Serenity of Heart, Love Endures: A Stay at Kunming InterContinental Hotel

Mountains cannot be without springs,

flowers without butterflies,

where does the path lead?

Leaving brings no graceful ease,

ending holds no romance,

and so it turns out you are my everywhere.

Wang Zengqi once wrote: “Kunming’s weather is so fine, what reason is there to hurry away?”

Whenever I miss Kunming, memories surface through Wang’s writings. Though his lifelong affection belonged to his hometown Gaoyou, Kunming had become his emotional second home. In his works he delights in Kunming’s New Year customs, its weather, plants and trees, rice noodles, corn, mushrooms, pickled pears, kudzu root, braised chicken, cuan pork, leafy greens, as well as its teahouses, Green Lake, Wenlin Street, Longxiang Street, Fengzhu Street, Qianju Street, Fuyong Road, Xiansheng Slope, Jinma Biji Archway, Daguan Pavilion, Zhuantang, Baima, Huangtupo, Chenggong…

A land of unfathomable mystery,

swirling dust concealing secrets seven thousand years old,

starlight shrouding the magnificent pyramids,

guarding the riddle of the Sphinx.

A civilisation once at its zenith,

the Nile’s waters flowing across vast reaches,

nourishing a brilliant culture for three millennia.

Devotees offered pious worship to the gods,

praying they would shelter this land and its people.

Though the mountains are high and the roads stretch far, there is always a time to return. This time, I came for the Egyptian Cute Gods Family Room at Kunming InterContinental Hotel.

Location & access: The hotel is at No.5 Yijing Road, Xishan District, Kunming, about 38 kilometres from Kunming Changshui International Airport, 10 kilometres from Kunming Railway Station and 10 kilometres from downtown Kunming. It sits in the heart of the Dianchi National Tourist Resort, right beside the “Highland Pearl” Dianchi Lake. The surroundings are a balance of mountains, water and gardens, echoing celebrated sights such as Xishan Forest Park, Yunnan Nationalities Village and Haigeng Dam. The hotel is 1.7 kilometres from Yunnan Nationalities Village and 1.3 kilometres from Haigeng Dam — in this season, don’t forget to stroll to the dam and feed the red-billed gulls.

Décor: The interior design takes the “exquisite butterfly” as its theme, as if a flock of colourful butterflies in flight has brushed a splash of brilliance over the Dianchi shore. The outdoor gardens are infused with Southeast Asian charm and the architectural character of Yunnan’s ethnic minorities. As a hotel situated in a province where many ethnic groups live side by side, the Kunming InterContinental conveys genuine respect for local culture.

Guest room outlook: The hotel offers 536 luxurious rooms and elegant suites. Lifelike butterfly murals and a nature-inspired design blend Yunnan’s traditional character with international fashion. Nearly half of the rooms have oversized balconies overlooking the beauty of Dianchi Lake, along with separate entertainment rooms and other personal touches. All rooms come with digital entertainment systems, rainforest showers, spacious and comfortable workspaces and high-speed internet. High-quality facilities and attentive service ensure every guest enjoys a gracious welcome.

Different from the usual room experiences, this time I travelled through time and space with you, crossing history to stay in the Egyptian Cute Gods Family Room and explore the mystical charm of ancient Egypt.

The gods of ancient Egypt, magnificent and immortal. The British Museum has turned them into adorable characters: half-human, half-animal figures each carrying a distinct meaning. Bastet, one of the most beloved goddesses, often appears with a cat’s head on a human body, and is a goddess transformed from Sekhmet. Divine power: the gift of the moon. Type: support. Thoth, god of wisdom and the moon, is usually depicted with the head of an ibis or as a baboon, and is the local patron of Heliopolis. Divine power: wisdom and knowledge. Type: support. Anubis, guide and guardian of the dead, is portrayed as a man with the head of a jackal. Divine power: the weighing of the heart. Type: guardian. Horus, protector of the pharaohs, often appears with the head of a falcon. Divine power: the Eye of Horus. Type: combat. Sobek, god of the river and marshes, shown with a crocodile head. Divine power: the blessing of the Nile. Type: guardian. Ra, the sun god, usually depicted with a falcon head. Divine power: the light of the sun. Type: guardian.

