Welcome to Guilin, im local. The best hotel is Li River Waterfall Hotel in the center of Guilin, but it's more expensive than common hotels. I also recommend you to visit Two Rivers and Four Lakes by cruise, maybe RMB100sth-RMB200sth; you should not lose it because it is fantastically pretty. Actually Yangshuo is quite boring but don't know why still lots of foreigners travel ther; lots of English tourists there, having to say, everything in yangshuo is much more expensive than Guilin coz there is a gathering place of foreigners. You must travel and enjoy on the hotspring in Longsheng in Jan, RMB50/per day for room including free hotspring if u r living in their hotels.