It was my 2nd return to the Banyan Tree Lijiang and though it was for business conference this time, a suite instead of the fantastic villa; the service was top notch hospitable! Heartwarming welcome started from the reception, and the room was really big enough, with top notch international Spa ambience. The heater in the room and even on the bed was enough to make you sweat despite the cold in this winter. Nothing could have been a better finale this time than a 90min renowned Balinese massage and pampering.

F&B is not fantastic, so do not expect great Italian cuisine or authentic Southeast Asian Nasi Goreng. Chinese food serves at night is always a better bet, however, do not expect exquisite Chinese food in Yunan. If you wanna add to some adventure, go to the nearest Old Town, about 5min by cab, about 20min by foot (not advised at night due to lack of lights on the pavement) Walk deep into the Su He Old Town and you'll come across a stream of back to basic clubs, restaurants and outdoor Karaokes, enjoy leisure in its simplicity. Believe me, you'll get sick of the hotel food after 3 days. If you're dying for more experience, climb the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at 4500m above sea level. We had a company adventure and it was totally awesome despite the heavy snow, the thin air and white visibility. Such grandness! Nobody can top the peak, it's sacred by the way.

Banyan Tree, thumbs up! Lijiang, very disappointed with the commercialization of the old towns now. I'll go straight to Shangri-La the next time, by that I mean the famous geographical location and not the hotel!

We too stayed in a wonderful room overlooking the snow capped peak (on the second floor so if stairs are a problem at 7000 feet, beware.). I was also looking forward to a soak in the large tub but it didn't work! Couldn't get the drain to stay in the closed position preventing me from enjoying a relaxing time before bed. The next morning I told the front desk about the problem, but when we arrived back at the room in the late afternoon nothing had been done. That's when the fun started ... Two young women from housekeeping arrived to verify that indeed the tub was not working properly (sometimes it can be the guest who doesnt knowvhow to operate the device) and then two young men from maintenance spent nearly an hour repairing/replacing the drain, and the housekeeping returned to clean up the tub. It was worth it! Breakfast buffet was comprehensive but not as varied as other 5 star properties -- the quality was just ok. We didn't eat dinner at the hotel but had a drink in the bar one night, as expected a bit pricey but setting was delightful. Very few people. The location is a bit out of the mainstream which wasn't an issue for us as, we had a guide and driver (this was part of a longer Yunnan trip) -- it could be an issue for others. Lots of hotels popping up here -- each one better than the next.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Banyan Tree whilst holidaying in Lijiang. It's a bit far from the town centre which can be a plus or a minus depending on what you're after. For us, it was a plus as Lijiang Old Town can be very busy and rather touristy, The setting is perfect with the imposing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the back-drop. The resort is designed in the style of a town in ancient China with walled pavilions, goldfish ponds and gardens, creating a lovely ambience. Our room (which was very comfortable and tastefully decorated) included a sitting room, courtyard and spacious bathroom. I especially appreciated the deep bathtub as it was perfect for a long soak after a busy day of sight-seeing. The food was okay but not fantastic and is rather pricey. All in all, an enjoyable time was had by myself and my partner. It has also whetted my appetite for trying other BT resorts. P.S. We liked the BT signature his/her yukatas so much we bought our own set upon our return to Australia.

We stayed in a room with an amazing view of Snow Mountain. Our beautiful room was clean, comfortable, and felt like home. The bath tub was very relaxing and the shower was perfect.

We had in room dining while there which was quite good given you are in the middle of nowhere in China. I loved that they provided different types of tea daily. The breakfast was very diverse and there was a lot to choose from.

The water area just outside of the dining room is really beautiful and tranquil.

The spa wasn't totally up to Banyan Tree standards because of the limited English. However, you really are off the beaten path at this hotel. Because of that, I think overall it was excellent. I would stay there again.