The bursting colours that meet your eyes are only the beginning of the adventure. Bastet and Anubis cushions wait ready. Ride the rocking horse straight to the Giza Pyramids, pitch a tent printed with all the gods, and sleep through the night safely sheltered by divine blessings.

Bath amenities: Byredo Blanche series. The fragrance of this line is special, different from Rose of No Man’s Land or Super Cedar. The scent of white, clean and pure, sophisticated and elegant. A fresh, minimal fragrance that carries extreme grace and a fitting classical beauty — refined and knowing, very much in tune with the upscale positioning of the InterContinental brand for its distinguished guests. It has a classic minimalist touch, a tone I truly love. In terms of cleansing and skin feel, it gives me a clean, reserved, youthful impression. Love at first try — that must be the feeling.

Bathroom fittings: Kohler washbasin, toilet, bathtub and taps; Hansgrohe shower — fast-heating and thermostatic, as durable as ever.

Bedding and linens: Canasin linens, King Koil mattress — skin-friendly, comfortable, neither too soft nor too firm, friendly to different sleeping habits and physiques. Excellent spinal support, breathability, temperature control and soundproofing.

In-room tech: LG television, Philips wireless speaker-clock, satisfying the personalised leisure needs of every guest.

But none of the above is the real highlight. Since this is the Egyptian Cute Gods Family Room, much more awaits the children’s arrival.

Towels, toothbrush cups, toothbrushes, bath amenities, pyjamas, slippers, water cups and tissue boxes — all printed with Egyptian cute god designs — let the little ones wash up with peace of mind. In the bathtub, floating ducks and swimming turtles invite splashing fun.

Corner protectors, anti-slip stools, child toilet seats, chair and cushion covers — also in Egyptian cute god motifs — give the little explorers a safe journey through their Egyptian adventure.

There are also educational Egyptian-themed games: flying chess, jigsaw puzzles and encyclopaedia readers to get young minds working while unlocking a whole new decoding diary.

Even the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door is illustrated with the Egyptian cute gods, as if whispering to passers-by not to interrupt this mysterious Egyptian quest.

The Egyptian Cute Gods Family Room brims with stories, waiting for you.

You can bring your child to savour the simplest happiness of childhood,

witness every wonderful moment of their growing up,

play freely, carefree — that is childhood as it should be.

Or, like me, come by yourself and experience it.

Real-world worries weigh heavy enough,

so slip into the Egyptian cute-god bathrobe,

wear the adult-sized Egyptian cute-god slippers,

sit on the floor for a round of flying chess,

clutch a Bastet or Anubis cushion and crawl into the tent.

Life sometimes needs a moment of emptiness.

Staying in the Egyptian Cute Gods Family Room,

who says you can’t be a child again?

I can’t forget the kushari in the streets of Luxor, made with rice, macaroni, onions, black lentils and tomato sauce. I have also hurried along munching a pita stuffed with smoked chicken, ham, fried egg, bacon, fresh greens and pickled cucumber, washing it down with cold water on my way to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, that authentic Egyptian feast still lingers in my memory. The roast pigeon stuffed with green wheat and rice — the local pigeon meat is thinner, so it absorbs flavours beautifully and roasts to crisp, tender perfection. There was molokhia soup, a Nile specialty stewed with chicken and garlic, thick, green and savoury — remember to pour it over rice the Egyptian way. And the “oriental salad,” the most common Egyptian salad, mixing tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers and other fresh ingredients with oil and vinegar. This salad upends the refreshing lightness you expect; it tastes oily and carries a raw, earthy tang.

Egyptian cuisine is as layered as the country’s social and historical fabric, starting from the simplest village dishes and shaped by Greek, Lebanese and French influences.

Back to the point: though you can’t have Egyptian food here, the dining at Kunming InterContinental is distinctive in its own right. Traditional Yunnan cuisine, Southeast Asian dishes and the specialties of Yunnan’s ethnic minorities are the regional flavours you must try.

