes us to Guizhou province, in the region of Qiandongnan, where we will experience something truly exceptional: a week-long solidarity trip with a community of indigenous Dong women artisans. We will stay with a local family, in the home of Yang Yi, which also serves as the workshop and guesthouse of the DEYI design studio, nestled in the mountains. This traditional wooden house will be our sacred sanctuary for the week. On the ground floor, you will find the indigo dyeing studio, the weaving workshop with traditional wooden looms, and the kitchen. We will share local meals together, enjoying seasonal dishes prepared by the artisans in a beautiful courtyard overlooking the mountains.
The rooms are located on the first and second floors, decorated with traditional Dong objects and indigo-dyed textiles. The dozen rooms vary in size and will be assigned randomly to participants; we rely on everyone’s flexibility in this regard. The bathrooms are shared among participants, with a total of four available. On the top floor, beneath the roof beams, is our favorite space for meditation, tea rituals, and heartfelt sharing circles under the moonlight.
We emphasize that this chapter of the Guanyun retreat, spent with the Dong community, is intended as a deep immersion in Nature and an opportunity to experience their ancestral way of life. Although air conditioning has been installed in the common areas and the space is being gradually renovated, it remains a modest and simple place — far removed from the comfort and modernity of the hotels where we will stay during other chapters of the journey.
There will be insects, including sacred spiders, which must not be harmed, as they are revered by the Dong people. This trip is not suitable for people with insect phobias or those who are very demanding when it comes to hygiene standards. Although we are happy to accommodate vegan diets, this journey is not recommended for those with multiple food allergies or complex dietary restrictions. Furthermore, during our excursions, we will visit very poor and underdeveloped villages where artisans from DEYI textile cooperative live. Those who are particularly sensitive to witnessing poverty may feel discomfort. Before registering, please ensure you are ready to embrace this experience with an open and compassionate heart.
FANGXIA YUNJU RETREAT HOTEL IN FANJING SHAN
24-27 September (3 nights)
GUIZHOU PROVINCE
The third chapter of the Guanyun retreat brings us to the sacred Buddhist mountains of Fanjingshan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In this inspiring land, we have mindfully curated an exceptional retreat center, perched above the clouds, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience that embraces the Wisdom of Nature and the spirituality of the ancient mountains. The cozy lodges provide all the comfort needed for a deeply regenerative stay.
We will share tea ceremonies that will create lifelong memories in a breathtaking tea pavilion suspended over the void, clinging to the mountainside. The view from the retreat center is truly awe-inspiring, as the photos reveal — an invitation to fully immerse yourself in the spirit of the Guanyun retreat: contemplating the endless dance of the clouds to purify the heart.
In this sacred realm where clouds drift, winds whisper, ancient wisdom breathes, and silence envelops, you are invited to both contemplate and reconnect — returning home with the serene wisdom of the awakening mountains etched in your heart.
RONG UNIQUE HOTEL IN GUILIN
27-28 September (1 night)
GUANGXI PROVINCE
Our Guanyun retreat will conclude with a final night at the Guilin Rong Unique Hotel, a recently opened cozy retreat overlooking the serene Rong Lake, nestled in a quiet area of Guilin city. Just 17 miles from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, this beautiful space, blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary design, will offer an inspiring atmosphere to integrate the richness of our journey and prepare for the return home. The superior rooms reserved for our participants offer all the necessary comfort to fully rest and rejuvenate before traveling.
