A few days ago, I posted on my small account, and everyone noticed my IP was in Yunnan, asking if I had any Yunnan-related products. So here it is today!
I spent a full nine days in Kunming and its surrounding areas, experiencing the city deeply, and I checked out the newly opened Hyatt Regency Kunming.
Recently, the weather in Kunming has been incredibly comfortable. It truly deserves its place as one of our editorial team’s favorite cities. Just a few days ago, when the temperature in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai reached nearly 40°C, Kunming’s highest temperature didn’t exceed 25°C. It’s hard to imagine being able to go out for a city walk at noon in July; I highly recommend everyone come to Kunming to escape the heat.
The newly opened Hyatt Regency Kunming aims to become the best hotel in downtown Kunming, and it’s been a long time since a new hotel opened in the city center. The location is excellent, right in the downtown area, next door to the high-end shopping mall Kunming Hang Lung Plaza, with lots of good amenities nearby and close to popular tourist attractions.
I must say the opening package is really good, especially considering the reasonable price and the included dining credit. Additionally, the price increase for this package is very friendly! Aside from a few days during the National Day holiday when prices will increase, there are no price hikes during summer vacation, the Mid-Autumn Festival, or weekends. Even for National Day, the increase is only 200 yuan per room, per night (which is quite a deal compared to the often outrageous price hikes at many hotels during the holiday). The only downside is that the rooms are limited; you have to act fast on popular dates!
The hotel opens on August 6, and you can book dates starting from that day, giving everyone ample time to plan their Kunming or Yunnan trip. 😜
Here’s our package:
Standard room at Hyatt Regency Kunming (king/twin beds) for one night with breakfast + 300 yuan dining credit during the stay (valid at all hotel restaurants) + seasonal fresh welcome fruits from Yunnan, with a limited-time opening offer starting from 1188 yuan, originally priced from 1688 yuan.
This offer is valid until November 30, 2024. There’s a 200 yuan price increase per room, per night from October 1 to October 5; otherwise, prices remain unchanged.
Yunnan has always been a popular summer destination due to its cooler climate. Hotel prices usually rise during the summer months, but with this new hotel opening, the package prices are quite attractive. The market price for a standard room with breakfast is nearly 2000 yuan, but our package offers it for 1188 yuan, which includes the additional 300 yuan dining credit.
Don’t underestimate the value of the 300 yuan dining credit because the pricing for dining at the Hyatt Regency Kunming is quite competitive; this amount can easily cover a full meal for two people (for example, a double roast duck set only costs 298 yuan).
The dining credit can be used at any of the hotel’s restaurants, offering great versatility. I will later highlight the hotel’s dining options, and you will see how genuine they are!
King room purchase link:
Twin room purchase link:
I believe spending three days and two nights in Kunming is essential, so we’ve also prepared a two-night package:
Standard room at Hyatt Regency Kunming (king/twin beds) for two nights with breakfast + seasonal fresh fruits from Yunnan + 400 yuan dining credit during the stay + two tickets for the “100 Years of Modern Art” exhibition at Kunming Hang Lung Plaza, with a limited-time opening offer starting from 2188 yuan, originally priced from 3376 yuan.
This package is valid until November 30, 2024. There’s a 200 yuan increase per room, per night from October 1 to October 5; otherwise, prices remain unchanged.
This two-night package at 2188 yuan is actually cheaper by 188 yuan than purchasing two single-night packages at a total of 2376 yuan, but it comes with 200 yuan less in dining credits. However, you get two tickets to the “100 Years of Modern Art” exhibition at Kunming Hang Lung Plaza (each ticket is 88 yuan).
Personally, I recommend booking two single-night packages because you get more dining credit. However, for those interested in the art exhibition, you could opt for this two-night package since the exhibition runs until October 31. Additionally, this art exhibition features six parts: Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art, New Painting, and Postmodernism. You can look into it for more details.
King room purchase link:
Twin room purchase link:
Now, let me introduce the hotel itself.
Hyatt Regency Kunming has an excellent geographical location that connects seamlessly with Kunming’s high-end, large commercial complex, Kunming Hang Lung Plaza. It’s just 3 kilometers from Cuihu Lake and 2 kilometers from Kunming Old Street, with South Strong Walking Street and the Kunming Museum just a short walk away.
In front of the hotel is a small Camellia Park, which was transformed from the private residence of patriot General Li Hongmo into a park, containing a stone house that is nearly 90 years old. It’s perfect for hotel guests to take a walk or jog in the morning and appreciate the unique urban greenery.
The design of the hotel is inspired by elements from Yunnan. The lobby features a layered arch design, which I later learned is reminiscent of the terraced fields. It’s an impressive conceptualization, more than just a simple replica; it inverts the entire structure.
As I walk to the reception desk, the design style remains consistent with the lobby, inspired by terraced landscapes. However, the biggest design inspiration here is actually “copper mines,” with colors combining brass and verdigris.
The dyed art piece displayed in the niche comes from artist Lin Fanglu, inspired by the vanishing traditional craft of tie-dyeing practiced by the Bai women community in Yunnan.
The welcome tea served in the hotel is delightful and varies frequently; sometimes it’s rose tea, other times it’s specialty lemon tea.
As for the guest rooms, each room carefully controls details, and the design is worth exploring. The room type included in this package is the classic standard room, and the views are great because of the height.
Here’s what you can see from outside.