The hotel has two restaurants and a lobby lounge. At Xiangdao Chinese Restaurant, you can enjoy exquisite Cantonese cuisine and authentic Yunnan dishes. The Hani people have lived for generations in counties along the Yuanjiang and Lancang rivers — Honghe, Jiangcheng, Mojiang, Lüchun, Xinping, Zhenyuan and beyond. Their Long Street Banquet, a custom of the Hani October New Year, is a feast of blessing. The all-day dining restaurant is named “Changjie” (Long Street), highlighting local Yunnan culture and offering guests a wide array of choices. The bright, spacious open kitchen lets you watch global culinary artistry while you dine. Caidie Bar echoes the hotel’s butterfly theme: relaxing over a drink in the lobby lounge, accompanied by the graceful strains of the resident singer, is the perfect way to savour Yunnan’s slow-paced life.

The buffet represents a high-star hotel’s culinary standard, and the premium buffet at Kunming InterContinental’s Changjie Western Restaurant is not to be missed.

First, the must-try dishes on the Changjie list: curry seafood, Thai-style pork fried rice, Italian pizza, braised specialties… after tasting them, I couldn’t help marvelling at the chef’s mastery of Southeast Asian flavours.

Next, specialties from all over Yunnan: steam pot chicken, lamb soup pot, Yiliang roast duck, Xuanwei stir-fried pork, Zhanyi spicy chicken, Binchuan haishao fish, Yongping yellow-braised chicken, black three-mince stir-fry, red three-mince stir-fry, lemongrass grilled fish, Jingpo cold chicken… you can taste the cuisines of Yunnan’s 16 prefectures and cities and 26 ethnic groups in one stop — and what’s remarkable is how authentic the flavours are.

On top of that, the restaurant offers unlimited servings of a dazzling global feast: fresh salmon sashimi, tempura, buckwheat noodles, crisp Indian flatbread… a variety of seafood cooked to order, an array of grilled items prepared on the spot, and delicate personal hot pots with either plain or spicy broth. Fresh vegetables and meats are yours to choose, with a dipping sauce station so abundant it’s dizzying. Mango mousse, tiramisu, durian cake and other desserts are paired with fresh fruits and salads. You must try a glass of Yunnan’s distinctive tamarind juice — I simply couldn’t stop drinking it. And if you’re tired of Häagen-Dazs, you can also choose Dubaire rainbow ice cream.

I’ve always felt that any buffet dinner that doesn’t offer seasonal limited-edition signature dishes is simply cheating. At Changjie Western Restaurant, you don’t even need to get up — a chef will wheel these dishes to your table. Recent seasonal highlights include beautifully plated beef Wellington, lobster pasta with jaw-dropping flavour, and Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs brimming with rich, succulent roe.

Changjie Western Restaurant is not only about abundant food. While you dine, you can take in the elegant garden scenery. Even sitting indoors, you’re treated to a waterfall feature and live music, so your senses of taste, sight and hearing are all indulged.

The service is thoughtful, with children’s dining chairs, long gathering tables and party spaces that cater to everything from family meals to corporate team-building, plus an exclusive dining area for IHG InterContinental members. When the head chef makes rounds, he’ll kindly remind you to wait until the hot pot boils before adding meat, and that lamb chops are best with a dip of spiced salt.

As for the buffet breakfast, the standard range of classic items goes without saying, but I’d especially recommend the Yunnan snacks: crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, shredded bait silk noodles, cold rice-sheet noodles, thin pea porridge, “da jiujia” (sautéed erkuai), buckwheat pancakes, bitter buckwheat strips, pumpkin cakes, Mengzi New Year cake, egg-white cakes, modern baba pastries, fried milk fans, fried milk cakes, grilled erkuai and crispy layered buns. If you still think that’s not enough… let’s talk again after you’ve finished all of those.

I used to think you had to travel far and see countless landscapes to fulfil a dream. Now, standing in a place 2,200 kilometres from home, what I’m really seeking is a stable haven where I can lie down in peace.

After all this time, I’ve finally understood that I don’t really have a grand dream — it’s not about going to a faraway place or seeing breathtaking scenery. I just want a home where I can sleep soundly.

My heart grows calm through the things I do. May everyone eventually find their own place of rest.

Original text and photos copyright @天蓝年代 all rights reserved, contact for repost.

I am a special photographer for AirAsia, Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Embassy of Canada in China; a financial writer, omnimedia professional, contracted travel writer, contracted photographer, and recipient of the Yunnan News Award (Online Commentary Award, Innovative News Award).