Real review of a treasure hotel in Gaozhuang, Xishuangbanna! 5-minute walk to the night market

I just came back from Xishuangbanna! This time, I discovered a hotel in Gaozhuang that has "tropical style engraved in its DNA" – Xishuangbanna Jinghong Hepu Liyue Resort Hotel (Gaozhuang Starlight Night Market Branch). From the location to the design to the service, it exceeded my expectations. I have to recommend it to those who are planning to go to Xishuangbanna! 🌙 First, the location: a "night market right outside your door," which is perfect for lazy people. Anyone who has stayed in Gaozhuang knows that choosing the right hotel means you've already won! This hotel is only a 5-minute walk to Exit 3 of the Starlight Night Market (347 meters according to my test!). Every evening, you can stroll into the night market and catch the start of the Dai dance and the lighting of the night market. In the early morning, you can also take an 8-minute walk to the Great Golden Pagoda Temple to take photos without the crowds. The sunlight shining on the golden pagoda makes every photo look like a movie still. Transportation is also super easy: free airport pick-up (book 12 hours in advance), a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport to the hotel; free parking for those who drive, but I recommend taking the sightseeing bus that the hotel partners with, which takes you directly to the core area of the night market in 5 minutes, completely freeing your feet! 🌵 Design highlights: soaking in a Moroccan oasis and watching the stars As soon as I entered the hotel, I was captivated by the "desert oasis" themed courtyard! 2-meter-high cacti, white sand beach chairs, cobalt blue swimming pool, and rammed earth walls in earthy yellow tones. You can take great photos by the pool that make it look like you're "pretending to be in North Africa." I highly recommend the **"Half Sugar · Hot Spring Terrace Room"**! The 40㎡ space has a private outdoor hot spring pool, and the butler will prepare hot water and sprinkle rose petals in advance. When you soak in the hot spring at night, you can see the stars and the lights of the Great Golden Pagoda in the distance, which is super romantic. The public areas also hold surprises: the garden restaurant on the first floor offers free Pu'er tea tasting every afternoon, the rooftop on the third floor offers views of the Lancang River sunset, and the pool area shows outdoor movies every night! Lying on a floating mat and watching "Little Forest" with the sound of palm leaves rustling in the wind, this is the relaxation you should have on vacation. 💁 Service experience: more attentive than a best friend When checking in, the butler handed me iced tamarind juice and a wet towel, and also gave me a hand-drawn "Gaozhuang Guide Map" with the local barbecue stalls and photo spots marked on it. According to my test, the 24-hour front desk responds super quickly: the air conditioner made strange noises in the middle of the night, and they arranged for a room change in 10 minutes; the next day, I also received brown sugar ginger tea cooked by the butler, which made me want to give a five-star rating! Breakfast is served in the garden restaurant. You must try the freshly cooked Yunnan rice noodles, paired with tamarind juice and tropical fruits. Families with children can borrow children's slippers and swimming rings for free. There is also a water slide in the shallow water area of the swimming pool, so parents can relax and play on their phones on the lounge chairs next to it, which is very friendly to families with children. 🍜 Nearby recommendations: a guide to eating and drinking well without getting ripped off ✔️ Thai Coconut Tianxiang · Jiangjing Six-Nation Cuisine (280m walk): panoramic view of the night market from the terrace, Lao Loum Chicken Feet and Tom Yum soup are a must-order, average cost is CNY 70 per person. ✔️ Yang Yang Snacks (600m walk): a local's secret cold dish stall, CNY 5 for a serving of lemon Loum Chicken Feet, which is spicy and appetizing, and the Paoluda is full of ingredients! ❌ Avoid the pitfalls: don't just choose a roadside stall for travel photography in the night market! The photographer that the hotel partners with offers a CNY 299 package that includes makeup + retouching, which is much more reliable than roadside stalls; buy fruit at the Manhena wholesale market 3 km away, which is 40% cheaper than the night market. 💰 Price reference: affordable for students and those with a small budget Basic room types are usually CNY 500–700/night, including breakfast for two and airport pick-up. I recommend adding CNY 100 to stay in a hot spring pool room, which is a direct upgrade to your experience! Trip.com has a "3-night stay package" for CNY 1,099, including airport pick-up + travel photography + afternoon tea, which averages CNY 366 per night, which is a great value! Remember to book half a month in advance during peak season (November–February), and weekends may be CNY 100–200 more expensive. ✨ Summary: Who is this place suitable for? ✔️ Lazy people who want to walk around the night market ✔️ Photo-loving people who care about aesthetics ✔️ Families with children who want to save money ✔️ People who pursue service details I stayed in Xishuangbanna for 3 days this time, and every day I started from the hotel and played until midnight before coming back. When I was tired, I just relaxed in the hot spring pool. This experience of "walking to my happy place" was really great! I want to stay here again next time and unlock their rainforest hiking + tea making experience. Xishuangbanna Jinghong Hepu Liyue Resort Hotel (Gaozhuang Starlight Night Market Branch)