I had previously spoken to Gerard, the owner, prior to staying at Yourantai. The main priority for us was to have a bathtub. Gerard recommended the Palm Villa residence. After a very long journey taking in Tibet, Shangri La, Lijiang, we were ready for a "retreat". We were welcomed by Rong Rong, in charge of admin and customer service. Because we arrived late she had prepared a wonderful dinner for us while our bags were taken to Palm Villa. Dinner was served in the dining area which was open fronted and overlooked the Mekong River. Rong Rong took us to our villa and showed us each room. The bedroom was gorgeous with a huge king size canopied bed with tied back mosquito drapes. Beautiful bathrobes and exquisite slippers awaited us. From the wooden paneled and beamed living room, Rong Rong took us out onto the verandah where an inviting hammock swung from the beams. There was a table and some chairs for relaxing which looked out into the forest garden. To reach the bathroom, she took us down a flight of wooden steps which opened out into a magnificent bathroom with the most gorgeous wooden bathtub ever. there was a rain shower, WC and sink. there was even a fridge stocked with beers, cola and lemonade (for free). After a wonderful sleep in the most comfortable bed, we went for breakfast in the dining area. In daylight you can see the splendor of the Mekong River. We sat at a table for two and had a choice of Chinese or Western style breakfast. Coffee, tea and juice in abundance. Gerard welcomed everyone with a good morning and always had time for a chat with the guests. Above the dining area was a beautiful library / relaxation room. Shelves of books, comfy sofas and seats and a lounge area where you could stretch out and watch the meanderin Mekong. We spent all 4 nights at Yourantai as we didn’t feel the need to go out and explore. It was just the relaxation retreat we were looking for. Gerard has created something really special here over the last 20 years. If you want to rest and recharge your batteries then I cannot recommend this place enough. We will definitely return to Yourantai in the future. Thank you Gerard and Rong Rong for making our stay a memorable one.…
Yourantai is nestled on a hill surrounded by nature overlooking the Mekong/Lancang river and away from the hustle of the small city. Its a collection of old Dai houses moved and rebuilt on the property to international standards. The 'main' house serves as the 'lobby' of the property and is where guests have their meals, drinks, tea etc. The lobby is open air and has stunning views of the river and the city. The villa's are completely private and distributed across the property. There are two rooms in the main house. This is a great place if you want to escape a city and experience nature. Its a short walk down the hill to the river and within easy reach of all the attractions in the city by taxi/didi. Breakfast is included and you can choose Chinese or western style. Dinners can be arranged if you choose. And if you want to cook your own food, you are free to take over the kitchen. The staff are super friendly and will try to accommodate your requests. Such as take you to the nearest COVID test center. This is a great property for families or groups of friends to share the villa's. Or if you need to escape for highly private 1-1 business meeting. This property is not recommended for young children who need to be entertained by a pool or playground, it is, however, recommended for families with babies since the villa's are big enough and private. The grounds are covered in trees and tropical plants, it makes you feel like walking in the forest. Its alive with birdsongs. After discovering this place, I've been coming back often to escape the big cities and crowds of tourists. Gerard the owner, a former diplomat, naturist, and raconteur, and Manager Rongrong are consummate hosts. They are quick to take you through a tasting guide of local tea's or guide you through their wine selection (for purchase). You are free to bring your own wine and drink. Gerard can organize private forest hikes, and if you bring him along as a guide, he'll tell you all about the flora and fauna of the area. Pro-tip: this property is a great place to conduct private wine tastings...invite Gerard, he knows his wines. Suggest to bring your own cheese. Gerard can arrange the kitchen to pair the wines with specific foods and they bake their own bread.…
Excellently located in the new tourist area, this comfortable, simple guesthouse satisfied all the necessities for a brief stay in the heart of this very comfortable tropical China city. Simple by satisfactory
We spent 3 nights in the Yourantai. It is situated in a big tropical garden on a small hill at the northern end of Jinghong above the Mekong River. We were received very friendly by the manager and she helped us organize trips during our stay in Jinghong. The lodge is not cheap but since it has only five rooms/lodges its very secluded and spacious (most lodges have two floors) and does offer a great breakfast. We loved it here and can highly recommend it. Be sure to reserve dinner one day ahead since there is no regular restaurant and the chef has to buy and prepare the food specially for you!
My son and I spent 6 nights here. The staff and owner were fantastic. Friendly, helpful, and always available. They arranged guides, trips and suggestions of places to visit within an hour or two. A lovely jungle like setting (a former rubber plantation). We stayed at our own cottage, which was spacious, private and wonderful. The food, both chinese and western, was delicious. I would definitely return here.
Yourantai is in an absolutely splendid setting; real balm for the soul. Our Dai house, which comfortably accommodated the three of us, was a wonderful place to relax after a hard day's sightseeing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all delicious, with home made juices and jams from fruit picked from the gardens. A good selection of reasonably priced wines was on offer. Gerard, the owner, and the rest of the staff looked after us very well. Gerard helped with arranging taxis and outings and is very knowledgeable about the area and its flora and fauna, Would love to stay again next time we're in the area.
Yourantai is everything its website says it is - spacious wooden Dai style buildings in lush natural surroundings. Our 'housekeeper' Tina was friendly and helpful and the hospitable owner, Gerard, was ready with lots of local information invaluable for our onward travel. Just one caveat,however, the guesthouse is a long and complicated walk from the town centre, and taxi drivers do not know the place, so be sure to take up the guesthouse's offer to pick you up.
My travel partner picked this one and I now blame myself for not checking its background before reservation. My regret of coming to this place is the biggest in my entire life of travelling. Imagine you arrive a town the first time, not knowing the way, being unable to locate Ga Lan Bei Lu on the map ... what is more irritating was that I asked the locals and everyone gave different directions. Lucky that I found a traffic warden and managed to find the road eventually. However, the road leading to this place is under construction - definitely no good if you carry some bags. I could have called them for a lift but my Unicom card is data-only. To suffer more, this place is uphill and dragging bags uphill for 30mins. Pls share my terrible experience. I sincerely warn folks: beware of this place.…
We keep being enthusiastic about our four days stay in Yourantai. A very special warm-hearted place. We enjoyed the lovely breakfast, the salty and sweet crepes, the homemade jam, the view on the Mekong. We had two very nice dinners there, one Dai BBQ evening and one family style italian dinner a la Daniele. The Garden is like a oasis, we have never seen such a lovely curated place in China. Thank you Gerard and Daniele for make us feeling like home. We will see us again.
Yourantai is simply lovely - the setting is in a rehabilitated jungle, and the buildings are constructed beautifully in the Dai architectural tradition. The B&B is serene, with very kind, friendly and helpful staff who genuinely welcome you into their world. Both Daniele and Gerard are very knowledgeable about China as a whole and specifically about Yunnan, the local ethnic minorities and traditions. They give great advice for regional travel and help to arrange transport/itineraries as you like or need. It is expensive compared with other Jinghong options but well worth it for a couple of nights, or longer if your budget allows. This was hands down one of my favourite stops in China.
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