4-Star Hotels in Dali City

Exceptional Stay! Sanjian Seaview Hotel was truly one of the highlights of my trip to Dali. Facing the beautiful Erhai Lake with breathtaking views of the majestic Cangshan Mountains, the scenery was simply stunning from sunrise to sunset. The room itself was spacious, clean, comfortable, and impeccably maintained. I especially loved the fully smart-controlled features adding a modern and luxurious touch to the stay. Combined with the panoramic views of Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain, it created a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience. Every corner of the property is thoughtfully designed, making it incredibly aesthetic and Instagram-worthy. The food was another highlight. Breakfast, afternoon tea, and supper were all included, with a wide variety of choices and incredibly generous portions. As someone with a smaller appetite, I requested reduced portions, and the staff were more than happy to accommodate my request. Their attentiveness and flexibility were greatly appreciated. One unique feature was the complimentary photography session offered by the hotel. With such stunning scenery as the backdrop, it was hard to resist. The photographer was young, passionate, professional, and knew exactly how to make guests feel comfortable in front of the camera. Fair warning - you may arrive intending to enjoy only the complimentary photos, but you might find yourself purchasing a photo package because the results turn out far better than expected! Although the hotel is located slightly away from the popular tourist attractions, I found this to be one of its greatest strengths. Away from the crowds and bustle of the tourist hotspots, the hotel offers a peaceful and tranquil retreat where guests can truly relax and appreciate the natural beauty of Dali. The staff were warm, welcoming, and always ready to help, making the stay even more enjoyable. Overall, this was more than just a hotel stay, it felt like a place where time slowed down. Leaving was the hardest part. For a brief moment, I found myself wondering what it would be like to stay a few more days, or perhaps forever. It was the kind of place that made the outside world feel a little less urgent and every moment a little more precious. A truly memorable stay, and one that I will look back on fondly long after leaving Dali.

The facilities are brand new and well-equipped, and the service is exceptional. They helped us with our luggage and even saw us off to our car. Every day, they delivered breakfast and afternoon tea to our room, along with tremella soup. They were always ready to assist with any request. This is a truly fantastic hotel, and I love the exterior design. You can get some great photos without even leaving the hotel.

I feel like I'd be doing a disservice if I didn't give a glowing review of Dali Molv - Shanshe Smart B&B (Dali Ancient City Branch) after my three-day stay. 'Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I gaze at Cangshan Mountain with leisure!' Firstly, let me talk about the experience from booking to check-in. After checking rankings and the location, I chose a spot outside the ancient city, about 250 meters from the main road, with Honglongjing Gate just across it. It's about a 12-minute walk to the ancient city, depending on your pace. We booked four rooms for eight people: three tatami queen beds and one tea tatami twin. After a call, we added each other on WeChat for communication, including breakfast and afternoon tea, and they were almost instantly responsive, with the longest wait being five minutes. For someone like me who values service feedback, this was incredibly efficient and satisfying. Now, about the stay itself. While on the train from Kunming to Dali, we informed them 1-2 hours in advance of our estimated arrival time and afternoon tea preparation. The train journey was about 45 minutes. I initially thought about staying one night on the south side of Erhai Lake, but with seniors and children, I decisively opted for a continuous stay. Our subsequent dining and sightseeing experiences proved this to be the right choice, saving the elderly and children from unnecessary travel, especially the several folks in their early 70s. Upon arriving at the B&B, we were greeted by a Shiba Inu and another small dog whose name I don't recall (forgive my ignorance). Then, an aunt immediately went to call the front desk staff (the owner) for us. He promptly came out to welcome us and handled our check-in very enthusiastically. I must highlight a few check-in details: firstly, they upgraded two of our queen rooms. Secondly, they insisted on carrying our three suitcases to each room, though we 'rescued' our luggage from them. Finally, in each room, they patiently explained how to use the intelligent 'Xiao Ai' smart speaker, the bathroom equipment, the complimentary drinks in the fridge, and the humidifier's location. The fully smart toilet with disposable seat covers (which most hotels don't provide) was a great convenience for travelers like us. In short, everything in the room was free. After settling our belongings in the rooms, we headed to the tearoom to enjoy the custom-made, freshly baked afternoon tea. Two servings were already prepared, and two more were brought over as we sat down, totaling four servings, which confirmed they were prepared fresh. Both children and adults loved it, especially the waffles which disappeared instantly. The floral tea, fruit, rose cakes, and pastries were absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Moving on to the overall experience during our stay, the rooms were very spacious, with an open-plan layout, and the bathroom, shower, and vanity areas were all dry/wet separated. But what I want to emphasize most is the quality of service. Firstly, regarding drinks, the young man told us not to hesitate to ask them for anything we needed, immediately alleviating any shyness we might have had. Secondly, breakfast only required 10-20 minutes notice for freshly prepared meals. There were A and B set menus to choose from, and the rice noodles were better than those found in chain hotels – abundant and satisfying. As for the environment, please refer to the photos; it's certainly among the top-tier B&Bs. They also have their own small bar, which I didn't visit, but I drank plenty of refillable iced lattes, which my son particularly loved and had every day. A crucial point is the complimentary sweet soup before bed every night, with different options for the two nights. The first night was red bean and peanut sweet soup; the bowl in the photo shows how delicious it looked. The second night was mung bean and coix seed sweet soup, and they proactively reminded us that it was available whenever we wanted. On the first day, we returned quite late from sightseeing and even troubled them to deliver it to our rooms (four people came back from dinner and walking around the ancient city). We returned after 10 PM, and after we told them, they quickly came to collect the bowls. They initially told us to just leave them outside, but their service was so good that I couldn't bear to leave them out, fearing they might be accidentally damaged. Soon, two young ladies came to collect from all four of our rooms. They were kind and beautiful, and every staff member we met greeted us warmly. On the second night, we had eaten too much and hadn't thought about asking for the sweet soup, but I was pleased that even without us asking, they proactively offered it. Another detail worth mentioning: on the first night, my son had a nosebleed while picking his nose in his sleep, staining the duvet and sheets. I informed them and offered to cover the cleaning fee, but they simply told me, 'Brother, it's fine, we can get it cleaned today,' which instantly made me feel very warm inside. Before our outings, they also provided us with travel suggestions. I've attached some beautiful photos and recorded my feelings for everyone's reference. I strongly recommend this place to any friends traveling with family who want to find tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle.

