This High-End Guesthouse in Lijiang, Yunnan Is So Wonderful! A Girlfriend Getaway You Won’t Want to Leave

Every encounter is a reunion after long parting. Grateful to reunite with you at Boxin Homeland.

Time is short, so reluctant to part, waving goodbye, our bond begins.

Wishing you a safe journey, and looking forward to having you come back often.”

The day I left Boxin Yunshè, I received this message on my phone, and it made me smile. It brought back memories of those slow, carefree days in Lijiang.

One day, chatting with my bestie, she mentioned that last year we traveled together to Guizhou, Beidaihe, and Northern Xinjiang, but this year, because of the pandemic, we hadn’t taken a trip together yet.

When is ‘another day’? When is ‘next time’? How long is ‘later’? I checked flights, and a round-trip to Lijiang was less than a thousand yuan, so we decided to just go.

No plans, no itinerary.

My bestie chose the accommodation: three nights at Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn in Lijiang. She said she liked that courtyard with the only infinity pool in Lijiang Old Town; she also loved the guesthouse’s motto: Boxin Yunshè, the spiritual homeland. Secluded here, quietly awaiting the return of old friends.

After a flight of just over three hours, we landed at Lijiang Sanyi Airport. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to Lijiang, but this was my first time arriving with my bestie.

The famous Lijiang Old Town is so renowned that it’s like the saying: “Fear not having no kindred spirit on the road; there is no one under heaven who does not know you.”

Many find it too commercial, but Lijiang is ultimately exquisitely beautiful. I think the reason girls love Lijiang Old Town is, for most, that it’s a world of blossoms, filled with flowers everywhere.

Every few steps you encounter a whole wall of bougainvillea, and riverbanks overflowing with daisies.

Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn offers airport pick-up. The driver dropped us off in the old town, and the butler met us at the parking lot, took our luggage, and softly said, “Welcome home.”

Following the stone-paved alleys, about a ten-minute walk brought us to our “exclusive master suite,” nestled under Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang Old Town, for me and my bestie.

Adjacent to Sifang Street to the left, Mufu to the right, and backed by Lion Mountain, Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn embraces the old town, in a superb and auspicious location.

Infinity pool, open-air garden, pavilions and water features, stone paths and little bridges… A high-end guesthouse you fall in love with at first sight. My bestie and I stayed three nights, and every time we returned from the boisterous alleys of Lijiang Old Town, our hearts grew quiet.

Vibrant when out, blossoming when in, motion and stillness, each with a different charm.

One day it rained.

We stayed in at Boxin Yunshè, doing nothing else. Appreciating flowers, reading, brewing tea, chatting… Sometimes a guesthouse is a destination in itself; the rest is just incidental browsing.

A bunch of bougainvillea in a corner was blooming with passion, so I couldn’t resist running over to take a photo.

I marveled at how the plants in Lijiang always grow so lushly, even the patches of succulents on the ground were so adorable.

This boutique guesthouse has over 30 rooms, each with a different style and theme, showcasing diverse aspects of Yunnan culture.

Boxin Yunshè cares deeply about preserving local culture, paying homage to indigenous life in the name of old towns, ancient villages, and traditional settlements, building a spiritual home journey in the native land.

One of the guesthouse’s spaces is used to display Dongba culture. We stood guessing the meaning of those Dongba pictographs for a long time, without success.

The infinity pool reflected the wooden windows and eaves. Staying there, you hardly dare to speak loudly for fear of disturbing the tranquility.

The room we stayed in those nights was named “Mufu,” after the nearby Mufu palace.

Mufu is the common name for the Mu clan’s chieftain office in Lijiang, a cultural masterpiece of the old town, a splendid architectural art garden.

The room was huge, antique in style, with a quiet sense of understated luxury, and the draped curtains that girls love.

There was a letter by the bedside: “To Be Opened by Boxin Yunshè.” It had the Wi-Fi password, 24-hour butler service, and a bedside phone that lets you make free calls to anywhere in China.

