Hylla Vintage Hotel: Design in the Shadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Hylla Vintage Hotel sits in Baisha near the old town of Lijiang, in the Naxi heartland of northern Yunnan, with the glaciated peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain filling the horizon. It is a design retreat rather than a grand hotel, built to frame the mountain and the surrounding forests and villages.

Its restaurant, Yink, elevates local Yunnan ingredients into contemporary fusion, with a bar of whiskeys and cocktails amid vintage utensils and mid-century pieces. The glass-walled Georo Coffee Bar, named for the Naxi word for greenhouse, serves artisanal coffee, natural wines and afternoon tea against the snow-capped view.

For a different side of China, one of mountains and minority culture rather than megacities, Hylla is a quiet standout.

Curious about Yunnan? Book your stay with me for preferred-partner perks.