Hotele Hot Springs w: Yunnan, China

When I started planning our itinerary for our 15 day Yunnan holiday, I plotted out our path to go all the way up to Shangri-la, back down to Kunming and then to Jiaozi Snow Mountain and Dongchuan Red Land. Then I chanced upon a video of Aini Garden and fell in love! The only reason we came to Pu'er was to get to Aini. This was the first place I booked, and I really took a chance because it has a no cancellation policy and I really had to stick to the date once it was made. The initial pre-arrival experience was less than pleasant. I didn't know how we were going to get to the manor and my WeChat messages went unanswered. The hotel we stayed at in Pu'er finally got in touch with someone and got them to message me. I asked how we could get there and the answer was a curt ”take a taxi or charter a car”. No pleasantries of ”we look forward to seeing you” or offering to arrange a car. When we arrived, no one was at reception and no one came out. Our driver was so perplexed he wondered if we were in the right place and if the place was open. Finally a young girl came out and registered us in. There was an air of aloofness from everyone else. However, once we were checked in, things warmed up quickly. We were offered coffee and freshly cut papaya and had a nice introduction chat with the lady staff. The bedroom and bathroom is well appointed, spacious and comfortable. We would have enjoyed sitting on the balcony if the chairs were more comfortable. I love the floor to ceiling glass windows but the panel above the door should also be glass (it is just netting) so traffic sounds from the road actually comes through at night. I actually wanted to book the cottage in the hills but opted for the standard room in the main house because I was worried it would be cold. Big regret as it is actually magnificently located with stunning views. However take note that you will need to call for a buggy ride or make a 1km hike every time you want to eat or get to the main house. If you are self driving, no issues as you can park right next to the cottage. Anyway it's a small price to pay for an unlimited view of the milky way and seclusion. This is as close to a Ryokan experience as you can get in China, minus the hot springs. 3 days 2 nights of blissful, carefree living is not quite enough. They make sure they feed you well, with the freshest produce available for hotpot dinner and home-cooked Yunnanese dishes for lunch. There are so many activities organised, from taking you up the mountain for a glimpse of sunrise (with mountain goats for company ❤️) to coffee plantation education tour to horseback riding along the mountain ridges (the view is spectacular!) to scavenging for wild vegetables and fruits to drinking, dancing and singing around the campfire! So much to do, so little time! One area of improvement I personally would like to see is the coffee serving. They tend to be quite snobbish about how their coffee is taken. Neat, with nothing else. Asking for sugar or milk feels nearly scorned upon. Coffee is a versatile drink and can be savoured in a huge variety of ways. How else is Starbucks so successful? I felt kind of stifled and deprived because I love a good latte and had looked forward to enjoying an unlimited indulgence of coffee throughout our stay. Anyhow, I love the ecotourism efforts here. It feels natural and unpretentious. I love the people and the camaraderie they cultivate. I especially enjoyed talking to their consultant 敬梅, a beautiful lady with extensive knowledge in Yunnan culture and ecological progress. Also thank you to 徐芳 for arranging transport back to town and giving helpful recommendations. We hope to return again.

Back in Dali, I decided to revisit the Xianyun 360-degree Cliff Seaview Hot Spring B&B, and it truly lived up to expectations! The front desk staff were incredibly polite and attentive. I later found out that the humble and helpful manager, who was always ready to assist, was also from Beijing, which made me feel right at home. The B&B's environment is serene and immaculate. The private hot spring pool in the room is definitely the highlight. Soaking in the hot spring, you're directly facing the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake – it's like a landscape painting come to life. During my downtime, I loved sitting on the balcony, gazing at Cangshan and Erhai, which was incredibly therapeutic after a long journey. The restaurant's dishes were delicious and flavorful. My experience was as excellent as ever, truly a hidden gem of a seaview B&B. Choosing to stay here twice speaks volumes about its reliable quality. It’s my top choice when visiting Dali, highly recommended! Amenities: Excellent Hygiene: Good Environment: Beautiful Service: Fantastic

The room was very spacious and well-equipped. The decor and design were fantastic. The renovation of the historic building is quite unique, and the courtyard is breathtaking. The housekeeping service was excellent, and any requests were promptly addressed. The breakfast was also delicious, featuring some unique dishes. I'll definitely stay here again next time I'm in Yunnan.

Traveling with kids, we stopped in Kunming for a night on our way back from Fuxian Lake and chose this hot spring hotel. The hotel was clean, the service was great, and we really enjoyed the water park and hot springs – it was so relaxing and perfect for families with children. Highly recommend for family trips!

I came here for a trip, drawn by the mountain views; the official photos looked really impressive. PS: The 'mountain view room' only offers a tiny glimpse of a peak. After booking, I saw online that this hotel has a lot of negative reviews nationwide, but I didn't regret it. After all, the price was very affordable, and next door was the Grand Hyatt, which was double the price. The room decor is very old, you could even say a bit run-down, but the hotel's public areas are very beautiful and well-maintained. I managed to sneak a peek at an empty villa room after a guest checked out. The decor there was slightly better, but the rooms don't have mountain views, though the privacy is excellent. There's a designated spot in the public area for the 'best mountain view' (marked on the ground); it offers the widest view, but only if the weather is good. Breakfast had a wide variety, including Western and Chinese options, plus kid-friendly items like popcorn chicken and pizza. The service was very attentive, though it felt like they might be understaffed during holidays. It happened to be Mid-Autumn Festival when I visited, and in the end, we had to push our own luggage cart. The mooncakes given out for Mid-Autumn Festival were from Kunming Hotel, an old-brand state-owned classic, and they were particularly delicious and not too sweet. Overall, the value for money is really good. However, it's not suitable for those who prefer to stay in their rooms, as the best scenery is in the public areas. After all, if the rooms were renovated, the price wouldn't be this low anymore...

