4 Best Hotels in Dali, Southwestern China

One of the most pleasant hotels in Dali's Old Town, the upscale Dali Gurong offers spacious and well-furnished rooms in a cluster of villas in a park-like setting. Some of the villas are built around a babbling creek that can be crossed via a footbridge. Look for the relaxing garden dotted with picnic tables in the back. There's a teahouse and a restaurant, and the staff is happy to assist you with laundry or travel information.

Outside the south gate, this quiet lodging is ideal if you want to avoid the hubbub of Dali's Old Town. Decorated in traditional Tibetan and Bai styles, the hotel is run by a Tibetan who can help you book tours of Dali and the rest of the region. It's the only place in Dali with a playground and a little pool with fresh spring water where the kids can play.

With exits on both Huguo and Yu'er Roads, the Landscape Hotel is probably the most centrally located place to stay in town. Mainly aimed at Chinese tourists, it looks better from the outside than on the inside, though the rooms are of decent quality and the beautiful courtyards make it a pleasant place to stay.

Littered with luxury artifacts, the Regent might seem a little unnecessary when compared to the highly affordable options in the Old Town. But it you have to stay in a five-star, this is the one.