5-Star Hotels in Yunnan, China

"During the off-season, the hotel was incredibly quiet, I barely saw anyone all day. The hotel is small but beautiful, with lovely greenery and aesthetically pleasing decor. While it's clear the hotel has been around for a while and some areas are showing their age, for the off-season price, it's still unbeatable value for money. Overall it was great, but there are a few areas that could be improved: 1. The public restrooms. It's excellent that they provide hand towels after washing your hands, but the lighting is dim, and the labels on the hand soap and lotion bottles next to the sink are very hard to read; you have to get very close to see them. 2. The pool. They could definitely provide towels by the pool. 3. The food. This was quite disappointing. Breakfast wasn't particularly outstanding (especially the dessert section), and the complimentary afternoon tea was truly awful. You could tell immediately it was frozen instant food that had just been taken out and not fully thawed – everything was soft and mushy on the outside but hard on the inside. Also, I don't think the hotel's fruit selection was good; it was all bland and tasteless, which I think is unacceptable. Despite these points, let me highlight the biggest positive: the service. The hotel's service rivals that of some luxury hotels. Staff always smiled and greeted guests, responded very quickly to requests, and the shuttle service was available on demand. There was also turn-down service, with rooms cleaned twice daily, morning and evening, and even guests' clothes neatly arranged. Another plus is that the hotel's back entrance is close to the botanical garden, which is perfect for those who want to visit at night or early in the morning to avoid crowds. It's also ideal for spending one day near the Wangtianshu Scenic Area and then just relaxing at the hotel for the rest of the time. I had a wonderful weekend here."

"Overall, it was pretty good and very relaxing. The hotel has a photo spot similar to the one used by Zhang Gong, which is great for taking pictures. The room had an excellent view, overlooking the scenic area and the Dongfengyun kaleidoscope. Plus, the hand soap and shower gel smelled lovely. As for dining, I tried the hotel's breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner. The afternoon tea was beautiful and perfect for photos, though a bit too sweet. The Dai-style wild fruit hotpot for dinner was very unique, but I'd suggest changing the chicken in the side dishes. Also, there weren't many entertainment options at the hotel; I only saw a pottery workshop. Luckily, on the weekend, there were drone shows and fireworks."

"Absolutely fantastic! It's right in the city center, within walking distance to Cuihu Lake and the pedestrian street. The service is excellent, from the front desk to all other staff, everyone is smiling, helpful, and accommodating. There are tons of restaurants and malls nearby, which is incredibly convenient! The breakfast spread is rich and varied. I will definitely choose to stay here again next time. There can be a bit of noise at night, with people singing on the pedestrian street below until 9 PM, which isn't ideal, but it's a minor flaw that doesn't detract from the overall experience."

"Our lake-view room was spacious and impeccably clean. The bedding was soft, and we slept soundly and peacefully through the night. On a clear day, the Erhai Lake view was absolutely stunning. Tracy helped us keep an eye on the room status beforehand and was very quick to respond to our requests. The location is very convenient; there's parking available if you're driving, making it easy to get in and out of Xiaguan urban area. After dinner, we enjoyed a pleasant walk to Xingsheng Bridge!"

"Choosing this hotel for my trip was absolutely the right decision; I was thoroughly satisfied with everything. The service was exceptionally heartwarming, the front desk staff were gentle and kind, and I particularly want to highlight the excellent service from Mia, our housekeeper. She patiently answered all my questions, and even offered to help with my luggage when she saw I had a lot. The hotel's location is superb, and the overall environment is tranquil and elegant, making it perfect for both travel and relaxation. It offers great value for money. I will definitely rebook here if I visit the area again, and I highly recommend it to friends who are traveling."

