Boutique Hotels in China

Southern China's boutique hotels: Specialist opinion

Before the Banyan Tree came along Lijiang was definitely lacking in the luxury department. There are other hotels in town but there was always something missing – the food might be great in one place but the plumbing was getting on a bit, or you’d think you’d found the perfect guesthouse, except the staff weren’t quite up to scratch.

What the town most needed was some serious outside expertise, something the Banyan Tree embodies. The hotel is a bit out of town, but access to the old streets of Lijiang is still simple and the location of the hotel affords magnificent views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. I think my favourite bit about the entire hotel was the beds – they’re huge, comfortable and warm. I slept very well!

The view is the thing. Longji’s rice terraces are iconic Chinese scenery, familiar from photographs and documentaries. But seeing them so close, from your room, is amazing. It really is spectacular to wake up to.

The rooms are lovely too, full of local character and each one individually designed to reflect different themes. Of course it’s even better to get amongst the scenery, which involves walking out of the hotel and pottering off. It’s that simple, and memorable to boot.