5-Star Hotels in Dali City

Excellent service! We had to cancel one night out of our two-night stay due to travel delays and were prepared to accept the cost due to the short notice, but the hotel staff went out of their way to offer us a refund. The hotel is located very near the Erhai S bay and the view is perfect from our room. The room is very spacious and comfortable and the bathroom comes equipped with a smart toilet seat and outfitted with L’Occitane toiletries. The staff connected us to hotel concierge on WeChat, served complimentary mung bean dessert to our room and offered us tea everytime we had to wait for a cab at the lobby. Having stayed at two separate Hyatt locations during our trip, I must say that we experienced the best service at this hotel during our entire trip in Yunnan and am extremely impressed. We’ll definitely return if we ever visit Dali again.

The room was very spacious and well-equipped. The decor and design were fantastic. The renovation of the historic building is quite unique, and the courtyard is breathtaking. The housekeeping service was excellent, and any requests were promptly addressed. The breakfast was also delicious, featuring some unique dishes. I'll definitely stay here again next time I'm in Yunnan.

We stayed at this hotel for one night, and it is one of the best hotels in China we have ever visited! It was our anniversary, and they upgraded our room, such a lovely and unexpected surprise! The breakfast was simply magnificent, the best we've had at any hotel we've stayed at in China. Everything was superb: the service, the atmosphere, the attention to detail. Highly recommended

The location is at the North Gate of the Ancient City. I chose the North Gate because there's a North City Farmers' Market nearby, which I highly recommend visiting. After shopping there, I bought some fruits and wild mushrooms, and the hotel manager kindly helped us cook a mushroom hotpot. It was much fresher and more delicious than the frozen mushrooms you get at restaurants outside. The hotel has great views and is very quiet. The person in picture six is the manager, she's super friendly and helpful – you can't go wrong asking her for anything. It's suitable for family trips; you can rent electric scooters right outside the hotel to visit various farms, the Cangshan cable car, and Wuwu Temple. An electric scooter is perfectly sufficient!

The service was extremely attentive. Choosing to stay here in Dali is definitely the right decision!!! I rarely write reviews for hotels. Even when I agree at checkout to leave a good review, I usually base it on reality and rarely write such a long and glowing one. First of all, the staff are wonderful, providing meticulous service from arrival to departure. The young ladies speak so gently, and the young gentlemen are very handsome, eagerly helping with the luggage. They accommodated almost all our requests. The views of Erhai Lake and Mount Cangshan from the hotel are fantastic and expansive. The room facilities are complete, and you can really feel the thoughtful human touch. The front desk and butler also provide helpful Dali travel guides and local food recommendations.

This stay exceeded my expectations. The breakfast selection was rich, catering to both Chinese and Western tastes, and even offered freshly cooked rice noodles. The ingredients were fresh, and dining with a view of Erhai Lake was a truly healing and leisurely experience. The room's cleanliness was impeccable; the entire space was spotless and odor-free. The bedding was soft, and the bathroom was dry and clean. Housekeeping did a thorough daily tidy-up, paying attention to every detail. The butler service was attentive and efficient, coordinating our itinerary in advance and responding promptly to requests, quickly resolving any needs. They even provided sweet soup and fresh fruit in the evening, adding a heartwarming touch. With its prime Erhai Lake view, it's perfect for both leisurely vacations and short-term stays. A highly recommended choice when visiting Dali.

Excellent location, right next to the Old Town! The hotel is incredibly convenient, with an easily accessible entrance that makes pick-ups and drop-offs a breeze — especially helpful when travelling with luggage. The rooms are very spacious, and the bathroom is particularly huge, which made our stay even more comfortable! A special shoutout to the young gentleman at the front desk whose name we unfortunately didn’t manage to catch! He was incredibly attentive, provided excellent service and gave us some great local recommendations. We really appreciated his warmth and hospitality! Overall, a fantastic stay with a great location, spacious rooms and wonderful service. Highly recommended!

I chanced upon this hotel near my trip and decided to give up my 5-star hotel booking for this unique stay. The main draw for me was the aquarium view from the bedroom and a diving experience in my room package. You can look at the fishes for hours. The self-service laundry was a pleasant surprise that allowed me to refresh my travel ”wardrobe”. From the lobby and breakfast hall, you can also view part of the aquarium.