This guesthouse in Dali is absolutely fantastic! The room was spotless, clean, and tidy with no overlooked corners. The bedding was incredibly soft, skin-friendly, and fresh, making for a super comfortable stay. The whole house is equipped with smart home features, which are simple and convenient to use – a real blessing for anyone who loves ease. The owner was warm and thoughtful, patiently answering all our questions and even recommending some local, lesser-known activities, which was incredibly heartwarming. The location is also convenient for getting around. The overall experience was top-notch. If you're coming to Dali, choosing this place is a no-brainer. I genuinely recommend it to all my friends!

Honestly, I rarely post reviews—but this time I really felt like I had to, because this hotel was the highlight of my family trip to Yunnan. From the moment we entered the hotel gate, we were already amazed. The place is even more beautiful in real life than in the photos. The staff member who communicated with us via WeChat was incredibly helpful—from arranging our transfer from the station to the hotel, to accommodating my dietary restrictions as a Muslim. They kindly prepared a special breakfast for us: rice noodles with egg, along with sweet potatoes, corn, and boiled eggs. What made it even more special was that everything was cooked by a very warm grandmother. Despite the language barrier, we could truly feel the warmth and love in her cooking. The cabin we booked was absolutely perfect. It had a spacious yard, a hot tub, and a terrace with a table and chairs—great for dining or simply spending time together with family. Stepping inside the cabin was even more impressive: a large bed, lots of natural light, and equipped with smart home devices. One important detail for us was the bathroom—it had a bidet and a fully smart toilet with remote control. Since the temperature in Lijiang varies greatly between day and night, we were very grateful that the cabin had both floor heating and room heating. The bedroom also featured a large projector, and above it, a sunroof that can be opened—perfect for stargazing at night. It truly exceeded all our expectations. The hotel area is also next to a very aesthetic café with a stunning view called Yuntian Cafe. For those traveling with family, this place is perfect—the area is spacious and great for kids to explore nature. If you want to go out for meals, Baisha Ancient Town is just a few kilometers away. What I will remember the most is the kindness of the staff. Everyone was incredibly helpful and friendly, always doing their best to accommodate every request. Please never change—your hospitality feels just like being with family. Next time we visit Lijiang, we will definitely stay here again without hesitation.

Our wonderful vacation kicked off with warm and thoughtful service! Even before arriving at the guesthouse, we were added to an exclusive service group with quick responses. We had an early flight, so our room wasn't ready yet, but we chatted with the staff in the lobby over tea as if we'd known each other for ages. It was so relaxing to just hang out and meet new friends. The ancient town doesn't allow cars, so the staff arranged to carry all our luggage. Plus, there was a beautiful afternoon tea and a lovely sweet soup before bed. Highly recommend!

I first stayed at this hotel years ago when I was a student, and I've always remembered its hot springs with mountain views. Years later, I returned yesterday and the experience was still wonderfully surprising. I had previously stayed at a hotel in the ancient town that had a room with almost no ventilation, despite being well-decorated. The hotel boasts beautiful scenery, with stunning snow-capped mountains visible just by looking up, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The most pleasant surprise was the upgraded hot springs. I remember they used to stop heating at night, but now they're upgraded to 24-hour constant temperature, so you can enjoy a soak no matter how late it is. Soaking in the hot springs at night while gazing at the snowy mountains is incredibly relaxing. The manager is a handsome young man whom I vaguely remember from before; he's very attentive to details and provides thoughtful and thorough service. He's responsive to requests, and you can really feel his dedication to running the place. The room was clean and comfortable, giving off a complete holiday vibe. As a returning guest, I was not disappointed. I truly recommend this place and will definitely choose to stay here again when I'm back in the area.

Bad review! My first time writing a long review to give a bad rating! 0. To be fair, the hotel facilities are good. 1. I booked a travel photoshoot at 6:48 PM the day before, and at 9 AM on the day of the shoot, I was informed there was no availability and that I should contact a third party to arrange a time myself. 2. I checked in at 2:52 PM on the day of my stay, and was told the room hadn't been cleaned yet. I finally received my room key at 3:36 PM. The front desk offered breakfast as an apology (the next morning, I had to wait for a table at breakfast, yes, wait for breakfast). They also gave me a welcome drink at the lobby bar – I'm not sure if this was part of the apology or standard. I chose orange juice, which was clearly just poured from a 1.5L carton of NFC juice. 3. I had dinner at the Western restaurant, a semi-buffet for 188 yuan per person. For 188, I didn't expect gourmet food, so I accepted that the only drinks were Coke, Sprite, and lemon water. However, the Wellington steak, clearly pre-treated with tenderizer, was truly outrageous. I wondered why Wellington steak and half a roasted chicken were placed side-by-side for selection – they're completely incomparable. (I spoke to the chef, who claimed no tenderizer was used. I don't know, but my tongue told me that a bouncy, tender, flavorless, soggy yet not juicy fillet is abnormal. Of course, maybe it's just because a country bumpkin like me doesn't eat steak often). 4. After dinner, I returned to my room to fill the private hot spring. Since I didn't know how to operate it, I asked the front desk. The front desk then asked if I wanted someone to disinfect it. While the front desk staff were very polite, are you implying that you think I booked this 2000-yuan room without intending to use the private hot spring, and therefore didn't need to disinfect it before giving me the room key? I'm truly speechless. 5. Inconvenient transportation. It took 20 minutes to get a Didi (ride-hailing service), and I almost missed my high-speed train.