Banyan Tree Lijiang

It was a long holiday. We saved staying in Banyan Tree Lijiang for the last few days in Lijiang because we just wanted to relax and soak in some luxury after walking our legs off in the other two old towns. Location wise, getting to Shuhe old town is just a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from here. You just get out of the magnificent entrance, turn right, and follow the road. Speaking of the entrance, taking a picture with the pagoda and Jade Dragon snow mountain in the backdrop is a signature shot that everyone does, and for good reason. When you enter, you’re greeted by a very expansive courtyard with a large pond. There are colorful fish below the water and a few ducks roaming freely. The tranquility, with the willow trees swaying gently in the light breeze, honestly makes you feel like you're staying in a carefully curated palace garden. The accommodations here are single-level villas, and each one looks like a rich man's house from ancient Chinese times. With the intricate roof tiles, the wooden two-door entrances, and the masonry Chinese walls, it literally made us feel like we were in the part of the palace where the concubines are housed, with each villa waiting for Emperor Me to come visit them. It was all nice and peaceful watching the ducks and fish look like they were best friends... until one of the ducks straight-up ate one of the fish. And apparently, that one duck does it every single day. It was a total murder duck. I had no idea these "peaceful" ducks ate live fish! We booked the villa with the jacuzzi. At the same price level, the alternative is a villa with your own private pool. However, in these cold temperatures (April), you definitely want the jacuzzi because it is heated, the pool option is not. Soaking in the bubbling, warm jacuzzi early in the morning and late into the night while the outside air was in the chilly sub-tens Celsius was a special experience. It made us not want to leave our villa at all, and it honestly became a huge part of our daily routine. What I loved most was that with our bedroom doors wide open, you didn't even need air conditioning because the mountain air was so cold. Now, there were definitely some downsides to the stay. If you have kids, keep your expectations for the kids' club at absolute zero. It looked like a simple, unattended, locked warehouse with some playthings just spread around. Combined with our experience at another hotel here of equal price level, I’d say hotels here just have a kids' club to tick a box. The staff at the reception seemed busy all the time and were always on the phone when we tried to talk to them. On arrival, they didn't give us full information about the resort. We only stumbled upon a big playground and some sadly caged-up rabbits on our last day. As for breakfast, the range is smaller compared to hotels in Shanghai and the other hotel we stayed, and the experience was marred by some fellow guests who had zero sense of hygiene, using their bare hands to pick up pieces of cheese, inspect them, and put them back onto the serving tray. But honestly, looking out over the privacy wall that blocks the jacuzzi from the public, you get a direct view of Yulong Snow Mountain. Dozing off and waking up to that view, I seriously thought I was inside a painting. The villa, the mountain views, and the heated jacuzzi are incredible, and that makes up for all the other deficiencies we faced.

I arrived at Banyan Tree Lijiang with high expectations, expecting the level of luxury, attention to detail and hospitality that the Banyan Tree brand is known for. Unfortunately, the reality was deeply disappointing. The room was noticeably dated, poorly maintained and showed clear signs of neglect. There were multiple cobwebs in the bathroom, a thick layer of dust around the bed, and several maintenance issues that should never exist in a property positioning itself as a luxury resort. Both the Jacuzzi and the door leading to it were broken and unusable. What was even more alarming was the condition of the bathroom. The shower ceiling was leaking and covered with large water stains, creating an impression of a property that has been left to deteriorate rather than properly maintained. Basic housekeeping standards were also lacking — only one bath towel was provided for the room, and a pillow request submitted via the turndown service form was ignored. This stay was supposed to be the highlight of our Yunnan trip. Instead, it became the most disappointing hotel experience of the entire journey. What made it even more frustrating was that these were not isolated issues, but a series of failures spanning room maintenance, cleanliness, housekeeping and service recovery. Having stayed at numerous luxury resorts across Asia, I struggle to understand how this property continues to carry the Banyan Tree name in its current condition. Ironically, some of the smaller boutique local hotels we stayed at during this trip far exceeded Banyan Tree Lijiang in every aspect — from room upkeep and amenities to service standards, warmth of hospitality and attention to guest comfort. They delivered the authentic luxury experience that Banyan Tree Lijiang failed to provide.

This was my first time in Lijiang and it certainly will not be my last. The city itself is already full of charm. But Banyan Tree Lijiang made the entire journey even more memorable. I stayed for 4 nights with friends and the overall experience was truly flawless from beginning to end. We received a very warm welcome from Nancy and her team upon arrival. As we arrived early, we decided to enjoy breakfast while waiting for our rooms and it turned out to be one of the first highlights of our stay. The breakfast selection was outstanding with a beautiful variety of local and international dishes. Some of the flavours were new to us, which made the experience even more exciting and meaningful. The hotel is perfectly located, not far from Shuhe Ancient Town. From the moment we walked towards the entrance, we were greeted by a serene pond, traditional architecture and the stunning Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background. It created such a strong first impression and immediately gave us a sense of place. Once we entered our rooms, we felt even more connected to the heritage of Lijiang. The design of the buildings reflects the local character beautifully, while the rooms are clean, tidy, comfortable and very functional. Every detail feels thoughtful, calm, and well maintained. Nancy also kindly shared recommendations on attractions and places to visit around the area. The hotel is only around a 10-minute walk from the Ancient Town, which made it very convenient for us to explore, wander around, shop and enjoy the atmosphere at our own pace. We also had a chance to spend a full day at the hotel and it was just as enjoyable as going out. We fed the ducks and fish, tasted their unique local tea and tried the flower cakes. One of the most special highlights was the local costume and photoshoot experience, which made our stay even more memorable and fun. Banyan Tree Lijiang truly offers everything in one place, beautiful scenery, warm hospitality, cultural experiences, comfortable rooms and a peaceful atmosphere that reflects the soul of Lijiang. I would definitely love to come back again.