Banyan Tree Lijiang
Shuhe, Gucheng District, Lijiang, Yunnan, China
Location
Shuhe, Lijiang, Yunnan
The resort sits on Yuerong Road in Shuhe, Lijiang, Yunnan, at around 2,000 metres just south of the sacred Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, minutes from UNESCO Lijiang Old Town and the Shuhe and Baisha ancient towns. There is no beach — this is a mountain hideaway — a culture-rich, off-the-beaten-path leg.
Transfer
A Lijiang transfer
Fly into Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG), about 30 to 40 minutes by car, or arrive by rail in around 30 minutes. Lijiang Old Town and the ancient towns are close by.
Villas
An intimate collection of villas & suites
An intimate collection of Naxi-style villas and suites, all facing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, most with a private heated pool and courtyard — from Garden View Suites through Garden and Pool Villas to the Presidential Pool Villa.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, honeymooners and culture and nature lovers who want a Yunnan mountain hideaway — a private-pool villa facing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, minutes from ancient Naxi towns.
Board Basis
B&B
Booked on bed and breakfast. Bai Yun and Ming Yue cover Chinese banquet cooking and Western and local dishes, with the Wen Hai Bar and private in-villa dining alongside.
About the Resort
A Yunnan mountain villa hideaway
Banyan Tree Lijiang is a Naxi-style villa resort in the Himalayan foothills of Yunnan, set at around 2,000 metres just south of the sacred Jade Dragon Snow Mountain — which every villa faces. Built in Naxi style, with tip-tilted roofs, stone walls and courtyards, it sits minutes from UNESCO Lijiang Old Town and the ancient towns of Shuhe and Baisha, the heart of Naxi and Dongba culture, with their canals and bridges. The villas come with private heated pools, jet pools and courtyard gardens, all looking to the mountain; the ground-floor suites have private garden compounds. Bai Yun serves Chinese banquet cooking beside a koi pond to live music, Ming Yue does Western and local dishes — yak-meat rice noodles — from a Naxi-style pagoda, and the Presidential Villa hosts a six-course Imperial Feast. The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa works with Yunnan ingredients across Asian, Himalayan and European therapies. There is no beach — this is a mountain hideaway — a culture-rich, off-the-beaten-path leg, with altitude to take gently.
Accommodation
Villas & suites
An intimate collection of villas and suites in Naxi style — russet, gold and white, with stone walls and courtyards — all facing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Most villas have a private heated pool, a jet pool and a courtyard garden; the suites have private garden compounds, rising from Garden View Suites through Garden and Pool Villas to the Presidential Pool Villa.
Entry
Garden View Suite
Sleeps two. A private Chinese garden, with mountain views — the entry suite.
Private gardenMountain view
Villa
Deluxe Garden Villa
Sleeps two. A private garden and a jet pool, with mountain views.
Jet poolMountain view
Pool Villa
Pool Villa
Sleeps two to three. A private heated pool and jet pool with a courtyard, with mountain views.
Private poolMountain view
Apex
Presidential Pool Villa
Sleeps two to four. A Naxi-residence replica with an outdoor pavilion and heated pool, and the Imperial Feast, with mountain views — the signature villa.
Naxi residenceMountain view
Food & Drink
Dining
Cooking rooted in Yunnan and Naxi tradition. Bai Yun serves Chinese and Cantonese banquet cooking beside the koi pond to live local music; Ming Yue does Western and local dishes — yak-meat rice noodles — indoors or al fresco at a Naxi-style pagoda; the Wen Hai Bar pours cocktails; and private in-villa dining sets a table for two on your own pagoda.
Chinese
Bai Yun
Chinese and Cantonese banquet cooking beside the koi pond, to live local music.
Local
Ming Yue
Western and local dishes — yak-meat rice noodles — at a Naxi-style pagoda.
Bar
Wen Hai Bar
A lounge bar for cocktails.
Private
In-villa dining
Private in-villa dining, on your own pagoda.
Wellbeing
The Banyan Tree Spa
The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa blends Asian, Himalayan and Chinese healing with European therapies, using natural Yunnan ingredients. Wellness extends to the private heated villa pools and jet pools, a koi pond, and yoga, tennis and a fitness centre.
Banyan Tree Spa
Asian, Himalayan and Chinese healing with Yunnan ingredients, at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa.
Private villa pools
Private heated pools and jet pools in most villas.
Yoga & tennis
Yoga, tennis and a fitness centre.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
A sacred mountain and ancient Naxi towns. Wake to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from your own villa pool, wander UNESCO Lijiang Old Town and Shuhe and Baisha, take a Banyan Tree Spa ritual with Yunnan ingredients, and dine on yak-meat noodles at a Naxi pagoda.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain backdrop — treks, the Glacier Park and the cable car.
Lijiang Old Town
UNESCO Lijiang Old Town and the Shuhe and Baisha ancient towns — Naxi and Dongba culture.
Private-pool villas
Private-pool-villa living, with the mountain in view.
Banyan Tree Spa
Yunnan-ingredient rituals at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa.
Naxi dining
Naxi-pagoda dining and the six-course Imperial Feast.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By road
About 30 to 40 minutes from LJG
About 30 to 40 minutes by car from Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG).
In Yunnan
Shuhe
At Shuhe near Lijiang Old Town, Yunnan, below the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Banyan Tree Lijiang. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Booked on bed and breakfast, with Naxi-pagoda dining and private in-villa options.
Setting
- Below the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain near UNESCO Lijiang Old Town — a mountain villa hideaway, with no beach.
Altitude
- Set at around 2,000 metres — worth a gentle first day to acclimatise to the altitude.
Getting there
- About 30 to 40 minutes by car from Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG).
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Destination
Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
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Flights
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