My husband and I stayed at the Gurong (Old Banyan) Hotel for one night in early September. On the whole, it was a very pleasant place with a nice room, beautiful gardens, proximity to the ancient city and solicitous service. We would recommend it.

Room: fairly spacious, king size bed with feather pillows, flat panel TV (did not check out channels, so don't know about any English programs), clean bathroom with shower, hairdryer, etc. Carpet stained in multiple places. We checked in very early (like around 8:30AM) but they managed to give us a room right away. Fruit and yogurt in the room for our consumption. The only problem with the room was that there was a strange slight odor which we could not get rid of even with the AC on continuously. We were very tired and just dealt with it. When we checked out the next morning, we mentioned it to the reception personnel, who were very apologetic and gave us 4 embroidered coasters as a gift. I'm sure the other rooms do not smell and we were just unlucky. Other positive features at the hotel override this one problem.

Service: very attentive and polite front desk. When we asked about bus service to Lijiang, the concierge actually walked us to the bus ticketing agent just around the corner from the hotel.

Environment: lovely gardens with plantings, dry rock beds - a pomegranate tree right outside our room. Two blocks away from Foreigners' Street and all the bustle of Old Town, yet very quiet inside the compound.

I stayed here for 2 nights as part of Kunming>Dali>Lijiang>Shangri-la tour.
This is an excellent hotel with spacy rooms, more ore less setup as "villa-park".

There is two dayly flights from Kunming to Dali. I choose the late evening flight by Lucky air, where the expected arrival time at Hotel would be 24:00 Midnight. Well.....i was not so lucky with Lucky air, since flight was delayed with 3,5Hrs, arriving at 3:30am. Lucky enought the pre-informed staf at frontdesk was helpfull getting me fast in room and bed.

As told the rooms are spacy and clean with fridge and safe... even a little kitchentable with 4 chairs in separated area. The location is TOP, just in the Old-town-area. Right accross the street there is possibility to book luxury bus to Lijiang, with nice sandwitch/snack bar next door as "waiting-room" The only two remarks I would make are 1. English speaking skills of staff could be improved (there is "backup" though if it is really getting tought). 2. The western assortiment at breakfast is minimalistic but still comfortable enought for my minimum requirements (scrambled egg, toasted bread, yogurt and fruit: see photo). For the rest... nothing then good about this hotel.