"1️⃣ At checkout, they asked if there was anything unsatisfactory, and I briefly mentioned a few things. But then the hidden agenda emerged: they asked me not to leave a bad review on Trip.com. Okay, fine, I won't. But surely I can still write about my honest experience, right? 2️⃣ From an attitudinal standpoint, their approach is fundamentally flawed. In the service industry, a breakdown in management directly impacts the guest experience. They neither want to improve nor accept genuine feedback – it's truly sad. They seem to want to shirk their responsibilities and standards through such tactics. Why does the hotel spend so much money employing these people? Is it just a 'clock-in, clock-out' mentality? If so, I understand, but then that's a problem with leadership and management. 3️⃣ Let's review everything from start to finish. At check-in, none of the complimentary benefits included in the Trip.com package – whether useful or not – were proactively explained to me on how to use them. Upon entering the room, the strap for the slippers was just lying scattered on the floor. The breakfast, for a hotel in this price range, was rarely this bad, especially for a hotel at this price point and location in a tier 3 or 4 city. Both the Western and Chinese selections were poor. And they used Yili for yogurt and milk? They should really go learn from the St. Regis in Shanghai. When I went for breakfast, even though it was peak hour, there was no one at the entrance to greet guests. Everyone seemed to be helping inside. I stood there for a while before I just walked in myself – a basic mistake that shouldn't happen. After being shown to a table, there was no routine inquiry about whether I'd like any soft drinks. 4️⃣ The large Grohe system in the pool's main shower room was completely broken beyond repair. The handle was off, and the overhead shower was completely clogged. There was no sign that they intended to fix it. Could it be that the pool's water system isn't connected to a water softener? 5️⃣ For over 2,000 RMB, there aren't many choices in Kunming. The hardware is currently impeccable, and the room design is good – taste is subjective, of course. But the public area design is truly outstanding, not inferior to the design style of the Rosewood Guangzhou. You can tell a lot of money was spent. However, that's all you're paying for – this design. The service is comparable to that of a budget chain hotel costing a few hundred RMB, and in some cases, even worse. There's no need to compare it to the neighboring Shangri-La either; their service is also a mess, with a feeling that all the new staff were put to work without proper training. But in terms of public areas, honestly, the Grand Hyatt is more grand than the Shangri-La."

"Families, come and stay here! It was an amazing experience (not a shill, purely my own voluntary feelings). We loved it so much that on the second day, we decided to extend our stay for a whole week! 🥹 From the welcoming atmosphere, the staff, the accommodation environment, to the food, everything was arranged to meet guests' needs. For two young people who usually skip breakfast, the fact that we consistently had breakfast for a whole week speaks volumes about the freshness and deliciousness of the food! The environment is very artistic, comfortable, and clean, with many spots perfect for handsome guys and beautiful ladies to take photos! The boss, staff, manager, and butler were all incredibly enthusiastic and we're so grateful for their thoughtful hospitality towards us, visitors from out of town 💖 This will definitely be our top choice in Dali again next time!!"

"The moment I pushed open the door to my room, Yang Kun's song automatically played in my head: “The distant mountains call to me.” I immediately turned on the speaker and put the song on repeat. Looking up, the snow-capped mountains and Napahai Lake unfolded before my eyes, catching me completely off guard. Compared to the bustling crowds outside, I preferred to quietly stay in the hotel and enjoy the mountain and wilderness scenery all to myself, undisturbed by anyone. Only the snow-capped mountains, grasslands, wind, and music. The design of the public areas was very interesting, with distinct layers. In the afternoon, the light streamed in diagonally from above, creating streaks of light and shadow that gave depth to the space. The hotel kept two adorable little donkeys, a grey one and a black one. Give them some carrots, and they'll happily follow you for a full lap around the grassland~ With a bit of luck, I even witnessed the ”golden mountains bathed in sunlight” phenomenon, as golden light slowly crept over the snow-capped peaks. At that moment, no words were needed; just standing there and watching was enough. In Yunnan, Shangri-La always feels like the most special place. Boundless grasslands, vast wilderness, and an atmosphere unique to Tibet – coming here, my soul felt slowly cleansed. No wonder everyone says this is the closest place to heaven."

