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
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Yunnan
Popular guesthouse with compact rooms surrounding a sunny little courtyard. There’s a laid-back traveller vibe here, with daily communal dinners (¥25)…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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)…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Shangri-la
Hushed boutique hotel with 18 swish rooms set around a flagstone courtyard. Excellent beds and bathrooms, and the underfloor heating keeps everything…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