Hands down, Xianyun Astrum Pool | Dessert · 360° Cliff Sea View Music Hot Spring Hotel (Dali Erhai Branch) has become my favourite hotel stay of all time. From the breathtaking location to the incredible service, I honestly couldn't find much to complain about. The only regret? We didn't get to spend nearly enough time here. 🥹 Since we visited during the rainy season, we also didn't get the chance to enjoy the pool, which was a little disappointing. But even so, the hotel itself was absolutely stunning. 📸 Hotel & Room: The entire property is incredibly Instagram-worthy. Every corner, including the rooms, is beautifully designed and feels like a little dream overlooking Erhai. We booked the family room, which was perfect for us. It came with a separate room with its own bathroom and two single beds, plus a smaller living area. The main bedroom had a comfortable king-size bed and a bathtub overlooking the breathtaking scenery. 🛁🌊 The amenities provided in the room were also impressive and honestly comparable to what I'd expect from a top 5-star hotel. Everything was thoughtfully prepared, and you could really feel the attention to detail. 🍳 Breakfast: Breakfast felt much more like a warm, homely meal than a typical hotel buffet. Every morning, the friendly aunties would come over and let us choose from a few options, such as noodles, porridge, or toast, along with coffee or milk and some side dishes. It was simple, comforting, and one of my favourite parts of the morning! 💐 Service: This is where the hotel really won my heart. Every single staff member was incredibly warm and friendly. They didn't feel like hotel staff at all. They genuinely felt more like family taking care of us during our stay. There was even a whole table of perfumes on the ground floor that guests could freely use. Such a thoughtful little touch! 🧺 The Most Amazing Laundry Service: Because we had been travelling for quite some time from Lijiang to Dali, we had accumulated an embarrassing amount of laundry. 😂 We asked about doing laundry, and instead of simply pointing us towards a washing machine, the staff told us to leave our clothes outside our room. They took care of everything for us, including drying and even dry-cleaning certain pieces, then returned everything neatly to us the following day. That level of service honestly blew me away. 🎂 Birthday Surprise: It was also my mom and niece's birthdays during our stay, and the hotel went above and beyond by preparing a little surprise for us. They decorated the room beautifully and even arranged a birthday cake! 🎂❤️ They also thoughtfully provided my niece with children's toiletries, which was such a sweet and unexpected touch. 🏔️ Location & Views: The location is another major highlight. Situated up on the hills, the hotel offers an incredible panoramic view of the surrounding scenery and Erhai Lake. Waking up to that view was something I'll never forget. 🌊☁️ Without a doubt, this is one of the best hotel experiences I've had in the past few years, and probably my favourite hotel stay ever. Even though we didn't get to fully enjoy the pool because of the rainy season, the stunning design, breathtaking views, thoughtful amenities, incredible hospitality, and genuinely warm service more than made up for it. A huge kudos to the entire team for making us feel so welcomed and cared for. The service was truly top-notch, and I'll always remember how kind everyone was to my family. If I ever return to Dali, I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. In fact, I'd probably plan the trip around this hotel just so I can spend more time enjoying it. ❤️🏔️🌊

1. **Check-in Area:** The check-in counter, or front desk, was quite shabby. The computer keyboard was practically caked in grime, and don't even get me started on the sofa next to it – it looked very unhygienic. 2. **Dining:** The breakfast area was a bit cramped, with just four small tables by the street. If you're a party of more than two, you'd have to sit separately, or you might even have to stand and wait for a table. The coffee, however, was good. I only had breakfast once: a cold quinoa salad (see Photo 6) served with bread that had an overpowering artificial creamer flavor. I had been looking forward to the rice noodles for the next day, but serving didn't start until 8:30 AM, which was far too late for my rumbling stomach. Early risers and those who prefer hot meals should seriously consider other options or make alternative arrangements. 3. **Room (2nd floor) - Noise Issues:** Don't even think about getting any sleep at night. After 11 PM, there was still noise along the street, along with the clanging of the garbage truck. (Seriously, I'd strongly advise against staying in the Old Town.) The next day, it started pouring before dawn, and the sound of the heavy rain kept me awake as well. 4. **Room - Facility Issues:** The room I stayed in was supposedly the quietest in the entire hotel. It featured a large bathtub and a bathroom where the toilet and shower area lacked wet/dry separation. Unable to deal with the wet floor, I decided to shower in the bathtub. That's when I discovered Problem #1: the glass partition was completely transparent, with no curtain or frosted glass. The staff member claimed this was 'design.' Then came Fatal Problem #2: the bathtub had no running water, haha! 😄 5. **Room - Odor Issues:** Upon entering, there was a strong musty smell. The staff claimed it was due to 'raw wood,' but it's been 8 years and it still smells like that? Quite amusing. 6. **Staff (Pre-Check-in):** Before I even checked in, they asked me to cancel my booking on the platform and pay them privately for a discounted rate. I have this in writing. This is definitely a huge red flag, and I'm surprised they even dared to suggest it. 7. **Staff (General):** The individuals themselves were nice enough, but I was surprised to find that all the 'Jixiashan' staff were quite young, without uniforms, and seemingly without direct supervision, which gave a very disorganized and casual impression. 8. **Housekeeping:** I was quite satisfied with the housekeeping. Seeing the clean duvet and towels gave me peace of mind (P.S. the pillows were also comfortable). The hotel's facilities are very old; no matter how clean the bathroom tiles were, they still looked run-down, compounded by the dim lighting. Therefore, I feel the housekeeping staff here really have a tough job. 9. **Building Structure:** One morning, during a heavy downpour, when I opened my 2nd-floor room door, the entrance was essentially flooded up to my heels. It was quite a feat that the water didn't spread into the room. At night, there were no lights, so I had to grope my way back to the room along the dark corridor. It would be quite difficult for someone who doesn't remember their way (see Photos 1-2). 10. **Hotel Amenities:** One night, I heard the guest next door return, unable to open their door with the key, and had to call a staff member for help. They chatted for a bit outside the door before the staff member finally told the guest a 'trick': 'The key needs to be inserted a certain way, and the lock has a particular mechanism...' That's quite a struggle – needing a special technique just to get back to your room! 11. **Minor Details:** The room key had a very large, bulky leather tag attached to it. Absolutely no consideration for travelers on long journeys with limited luggage space. Who would want to carry such a bulky thing around? I originally had high hopes for the 'Jixiashan' brand. When I was in Shangri-La, I heard their Meili store had a collaboration with Kolon, which made me think they had good taste. This Dali Ancient City location is their first store, but it turned out to be such a low standard. Given the daily rate, I guess I understand why. This particular store cannot be found on 'Jixiashan's' mini-program; it's categorized under 'Wang Shenme Chuan Qu Le'.