Jinmao Puxiu Snow Mountain Hotel is located within the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area and is the only hotel inside the scenic area. Situated at an altitude of 3,100 meters, when it opened in 2015, it was part of the same property as the current Hyatt Centric at the foot of the mountain—collectively known as the Grand Hyatt Lijiang. This Grand Hyatt was also the first Grand Hyatt resort in China. The mountain-side property was called Snow Mountain Garden, and the two locations are 17 km apart. Later, for reasons unknown, in 2018 the management of the mountain-side hotel was handed over to Beijing-based Yin She Yi Jing (founded by Pan Xiaoke, former Vice President of Hotel Business Development for Marriott China). In fact, their official website lists only this one hotel. However, since both properties share the same owner, a complimentary shuttle bus still operates between them, and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain entry permits included with the hotel stay can be processed at the Hyatt front desk.
The hotel’s architectural design was handled by CCDI Progressive Studio, while the interior design was done by Thailand’s P49 Design. The architecture draws inspiration from Naxi style: the ground floor is primarily brick and stone, the second floor and above feature wooden structures, and the roof adopts traditional Chinese classical eaves. Exterior materials include locally sourced rusted stone, bluestone, and pine wood. Overall, it resembles an independent small village, comprising 89 rooms distributed across several scattered buildings. All accommodations are suites featuring a living room and balcony, starting from 86 square meters, and every room offers views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
This hotel had been on my wishlist for a long time. Although regular room rates are relatively high, Dashanbai’s hotel benefits allow booking for just RMB 800. On this trip, I first went to the Jinmao Hyatt Centric at the foot of the mountain for lunch; this Hyatt Centric is much closer to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain than the InterContinental, and there are even alpacas to pet at the hotel. The room rate includes the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain entry fee for two people. After obtaining our entry permits at the Hyatt Centric, we took the complimentary shuttle up the mountain. Along the way, we got closer and closer to the snow-capped peaks, the scenery changed dramatically, and the air grew increasingly thin.
The hotel was fully booked that day. When our entire shuttle-load of guests arrived, the front desk proved extremely efficient: staff served tea to waiting guests, the General Manager came over to introduce the hotel, dedicated staff handled luggage, and after check-in, we were driven to our rooms by electric cart. Room amenities are comprehensive, including underfloor heating, a bathtub, oxygen supply, and a completely complimentary mini-bar. Toiletries are ACCA KAPPA, and both buffet afternoon tea and buffet breakfast are included. Additionally, the hotel offers a rich array of activities exploring traditional Dongba crafts such as papermaking and tie-dyeing, as well as yoga, tea tasting, coffee, photography, and stargazing—the daily schedule is packed full.
The hotel’s public areas are quite expansive, featuring a long corridor with uninterrupted views of the snow mountain. In the middle of the corridor, there is a ‘Sky Mirror’ installation and a yoga studio.
Photos taken at the Sky Mirror turn out beautifully.
There is a large communal space for afternoon tea, open free of charge to everyone. It offers fruits, desserts, and other treats of decent quality, and there is also a billiards table available.
Leading toward the banquet hall is a sunlit corridor. Outside, there is a terrace where tie-dyeing dyeing and drying take place. The walls display various tie-dye artworks and Dongba script calligraphy.
The banquet hall exudes a strong traditional Chinese atmosphere. When unoccupied, you can pass through it to reach a very spacious terrace.
Legend has it that this terrace is the best spot in the entire hotel for photographing the snow mountain. From here, you can see the venue for the ‘Impression Lijiang’ show, which is just a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
The hotel is also the only one in China with its own private observatory—the Startrack Observatory. Located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, this site boasts high atmospheric transparency, excellent seeing conditions, minimal light pollution, and visibility of stars from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is a shared observatory equipped entirely with remotely controlled electronic telescopes; astronomy enthusiasts worldwide can rent telescope time via its official website for remote observation.
At night, stars can be easily captured even with a standard camera.
The hotel has only one restaurant. Breakfast is buffet-style, while à la carte dining is available during other meal periods. Although the breakfast selection isn’t extensive, the food tastes quite good. Regular à la carte prices are reasonable, though personally I’m not a huge fan of Yunnan cuisine… The restaurant’s signature dish is Yak Hot Pot: the yak meat portion is fixed, while vegetables and other sides are self-service and generously portioned. The marinated yak meat is tasty and tender, though it doesn’t really taste distinctly like yak… Also, due to the high altitude and lower boiling point of water, ingredients don’t cook as quickly in the hot pot…
I’ve been lucky enough to get a window seat every visit. If you’re planning dinner, I recommend calling ahead to reserve a table by the window. Some people even make special trips from downtown just to dine here—quite dedicated! Pictured is Lijiang-style cured pork ribs.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, you might witness a rather amusing collective scene: everyone lying on the ground, phones placed right at the water’s edge, all trying to capture the sunrise gilding the snow mountain. On clear days, it truly is spectacular—watching sunlight gradually illuminate Jade Dragon Snow Mountain until it turns golden yellow, all within just a few minutes. Mornings can be quite chilly, with ice sometimes still forming on the water surface.
In summary, this hotel offers numerous irreplaceable advantages and is undoubtedly the premier vantage point for viewing the snow mountain. If you have any interest in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, staying here is unquestionably the best choice. I highly recommend a full two-night stay: dedicate one full day to exploring Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and use the remaining two half-days to leisurely enjoy the hotel experience. Local residents are exempt from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain entry fee, so ride-hailing services can drop off directly at the hotel. Upon departure, arranging an airport transfer straight from the hotel is extremely convenient.
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