The room key is made of wood, with a dedicated place to keep it outside the room so it won’t get misplaced—a very thoughtful design.
The guest room starts from 45 square meters, providing ample space. The overall color scheme features light green paired with varying shades of wood, giving it a refined and cohesive feel, aligning well with my impressions of the Hyatt.
Many of the room’s furnishings appear to “float” as if suspended, reminiscent of traditional stilt houses in Yunnan. I particularly like the lighting fixtures, which are artistic and cast patterns from the rattan lamp shades onto the surrounding walls or floor, creating a unique visual effect.
There are also many small animal-themed “Easter eggs” in the room for guests to discover, inspired by historical bronze artifacts from the Yunnan Museum.
The entire room utilizes smart controls, and upon entering, blackout curtains will rise. The room features a unique sheer and Venetian blind-style curtain with adjustable settings. The lighting can be directly toggled between bright and soft, making it convenient for guests.
The bathroom is bright and elegantly simple, with each room equipped with a bathtub, where one can relax while enjoying views of Kunming’s cityscape. The toiletries used are from BALMAIN, a brand commonly found in many Hyatt hotels, which I personally find delightful; it has a light, not overpowering fragrance.
I’ll share a few images of the suites in case anyone is interested; you can also check them out on travel booking sites for more details.
Now, let’s get to the main attraction—the dining options.
I have always loved hotels in the Hyatt group because they are well-known for their superb dining experiences. The Hyatt Regency Kunming features four restaurants and one bar.
This hotel truly broke my stereotypes of five-star hotel dining prices; it even manages to offer lower prices than many local restaurants while ensuring superior quality, providing excellent value.
During the week, after breakfast, you can sit in the lobby bar “Copper Shadow Gallery” to read or do some work. For lunch, you can grab a light meal at the all-day dining restaurant “Shuo Ting” before heading back to the lobby bar for afternoon tea; in the evening, you have choices of buffet or dining at either the Chinese restaurant “Yun Xian” or the Japanese izakaya “Die Zhuo”; and finally, you can go to the outdoor area of the bar “Altitude” to relax, chat, and enjoy the beautiful night view of Kunming.
Thus, dining here is not just about the food itself; it’s also about the overall experience.
The lobby bar “Copper Shadow Gallery” is independent, unlike many hotels that situate their bars right in a corner of the lobby, allowing it to maintain a quiet ambiance even amidst check-in traffic, making it a great place for work (or not).
The lobby bar includes an open kitchen and bar, offering exquisite drinks, desserts, and a variety of selections throughout the day. You can enjoy a simple cup of coffee for the afternoon or indulge in a delicious afternoon tea here.
I would strongly recommend their double afternoon tea package, priced at 398 yuan, which can utilize our dining credits. The portions are genuinely generous, and the variety is immense; generally, after having this, you wouldn’t need dinner at all. After sitting for a bit, you can head upstairs for drinks.
Here, you’ll find savory snacks, sweets, wine/sparkling wine, ice cream, hot beef pies, signature teas, coffee/tea, and freshly baked soufflés. I highly recommend the ice cream and freshly baked soufflé.
The ice cream here is soft serve, known for its refined texture, soft and smooth mouthfeel, with a rich creamy taste. The small crunchy nut bits mixed in create a superb combination.
This freshly baked chocolate soufflé should be consumed quickly while hot; otherwise, it will collapse and alter its texture. Freshly out of the oven, it has a crispy exterior but soft, fluffy interior, tasting buttery soft like a chiffon cake with dense creaminess.
All-Day Dining Restaurant “Shuo Ting”
The all-day dining restaurant features soft color tones, yet it uses very bold colored oil paintings and decorations, creating a rich atmosphere. There is also an outdoor area, which is lovely when the temperature is nice.
There’s a large Italian pizza oven that serves freshly baked traditional Italian pizza (available during lunch and dinner).
Breakfast here offers a wide variety—Cantonese dim sum, freshly cooked noodles, freshly baked breads, juices, and coffee… a rich and diversified culinary experience.
Employing a unique concept of “buffet brought to your table,” this buffet features many freshly prepared stations: local specialties like Mengzi rice noodles, Yunnan grilled rice cakes, Western-style pancakes, and more.
You must experience some local specialties here. While there are beef noodles, I highly recommend the Mengzi rice noodles, where the broth is very rich and delicious.
Grilled rice cakes are made by pressing cooked rice into round, flat cakes, akin to thin rice cakes used in wraps, smeared with sauces, and filled with eggs, fried dough sticks, or potato shreds, then rolled up for consumption.
It’s also worth noting that the hotel doesn’t provide a buffet for lunch, but there are simple meal options available, with promotions offering great value at only 68 yuan per person. Choices include rice noodles, pizza, rice, and pasta, all with a variety of options.
This 12-inch pizza is indeed a single serving, and it’s cheaper than what you find outside. (Note: the salad is one portion, in a choice of two.)
Chinese Restaurant “Yun Xian”
The highlight of the Chinese restaurant is the fruitwood Beijing roast duck, where you’ll see two eye-catching ovens on the 5th floor.
The restaurant showcases a lovely design reminiscent of the red palace gates, perfect for taking photos, and fitting for its signature dish—Beijing roast duck.
The fruitwood barbecue utilizes jujube wood and other fruitwoods, which not only gives the duck meat a crispy texture without being greasy but also allows the duck to continually absorb the aroma of the fruitwood.
