Kunming
Tucked in the side streets off Green Lake, this oasis amid white-brick apartment blocks has nouveau Dali decor with wood furniture, antiques and a…
Must-see hotels in Yunnan
Yunnan
This traditional Bai stone-and-wood courtyard home has been turned into a very smart boutique hotel with 16 rooms, all of which are set around a courtyard…
Kunming
This large, friendly place aims to impress with its sharp red-and-black decor, welcoming kitchen and bar plus inside and outdoor communal areas with all…
Lijiang
There are only a handful of massive rooms, all built around a central courtyard filled with the sounds of classical music and burbling (artificial) brooks…
Yunnan
This boutique guesthouse has been lovingly restored out of a 260-year-old Chinese theatre and inn. There are only five very comfortable rooms here, all…
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Just above Yāchà village, this ever-expanding place has a reasonable restaurant – it makes a sensible lunch stop – as well as a small spa and massage…
Yunnan
This guesthouse in Upper Yubeng would be an ideal hostel in Lijiang or Shangri-La, but finding it in remote Yubeng makes it exceptional. Friendly, English…
Kunming
Built around a tranquil garden space, large rooms here offer sitting areas overlooking the street below. It's one of the most pleasant options in the city…
Shangri-la
With large, bright rooms and beautiful common areas overlooking Hongpo village and the snowy mountains in the distance, you may never want to leave this…
Yunnan
This intimate courtyard-home guesthouse run by a Chinese-Canadian couple is one of the most pleasant spaces in Shuhe Old Town, but with only six rooms it…
Lijiang
Set behind an entrance that seems more like a temple than a guesthouse, this makes a great base for exploring the old town thanks to its modern stylings…
Shangri-la
Unusual upmarket hostel located in a huge converted Tibetan house in a village just outside town, close to the grasslands and mountains. Tibetan-run, it…
Dali
Smack in the shadow of Cang Shan and now spread over a complex of buildings, the Jade Emu is massive and has everything a traveller could need. The dorms…
Yunnan
The luxury rooms at this hushed, upmarket place all come with their very own mini-spa complete with water piped from the hot springs; in the more…
Yunnan
The old man of the Lugu Lake hostels, this multistorey complex of dorms and private rooms is still a mainstay. The more expensive rooms come with…
Yunnan
Out front this is a lovely teahouse which opens in the afternoon and also serves coffee and juices, but out back you can stay in what's effectively your…
Yunnan
This is a legit hostel with a cosy communal area, bike hire (¥30 per day) and sound travel advice; it's also a good place to book a tour of the…
Kunming
Proud but subdued, this icon of Kunming hôtellerie history has a fabulous location opposite Green Park, and has kept up with modernity with a tasteful…
Yunnan
On the edge of the Lige peninsula, all the rooms here come with decent views, but the 2nd-floor views are tremendous and worth the small price increase…
Yunnan
Popular guesthouse with compact rooms surrounding a sunny little courtyard. There’s a laid-back traveller vibe here, with daily communal dinners (¥25)…
Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the original guesthouses on the trail. The eponymous Sean is a true character, a good source of travel info and one of the few locals seriously…
Yunnan
Expect big rooms and sit-down toilets at this friendly, family-run guesthouse set around a lush garden of bougainvillea. The new annexe offers very…
Lijiang
The most popular luxury hotel in the old town – a magical space with lofty ceilings, little gardens and epic views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The…
Yunnan
This guesthouse now offers quite a range of comfortable rooms, from those that have huge windows overlooking the rice terraces to ones with tiny windows…
Dali
This place has a popular following with backpackers, thanks to the low prices and friendly vibe. Dorms need more storage space but are reasonably sized,…
Yunnan
This place in the centre of town has comfortable beds in clean, large rooms, power showers, good wi-fi and efficient staff (but little English spoken)…
Dali
This newish place gets great reviews, and the dorm beds are certainly among the most comfortable in Dali. All the rooms are sizeable and have decent…
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Once the simple family home of a local guy collecting medicinal herbs, this is now a busy and constantly expanding operation set around a courtyard and…
Kunming
Conveniently close to the restaurant and bar hub of Wenhua Xiang and Wenlin Jie, the Yúndà’s rooms are not exactly exciting but do the job. The hotel is…
Shangri-la
Rooms at this friendly Tibetan-run place are cosy, with modern bathrooms, and come with much-needed electric blankets. There's a communal lounge, pleasant…
Shangri-la
Hushed boutique hotel with 18 swish rooms set around a flagstone courtyard. Excellent beds and bathrooms, and the underfloor heating keeps everything…
Lijiang
Bright, modern rooms and common spaces are to be found at this popular Chinese-market hostel, complemented by excellent views over the old town from the…
Yunnan
This beautiful terraced courtyard home is near the bottom of the village. Rooms are generally small and dark, but common spaces are inviting. To find it,…
Shangri-la
The private rooms here are distinctive, with Tibetan motifs and big comfortable beds. Dorms are more basic, but there's a nice communal area with a big…
Shangri-la
Staff at this guesthouse are friendly, helpful and full of tips for exploring the area. It has a cosy lounge and rooms that range from the cheap and boxy…
Kunming
Kunming’s liveliest hostel, in part because of its rooftop bar and close proximity to many drinking spots and restaurants, this one's mostly for the party…
Yunnan
There are 130 rooms at this comfortable, professionally run place and they are routinely discounted by a whopping 70% to 80%, making them a great deal…
Yunnan
Bright rooms with big balconies close to the bus station make this a nice splurge for travellers who need to overnight in Liuku before catching an early…
Yunnan
In a prime location in the heart of the old town and with well-kept rooms. The biggest draw here is the great communal courtyard, which is very pleasant…
Yunnan
The bright, modern rooms here don't come cheap, but if you're looking for picture-window sunrise views without leaving the comfort of your bed this is the…