"Jianglu's service is exceptional. I had previously read reviews mentioning that while the facilities were good, the service fell short, and I almost missed out on this hidden gem of a hotel. During my visit to Meili Snow Mountain, I stayed at Songtsam, Ji Xia Shan, Jianglu, and Shi Qi. I feel I can confidently comment on the overall service of each. First, regarding butler service: I made a last-minute booking for Jianglu around 5 PM, and immediately after, Jianglu contacted me to add my butler on WeChat. Songtsam added me two days in advance. For Shi Qi, I had to actively call them in the late afternoon, almost 5 PM, the day before check-in to get added. Ji Xia Shan didn't contact me until almost 8 PM the night before check-in, and again, I had to call them to add the butler (Ji Xia Shan explained that they had called me around 3 PM that afternoon but no one answered, and then they asked Trip.com to send me an SMS, but no one followed up to check on the next day's guests – I was quite disappointed by this, as I would have been forgotten if I hadn't called proactively). Aside from these issues, the butler service at all hotels was generally good. Regarding location and snow mountain views: Jianglu is right next to the observation deck, directly facing the Thirteen Peaks – an excellent location. You can enjoy panoramic views of the snow mountain from the balcony, though it's a bit tricky to see while lying down. Ji Xia Shan is more secluded; only the suites seem to offer direct snow mountain views from the room, while other rooms don't. During summer, definitely avoid the Yunling room type. They claim you can see Baima and Meili Snow Mountain, but it's completely obstructed by vegetation. You'd be better off booking a cheaper room type. The floor-to-ceiling windows in Ji Xia Shan's fourth-floor cafe observation deck offer stunning snow mountain views. Shi Qi is across the road from Feilai Temple observation deck, surrounded by bookstores, cultural creative shops, convenience stores, and many other guesthouses. I chose the 'Lianshan' room, which in pictures showed the bed directly facing the snow mountain, but it's not actually direct. The cafe also has floor-to-ceiling windows, offering beautiful snow mountain views. Songtsam's snow mountain rooms truly allow you to see the snow mountain from bed. Songtsam is located on a separate mountain, and it's the only hotel there. So, if your budget is around 3,000 RMB, unless you're staying at Songtsam where you can see the snow mountain from bed, for other hotels, I recommend booking the cheapest room type and just going to the observation deck for the views. Regarding noise: If you prefer peace and quiet, definitely avoid Shi Qi. The Feilai Temple scenic area is very lively, and new hotels are being built nearby, plus the hotel itself is renovating its restaurant. The hotel is also right by the road, with large trucks frequently passing by and honking – the noise is truly terrible. However, if you enjoy a lively atmosphere, the Feilai Temple area is like a small town with many shops, and construction hours are from 9 AM to 6 PM. Jianglu, Ji Xia Shan, and Songtsam, on the other hand, are all very quiet and perfect for a relaxing and healthy getaway. Regarding dining: The food at all these places is decent. Shi Qi's meal prices are significantly cheaper than the others, though their stir-fries are a bit on the oily side. Only Songtsam's breakfast starts at 7 AM, which is great for early risers or those needing to leave early. Songtsam's beef 'er-si' (rice noodles) is delicious; when I asked the chef for a few more pieces of beef, he gave me a whole bowlful. The other hotels' breakfasts all start at 8 AM. Jianglu is unique in that breakfast runs until 1 PM and is unlimited. Regarding afternoon tea: The cakes at Shi Qi's afternoon tea are very good, and they have many drink options. Jianglu's afternoon tea is simpler, with only green tea available. However, their paid coffee bar offers a wide selection of drinks, including hot cocktails, which was a pleasant surprise for me as I can't have cold drinks. Songtsam's afternoon tea is buffet-style. Ji Xia Shan offers complimentary coffee and tea all day, and their afternoon tea features delicious dried beef. Regarding facilities: Jianglu is quite distinctive and very thoughtful. Besides the usual fruits and snacks, Jianglu's rooms also provide facial masks and facial cleansing towels, and even condoms. At the front desk, you can find self-service makeup remover wipes, hair ties, hair clips, motion sickness patches, and more. Regarding ginger tea: For me, ginger tea is excellent for relieving altitude sickness and stomach discomfort. Songtsam's ginger tea is the best, with perfect taste and temperature. Jianglu's is a bit too sweet and lukewarm, Ji Xia Shan's is too spicy, and Shi Qi doesn't offer ginger tea. In summary, I am very satisfied with Jianglu. Coincidentally, I only saw the 'Golden Mountain at Sunrise' during my stay at Jianglu, which felt very fortunate. Jianglu is also great for photos, with a very textured feel, and I was very happy with the travel photoshoot I had there."