OOlive GohWhen I started planning our itinerary for our 15 day Yunnan holiday, I plotted out our path to go all the way up to Shangri-la, back down to Kunming and then to Jiaozi Snow Mountain and Dongchuan Red Land. Then I chanced upon a video of Aini Garden and fell in love! The only reason we came to Pu'er was to get to Aini. This was the first place I booked, and I really took a chance because it has a no cancellation policy and I really had to stick to the date once it was made.
The initial pre-arrival experience was less than pleasant. I didn't know how we were going to get to the manor and my WeChat messages went unanswered. The hotel we stayed at in Pu'er finally got in touch with someone and got them to message me. I asked how we could get there and the answer was a curt ”take a taxi or charter a car”. No pleasantries of ”we look forward to seeing you” or offering to arrange a car.
When we arrived, no one was at reception and no one came out. Our driver was so perplexed he wondered if we were in the right place and if the place was open. Finally a young girl came out and registered us in. There was an air of aloofness from everyone else. However, once we were checked in, things warmed up quickly. We were offered coffee and freshly cut papaya and had a nice introduction chat with the lady staff.
The bedroom and bathroom is well appointed, spacious and comfortable. We would have enjoyed sitting on the balcony if the chairs were more comfortable. I love the floor to ceiling glass windows but the panel above the door should also be glass (it is just netting) so traffic sounds from the road actually comes through at night. I actually wanted to book the cottage in the hills but opted for the standard room in the main house because I was worried it would be cold. Big regret as it is actually magnificently located with stunning views. However take note that you will need to call for a buggy ride or make a 1km hike every time you want to eat or get to the main house. If you are self driving, no issues as you can park right next to the cottage. Anyway it's a small price to pay for an unlimited view of the milky way and seclusion.
This is as close to a Ryokan experience as you can get in China, minus the hot springs. 3 days 2 nights of blissful, carefree living is not quite enough. They make sure they feed you well, with the freshest produce available for hotpot dinner and home-cooked Yunnanese dishes for lunch. There are so many activities organised, from taking you up the mountain for a glimpse of sunrise (with mountain goats for company ❤️) to coffee plantation education tour to horseback riding along the mountain ridges (the view is spectacular!) to scavenging for wild vegetables and fruits to drinking, dancing and singing around the campfire! So much to do, so little time!
One area of improvement I personally would like to see is the coffee serving. They tend to be quite snobbish about how their coffee is taken. Neat, with nothing else. Asking for sugar or milk feels nearly scorned upon. Coffee is a versatile drink and can be savoured in a huge variety of ways. How else is Starbucks so successful? I felt kind of stifled and deprived because I love a good latte and had looked forward to enjoying an unlimited indulgence of coffee throughout our stay.
Anyhow, I love the ecotourism efforts here. It feels natural and unpretentious. I love the people and the camaraderie they cultivate. I especially enjoyed talking to their consultant 敬梅, a beautiful lady with extensive knowledge in Yunnan culture and ecological progress. Also thank you to 徐芳 for arranging transport back to town and giving helpful recommendations. We hope to return again.
BBreadpotatoesfriesA stunning stay! The room I picked was the 180+180 room and the view was just absolutely stunning. I recommend staying more than a day to just enjoy the views of the mountain. I was hosted by Hongliang and team who were so very attentive. They gave quick recommendations on what to eat in the vicinity and helped arranged all the activities they offered. The photography experience was especially fun and the photographer gave clear guidance and there was a good selection of outfits for ladies (just one for males). The session included makeup and hairdo as well, one per room, top up if more guests want to participate. I wish I had remembered there was a free shoot then I would have saved on the one done in the ancient city. These photos turned out really nice and you can pay a fee for each additional photo you like. Coord directly with the photog 2 days before your stay. The tea pressing activity was at a nearby tea dealer and the staff were very well versed in all types of tea, if you are a connoisseur you would enjoy it. All in all an amazing stay that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a mountain retreat.
ผผู้เข้าพักProbably the best hotels in Ninger in 2026, all new. A bit away from the town centre (7 kuai Didi), quiet location, rooms are large and clean, but decor is a bit soulless. Special: the large swimming pool, rare in Yunnan in a hotel. The balconies of the rooms are a nice idea, but in reality of little use.
KKevin and ZuzannaPoor Experience - Constant Smoke and Noise Throughout Stay
The Good:
Welcome tea upon arrival was a nice touch
Complimentary sweet drinks in mini fridge (first day only)
Tea and drip coffee sachets provided with kettle
Breakfast cakes were fresh and well-made
Spacious shower
Decent desk and relaxation chair in room
Nice gym and roodtop
The Bad:
MAJOR ISSUE - Smoke Everywhere:
The corridor constantly smelled of smoke. Men smoked in the lobby - some appeared to be affiliated with ownership as they treated the place like their own property and staff spoke to them like friends or family. Staff did absolutely nothing to enforce no-smoking policies even after being told. People also smoked in the corridor, and I could smell it from my small window even on the top floor.
MAJOR ISSUE - Constant Noise:
Lobby and corridors always noisy with loud customers
Same men from lobby playing phone calls or video games on speaker very loudly
Guests constantly slamming doors at all hours, including early morning - very inconsiderate
Large groups being very noisy in corridors
Rooster on neighboring rooftop starting early morning (first day)
Very regular loud banging noise from ceiling in my room (first day)
Drilling noise next door during the day for extended periods
Friday night: company party in conference room with dozens of people screaming VERY loud for hours, continuing well into sleep time hours. They were smoking too.
Service Issues:
Reception staff during check-in seemed unwilling to serve me because I'm not Chinese, making it more difficult for them. I've stayed at plenty of hotels across all Chinese provinces where staff use translation tools - it's not that hard. The service was quite chaotic and time/energy consuming for me.
I was told I could request housekeeping at a specific time, so I did. More than one hour later nothing was done, so I asked again and was told ”housekeeping is having lunch now.”
Food delivery via robot malfunctioned; food ended up back at reception inside the robot and I had to queue to ask about it
Cleanliness Concerns:
Cutleries such as forks and spoons in breakfast room looked very dirty
Tea mugs in my room had tea residue still in them - they clean the mugs in the sink with their finger which is gross
Mini fridge drinks not replenished after first night
Facility Issues:
Swimming pool closed despite online information saying it should be open
Common areas including lobby very cold with no heating - people dress like they're outside. Not comfortable, convenient, or homey
Firm mattress (personal preference)
Shower handle won't stay in place, keeps moving to the side
Limited storage space in room
Breakfast finishes a bit early at 10am. Food looks fresh, some egg options if you're vegetarian, but it's mostly Chinese food so quite oily. Cakes are very nice though, seem fresh and well-made.
Would not recommend - the smoke and noise issues alone make this place impossible to rest properly.