Fenghua Xueyue · Shangshan Renwen Boutique Inn

It was comfortable, and the modern decor still kept an old-town feel through its wooden details. The furnishings have a contemporary twist, and there’s a washing machine guests can use. The amenities are excellent, as you’d expect from a new hotel. It’s a very good boutique hotel on the edge of central Lijiang Old Town. Staying here means you don’t have to haul your luggage through the old-town lanes to find a place in the center, where public cars can’t drive. Highly recommended!

The rooms are comfortable and quiet, with lovely beds, a TV, air conditioning, wifi, blackout curtains, and a spacious modern bathroom. The hotel is beautifully designed inside and out. There’s an elegant lobby with tea tables and places to wait for a cab, plus an upstairs shared lounge decorated with plants and wood panels. Traditional-style hallways have lanterns and beautiful windows. Other facilities include a cycling machine, washing machine, drying racks, and a big selection of teas that staff will brew for you. It sits right beside the old town Old Town, full of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and stalls, and is about a 20-minute drive from Lijiang train station. The staff know the sights and hotspots well. For our 5-day stay, they planned a broad, time-efficient itinerary that included horse riding, shopping in the Old Town, rowing on Lugu Lake, and exploring Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. They arranged drivers to get us to and from the destinations, saving us effort and stress. Food and accommodation were included in the booking fee. We arrived to immediate help with our bags, and check-in was easy. We’d booked the wrong day, but the staff moved our stay forward by one day without an extra charge. They make the place feel warm and homely, more like family than guests, and may even offer a personal Old Town tour if they have time. Breakfast is included and made by one of the hotel’s cooks. There’s a good range, including Yunnan noodles, porridge, meat, vegetables, coffee, and tea. The food was splendid. The hotel also has a warm atmosphere, and I can’t think of any cons. The service was superior to that at other hotels I’ve stayed in. For a comfortable stay and a chance to connect with locals, Lijiang Gemmer hotel is a great choice.

We were satisfied overall. The room was spacious and the hotel was good value for money. One staff member in particular was very helpful with arranging a day tour.

The hotel is nicely placed near the old city. We did get lost one evening trying to follow Google's directions back to it, though.