You absolutely must…
Must explore:
Lijiang, with its shiny worn stone paving, tiny curved bridges over centuries’ old canals and original wooden panelled exteriors of the old merchant quarter.
Must Eat
There are two restaurants at Banyan Tree Lijiang, Ming Yue is a glass wall pavilion that serves local and international cuisine, while Bai Yun is an intimate space that focuses on a very sophisticated representation of local specialities.
• Set in a wonderfully undiscovered area of Yunnan province, with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as a backdrop.
• The old town of Lijiang is regarded as the Venice of the Orient and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – from the hotel you can visit this amazing place.
• Enjoy a moonlit pagoda dining experience with lanterns overlooking a beautiful lake.
The Whole Story
A complex of traditional style Chinese villas nestled into the mountainous landscape of South Western China, Banyan Tree Lijiang is the closest one can get to experiencing the magic of old China.
With magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as a backdrop, 800 years old Lijiang has to be one of the best preserved traditional Chinese towns. With its shiny worn stone paving, tiny curved bridges of centuries’ old canals and original wooden panelled exteriors of the old merchant quarter, it is the kind of place you could film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon without having to build any sets.
At over two thousand metres altitude, Lijiang is the Alpine retreat of China. It is the place the Chinese come to go hiking and climbing and until recently, because of its relative remoteness, it has also managed to maintain more of its cultural and historical integrity than most other parts of China. The combination of its history and its spectacular location made it a natural destination for Banyan Tree to pinpoint as an ideal setting for a sophisticated retreat.
Each guest is spoiled with a villa built in the distinct form and style of Lijiang architecture – your own walled complex which adds to the prevailing feeling of authenticity. Each and every guest villa has either a jet-pool or a private swimming pool, and most of the private swimming pools have a view of the spectacular 5,600 metre Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Set in a traditional pavilion along a vast basin and reflecting pool, the bar is situated to take in the most spectacular view of the compound. A place to enjoy the magnificence of the surroundings.
There are two restaurants at Banyan Tree Lijiang, one is a glass wall pavilion on the other side of the reflecting basin that serves local and international cuisine, the other is a more enclosed affair that focuses on a very sophisticated representation of local specialities serving the finest of Cantonese cuisine.
On a good day, the view is incomparable. When the clouds over the distant peaks part, they reveal the majesty of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in its full glory.
Extreme luxury, extreme beauty, and extreme individuality in a place you’re not likely to forget.
The Rooms
The hotel features a number of different villas, each with a study, bathroom and a heated outdoor jet-pool or plunge pool.
Various upgrades are available including pool villas, which feature a heated plunge pool and are 359 square metres in area.