The letter also explained the room’s amenities: a DeRUCCI mattress, Fuanna Egyptian cotton bedding, imported Shiseido toiletries…

Even more thoughtful: every guest is provided with exclusive bamboo fiber towels, bath towels, linen slippers, and a natural peach wood comb—these exquisite items can be taken away as a memento when you leave.

These personalized take-home items are a first in China. Having stayed in many hotels and guesthouses over the years, it was the first time I experienced such detail-oriented service.

Each room comes with tea and a tea set.

If you’re fortunate, you might meet the founder, Xiangzi, in the lobby. Brew a pot of tea and listen to him talk about how the original Wényuàn transformed into today’s Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn.

Boxin Yunshè pioneered the concept of “heart stay”—a spiritual home, a place where the soul can dwell. Moving from accommodation to aesthetic stay to heart stay, Boxin Yunshè is dedicated to creating China’s first heart-homeland.

The bathroom has a separate wet and dry area, with a double basin counter so my bestie and I could freshen up at the same time without waiting.

There was also a handy electric heater rack for drying washed clothes, plus a garment steamer in the corner to steam wrinkles out of dresses from the suitcase—really so thoughtful.

A round bathtub sat quietly there, with bath salts, rose petals, and bubble bath provided, all complimentary.

At night, listening to a song, soaking for an hour—the resort feeling was perfectly captured.

Those days in Lijiang, my bestie and I woke up naturally every day, put on light makeup, and went for breakfast.

Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn has no front desk; check-in is done on these sofas. This double-height lobby serves as the breakfast room, lounge, tea room, and a book bar, integrating multiple functions. I loved the fireplace and the cloud-shaped lamps.

The breakfast is rich in local flavors.

Besides a traditional buffet, there’s Yunnan rice noodles, freshly baked buckwheat pancakes, chickpea jelly, grilled rice cake… letting you sample local specialties without leaving the guesthouse.

My bestie and I enjoyed a hearty breakfast, chatting leisurely without any rush. We’d discuss where to wander after breakfast.

Those days we roamed around Lijiang Dayan Old Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, Baisha Ancient Town, and more, each with its own character. Dayan is the largest and liveliest; Baisha is the smallest and quietest—you can choose based on your preferences.

One afternoon it rained, and my bestie and I sat on the sofa under the eaves, watching the rain form lines. Enjoying simple pleasures, relaxing, savoring a calm state of mind.

Lijiang Old Town is like a fascinating maze; we often got lost, and we loved that. You can enter the old town from streets, alleys, fields, and even mountain paths.

For a bird’s-eye view of Lijiang Old Town, you can go to Lion Mountain. We also discovered a perfect spot: the rooftop on the fourth floor of Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn.

Take the elevator to the third floor, then go up one more floor to a hidden realm.

They even created a “sky mirror” here, for girls like us who love taking photos. Best of all, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Sitting on the mirrored rooftop surface, overlooking the dense rooftops of Lijiang Old Town, the clouds hung low, and my heart was so still.

In sight were the grandeur of Mufu, the greenery of Lion Mountain, and the alleys where we had gotten lost the night before.

The most beautiful moment at Boxin Yunshè·Wényuàn is as evening falls. The sky is an unreal blue, complemented by warm lighting, like a painting.

Every angle is serenely beautiful. Red lanterns light up, fish in the pond swim leisurely, and the water’s surface is perfectly still without a ripple.

Evening breeze gently strokes, floral fragrance wafts. In that moment, making tea in the courtyard, you don’t want to go out.

At night, standing in the courtyard, look up at the patch of sky, scattered stars, and the vast emptiness above.

‘Boxin’ is not about hiding or escaping, but a return of the soul, a pursuit of a higher realm. Here, all time is connected to the soul’s return.

This place is not a hotel, yet its quality comfort surpasses five-star; not a regular inn, but a guesthouse with greater vision. Truly, you won’t want to leave.

If you feel you’ve lost yourself, leave the hurried big city behind and come spend a few days at Boxin Yunshè in Lijiang!