Hotels in Shangri-la Valley National Park, Shangri-La

I first visited Balagezong in 2021, and my impression then was simply: uniquely beautiful. The mountain road winds through the deep mountains, far from the crowds, quiet and peaceful. It's the perfect place to escape into the mountains and completely disconnect from the world. That year, I celebrated New Year's Eve here with friends. Looking up, we saw the entire Milky Way, with stars that shone incredibly brightly. Back then, food options in the scenic area were limited, besides the hotel and Bala Village, it was easy to get hungry at night. I remember the butler specially brought us warm and comforting butter tea, which was incredibly healing. The local chicken was also unforgettably delicious. So this Chinese New Year, when I thought about the usual crowds everywhere, my first thought was: Let's go back to Balagezong and take my parents for an in-depth visit. We experienced the famous 'Eighteen Bends' mountain road. My mom actually got motion sickness, which was quite funny 😂. But after truly learning about the incredible story behind building this road, you can only feel awe and admiration; every inch of it was hard-won. We booked three days and two nights, which felt relaxed and comfortable. Although we didn't get the snow scenery we hoped for, which was a small pity, the views were still worthwhile. The Echo Wall trail is very accessible; even people who don't usually hike much or have average mobility can easily complete it. The canyon rafting offered stunning clear blue water all the way, with expansive views, a beautiful and serene experience. The locals in the scenic area are incredibly simple and honest, and the hotel offers thoughtful shuttle services, making everything worry-free and reassuring. My only small personal suggestion: For someone like me, who's a 'hotel connoisseur,' the hotel bedding was a bit too soft. I hope for a small upgrade; it would make the experience even more perfect~

The only good things we can say about this hotel are that it is conveniently located immediately adjacent to the scenic spot entrance and that the room had a pleasant view of the canyon. Unfortunately we were disappointed with the other aspects of our stay. The room and other hotel facilities were clearly in need of maintenance, despite being relatively new. The room was not very clean, the bathroom mirror was filthy, and various furnishings were in need of repair. The hotel staff were disinterested and unhelpful. We regretted staying at this hotel and recommended that prospective visitors consider staying elsewhere at Balagezong or, better still, returning to Shangri-La rather than staying in the area.

Balagezong (Shangri-La Grand Canyon) is truly breathtaking. If this wasn't a hotel review, I'd write extensively about it. The guesthouse's location is good, with Gezong Snow Mountain right across, seemingly within reach. However, Balagezong Village itself has few residents, making it feel quite deserted, but that's precisely what you'd expect in the heart of the mountains. The young lady at the hotel's front desk was lovely and very capable, handling many details perfectly and organizing our activities flawlessly. When I learned she was a student working during her winter break, I deeply resonated with her situation, as I, too, was studying abroad and working part-time at her age. I also want to thank the young man at the front desk who helped us with our luggage; he was very enthusiastic. During check-in, there was a minor issue (see pictures) where something in the bathroom fell off. However, my father told me not to complain so as not to trouble the young lady, and I followed his advice. That's why I gave a 5-star rating for facilities. Honestly, you do need to improve, especially the bathroom's temperature control. The heating device automatically shuts off, and once it does, the bathroom's temperature drops to about 10-odd degrees Celsius, which is really cold. I gave a poor rating for service, and this specific complaint is about breakfast. Your breakfast is truly laughable. I just want to ask your locals if they can get full from this? Paying over a thousand yuan for a room and getting a breakfast that's like a guesthouse's (or even worse than a guesthouse's) – don't you think that's incredibly unfair to the distant friends who come here to visit? I deeply admire Snamedinzhu for doing so much for his hometown and his people. So, those who come after, please don't tarnish his legacy. I also want to criticize the attitude of some locals and tourists here. Apart from the young man who checked me in and the shuttle bus drivers, other locals I encountered (like the driver the guesthouse called for our transfer and restaurant staff at the guesthouse) were unfriendly. I don't believe it's just because you're 'straightforward' or 'blunt.' Do you speak to your friends and family impolitely too? Again, please don't embarrass Snamedinzhu. If you don't welcome tourists, you can just say so. It's not like we absolutely have to come here.

Breakfast was a major letdown. Although it was supposed to be served from 7:30 to 9:00 AM, by 8:00 AM, there was hardly anything left. What's more, when I asked for white sugar, they wouldn't give me any.

It was the off-peak season, so it wasn't crowded! The scenery was truly breathtaking; waking up in the morning felt like stepping into a magical wonderland. The hotel is relatively new, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and enthusiastic, personally attending to every request. Given its mountain location, a simple breakfast is totally understandable. Everyone should definitely visit the pagoda – the views from there are absolutely spectacular!