I forgot to take pictures, but the room was really big and beautiful, and you could get some sun in the mornings. The guesthouse is inside the ancient city but not in the busiest area, so it's very quiet at night. Taxis can drop you right at the entrance, and it's close to everything for exploring. The large bathtub was great for a relaxing soak, and the air conditioning had a heating function, plus there was an electric blanket. A special shout-out to the young man who runs the place; he was super responsive whenever we had a question and even lent us his e-scooter.

I booked this room last minute for one night, and I was pleasantly surprised! The hotel has a grand atmosphere. The staff proactively helped with our luggage, and check-in was very quick. My baby was sick when we arrived. The front desk staff gave my child a small balloon, and knowing she had a fever, they even brought us fever patches and offered a late check-out. This hotel truly showed great humanistic care. The room we booked had the bed on one side, and a bar and bathroom on the other. They had already made up the sofa bed for us before we arrived. The room also had a fridge and a microwave, which was incredibly convenient for heating milk and food when traveling with a baby! The soundproofing between rooms was excellent; we couldn't hear conversations or water noises from other rooms. Plus, our room had a city view, so it was quite quiet at night. However, I heard from other guests that rooms facing Erhai Lake might not be as quiet. Overall, I was extremely satisfied. If I hadn't already booked another guesthouse for the next day, I would have loved to stay a few more nights.

Booked this room cos details stated mountain view but there's no view at all. Just a small window and light from roof of bathtub area. Overall, the room was too dark to our liking. The room has damp smell but the staff did told us abt it and advised to turn on the air purifier. Staff was nice and able to assist us when we asked for directions and transportation. Area was OK and walking distance to the main parts of ancient town. WiFi not so good. Breakfast was nice and different for 2 days we were there. Location was good for didi cos pick up was right at the entrance.

The rooms are beautiful and very clean, and the courtyard is also lovely. The food is great, the drinks are good, and the service is even better, especially our butler, Liu Jin, who was so thoughtful. He helped us with our luggage when picking us up and dropping us off, and his kind greetings made us feel very comfortable. The afternoon tea was also excellent, with a good selection of fruits, desserts, and drinks. Breakfast was also fantastic and delicious; my child and mother both loved it. The service was impeccable. They even treated us to a professional photoshoot!

Heartwarming Service but Disappointing Room Layout & Location 1. Amazing Staff Support: • As foreigners without Chinese phone numbers, we couldn't rent the ”Snoopy” electric cars. The staff went above and beyond, using their own accounts to scan, pay, and even remotely lock/unlock the cars for us throughout the day. They even handled the return process when there were technical issues. • Flexible Service: They were kind enough to serve breakfast at 8:00 AM (30 minutes earlier than scheduled) to accommodate our early plans. ＞＞＞ The staff here are the biggest plus. They were incredibly welcoming, enthusiastic, and supported us throughout our stay in Dali. Whether it was helping with our heavy luggage or providing local recommendations, their hospitality was genuine and much appreciated. 2. Room Layout: Not as Expected We booked a ”2-bedroom suite,” but it was actually two separate rooms with private entrances and no shared indoor area. The second room was extremely small; with two large suitcases open, there was almost no space to move. The photos on the listing were quite misleading regarding this separate layout. 3. Location & Accessibility The homestay is in a quiet, isolated area with no shops or restaurants within walking distance. You have to take a taxi for everything (5–30 mins to major attractions), which adds significant costs to your trip. ===＞ While the people here are wonderful, the high price doesn't quite match the room's convenience and location. Best suited for those who don't mind taking taxis and want a quiet stay.

Extremely satisfied with this hotel! I only booked one night, but they even created a dedicated service chat group to send check-in instructions and local tips. The staff were very enthusiastic and helped with our luggage. They offered so many complimentary services, like fresh flower cakes and drinks – when I didn't come to pick them up, they even delivered them to my room. The hotel has a great design aesthetic, with a beautiful courtyard garden. The unobstructed sea view from the rooftop is perfect for 'once-in-a-lifetime' photos. The travel photography service they partner with is also excellent, or maybe it's just that the scenery is so beautiful and my outfit was on point! The beachfront scenery near the hotel is lovely, and it's a short taxi ride from Shuanglang Ancient Town. I'll definitely recommend this place to friends visiting Dali, and I'd love to stay longer next time.

This guesthouse in Dali is absolutely fantastic! The room was spotless, clean, and tidy with no overlooked corners. The bedding was incredibly soft, skin-friendly, and fresh, making for a super comfortable stay. The whole house is equipped with smart home features, which are simple and convenient to use – a real blessing for anyone who loves ease. The owner was warm and thoughtful, patiently answering all our questions and even recommending some local, lesser-known activities, which was incredibly heartwarming. The location is also convenient for getting around. The overall experience was top-notch. If you're coming to Dali, choosing this place is a no-brainer. I genuinely recommend it to all my friends!