Must-see hotels in Sichuan

  • Nomad Homestay

    Sichuan

    Organised by the Khampa Nomad Ecolodge, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stay with a genuine nomad family in their tent. Don't expect anything about…

  • Khyenle

    Sichuan

    This peaceful guesthouse is part of a renowned art centre and is run by a fluent English-speaking Tibetan woman and her family. At the time of research,…

  • Khampa Nomad Ecolodge & Arts Center

    Sichuan

    Tibetan/American couple Djarga and Angela run this superb ecolodge way out in the grasslands. There are only four cosy rooms (one of them can just about…

  • DzachuSama Hostel

    Sichuan

    This traditionally styled, large and bright American-owned hostel has some of the most luxurious private rooms you could hope to find in a hostel, all…

  • Flipflop Lounge Hostel

    Chengdu

    Currently the ciy's best hostel, this lively place offers travellers all the usual services plus a few rare gifts – a pool table, a rooftop terrace, and…

  • The Temple House

    Chengdu

    Cool to its core, every room is hip and understated with elegant stylings and modern amenities that come together perfectly around a traditional-style…

  • Zhilam Hostel

    Sichuan

    Run by an American family, this fabulous hillside hostel is a comfortable base in Kangding. It provides all manner of top-end hostel services, from…

  • Joy Mystery Hotel

    Sichuan

    So, you thought travel in Kham was going to be tough? Think again! At this sublime 15-room boutique hotel, set in a renovated 700-year-old building…

  • A Lee Ben Hostel

    Sichuan

    Take a look at all this place offers: a pool table, underfloor heating, info on local sites and an English menu in the cafe, and you'll probably – and…

  • Ancient Hotel

    Sichuan

    Hotels don't come with much more history than this appropriately named place. It was founded as a hotel during the Tang dynasty and is still the place to…

  • Emma's Guesthouse

    Sichuan

    Friendly and helpful owner Emma speaks excellent English and it's her influence that really turns this guesthouse into something special. She can arrange…

  • Lazy Bones Hostel

    Chengdu

    Excellent hostel aimed at poshpackers rather than backpackers. Pristine dorms have private bathrooms and a maximum of just six beds while the private…

  • BuddhaZen Hotel

    Chengdu

    Set in a tranquil courtyard building, this boutique hotel near Wenshu Monastery blends traditional decor with modern comforts and a taste of Buddhist…

  • Jiayun Mingtai Hotel

    Sichuan

    This is an impressive new addition to the Le Shan hotel scene. River-facing rooms have big, free-standing bathtubs overlooking the chocolate brown river…

  • Dege Hotel

    Sichuan

    This government-run place is the town's original hotel. It has rooms split between two riverside blocks. All are large and classically styled with private…

  • Hán é Zhuāngyuán

    Sichuan

    High up above Zhonglu village, this traditional whitewashed stone building set in a large flower garden has been converted into a fantastic boutique hotel…

  • Holly’s Hostel

    Chengdu

    Prepare for trips out west by plugging yourself in to Chengdu’s small Tibetan district, which surrounds this welcoming hostel. Holly’s has bright,…

  • Joan's Guesthouse

    Sichuan

    Run by the friendly Yang family, this slightly rundown guesthouse overlooking a forested valley (and with a terrace to enjoy the view from) is the best…

  • Amdo Coffee House Inn

    Sichuan

    In a stylish wooden structure just inside the old town's North Gate, this hip guesthouse with English-speaking staff, unusually comfy beds and a…

  • Night of Grassland

    Sichuan

    Smart twin rooms with private bathrooms are set around a garden courtyard on a quiet side road. Squat toilets only in the cheap rooms while the more…

  • Tianyi Youth Hotel

    Sichuan

    If you want to improve your geomancy, settle into this beautiful courtyard inn beside the Feng Shui Museum. The nice twin rooms are each inspired by a…

  • Players Inn

    Yulongsi Valley & Mt Gongga Shan

    This well-organised guesthouse with an attractively decorated dining area has sparkling rooms with a bright and summery decoration scheme and windows…

  • Li Jia Da Yuan Hotel

    Sichuan

    Easily the towns plushest digs, this beautiful hotel is built around a courtyard garden filled with water features. Rooms have an old-fashioned sense of…

  • Cloud Atlas Hostel

    Chengdu

    Excellent facilities, great coffee, lots of common space – this artsy hostel with bright, 'building-block' furnishings and spotless bathrooms has it all…

  • Yăruì Bīnguăn

    Sichuan

    Yăruì Bīnguăn is on a quiet stretch of the riverfront. The rooms here (all with private bathroom) are clean and range from singles to triples. More…

  • Gǔbù Kèzhàn

    Sichuan

    This was the original guesthouse on the oldest street in Pingle. Today it's been modernised and offers simple, small and clean rooms. There are intimate…

  • Mandala Hotel

    Sichuan

    Popular with Chinese tour groups, this is the fanciest hotel in town. There are attractive Tibetan murals on the walls and unusual touches include…

  • Haiyun International Youth Hostel

    Sichuan

    The only hostel in Le Shan and it's a good one. Rooms and dorms are painted in striking primary colours and throughout the building there are pictures of…

  • Chéngbīnlóu Jiǔdiàn

    Sichuan

    There are decent rooms with desks, tiled bathrooms and garish purple curtains in this well-known Wanling hotel, whose location on the main square also…

  • Dingxiaduo Tibetan Inn

    Sichuan

    The vibe here is all backpacker, with a large, welcoming and originally decorated (check out those antlers!) common area, very comfortable rooms and dorms…

  • Lee's Courtyard

    Sichuan

    This is the most upmarket option in the old town, with luxe bedding, fully equipped bathrooms and private balconies. After renovations a couple of years…

  • Nova Traveller's Lodge

    Chengdu

    Clean, bright and quiet; the staff here make the collection of good facilities into a truly warm hostel. Standard private rooms are on the small side, so…

  • Kangding Guozhuang Boutique Home Stay

    Sichuan

    Attractive guesthouse with a covered dining terrace surrounded by a virtual rainforest of tropical flowers. The green motif continues inside where each of…

  • Jíxiáng Shàngjìn Bīnguăn Cāntīng

    Sichuan

    This guesthouse right in the heart of the village has sparse but clean rooms with shared baths, but can get cold at night even in summer. From the bus…

  • Ghang Chen Tso Hotel

    Sichuan

    Located in the centre of town just north of Baiyu's only traffic light. Some rooms in this well-appointed midrange hotel overlook the main road to the…

  • Péng Sōng Cuò

    Sichuan

    The lodgings in this Tibetan-style courtyard house by the river are standard hotel rooms with private, modern baths. All have wi-fi. Turn left out of the…

  • Hotel Zen Urban Resort

    Chengdu

    Very good value, boutique hotel with dark wood tones and a peaceful inner courtyard that all give a sense of an older, more traditional China. Cheaper…

  • Zhuangyuan Mansion

    Sichuan

    Named for two Tang-dynasty brothers who scored first on the imperial examinations, their former residence has been converted to a high-end hotel with…

  • Lotus Inn

    Sichuan

    The elegant private rooms here, with thick, colourful blankets for the frequent cold nights, will make it worth the splurge for some, while the ground…

  • Yong Kang Hotel

    Sichuan

    Good-value modern hotel with a little too much in the way of gold paint. It's bang in the city centre (get a rear-facing room to ensure a quiet night) and…

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