While planning my trip to Dali, I stumbled upon Muxin Castle in Wenbi Village on Xiaohongshu and instantly fell in love, so I booked it without hesitation. At first, I was worried it might just be 'pretty pictures' (i.e., not as good in real life), but upon arrival, I found it was exactly as I had imagined – I absolutely loved it! The butler was incredibly patient; they patiently guided me through a minor issue when setting up the group chat and provided excellent service throughout my stay, always accommodating my requests. The nearby restaurants they recommended were also delicious and had a great ambiance – thumbs up!
Let's talk about the ambiance of Muxin Castle. Although it's located in a bustling area, stepping inside instantly brings a sense of tranquility, like a hidden paradise. My favorite spot was the guesthouse's small garden, with its elegant landscaping. Standing by the swing, gazing at Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake in the distance, with pleasant music from the garden in the background and my beloved lavender at my feet – I truly adored it. The guesthouse's cafe was also a frequent haunt of mine. Sipping on the complimentary afternoon tea, lounging on the cafe's swing, and watching Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake across the way, a few gentle swings would be enough to lull me into a peaceful nap.
Regarding the popular 'influencer' cafes nearby, I had originally planned to visit them during my trip planning. However, after seeing the environment at Muxin Castle, I didn't bother with any of them. Later, while exploring Wenbi Village, the three of us rented an electric scooter and rode up the mountain. We spent a long time exploring the deserted scenic area up there, just cruising around and enjoying the views. It felt much more enjoyable than queuing at those trendy spots. For photos, Muxin Castle itself is more than enough – you'll definitely get some amazing shots!
Dining near Muxin Castle is very convenient. I highly recommend Yumi Duoduo; we went three times! From mushroom and beef hotpot to stir-fries and finally the Dai-style sour and spicy grilled fish – everything was delicious 😋. We also tried Lvye. While its ambiance was better than Yumi Duoduo, it wasn't particularly stunning, the prices were a bit higher, and the portion sizes were small.
Besides the daily afternoon tea, the guesthouse also offered complimentary sweet soup every evening, with different options each night for a two-night stay. The breakfast pairings were also varied over the two days, which was very thoughtful. A special tip for breakfast: the rice noodles can actually be seasoned to your liking, but no one told us, so on the first day, we found them bland and not very tasty. After asking a staff member on the second day and adding seasonings, they were delicious!
In short, if I ever come to Dali again, I will definitely choose Muxin Castle!
Original TextTranslation provided by AI