Loved this place - picked it because of the reviews here and they were right. It was really warm when I was in Lijiang but my room was lovely and cool because of the traditional design of the building. Didn't need AC.

As with so many Chinese beds these are firm - but I slept on extra pillows so was fine. The staff are lovely, so sweet and helpful - if you're sitting on one of the computer's they bring you tea. Yumei who runs the place is great and can help with all kinds of stuff.

Breakast is yummy and by candle light. The musican who plays in the courtyard is fab. It's a very relaxing place to be - even when Lijiang is at it's craziest. Sitting on the veranda escaping the afternoon sun looking over the whole town is heavenly.

I couldn't recommend the place highly enough.

We stayed at the Zen Garden Hotel for three nights in Aug 2007 and absolutely loved it - we can't wait to go back. The staff were tremendously warm and helpful - our flight was terribly delayed from Kunming. We got into Lijiang a midnight, during a rainstorm. When we arrived, the hotel had arranged for a porter to bring us umbrellas and help us with our bags through the tiny car-free unlabeled streets of Lijiang. Truly fantastic service. The accomidations are totally fine (clean, comfortable rooms with private western bathrooms) - but the best part is the ambiance of living in Old Lijiang. Save time for breakfast in the morning - enjoy your tea overlooking the goldfish ponds in the courtyard...

For great food in Lijiang - try the Naxi sandwich at Lamu's Tibetan. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is worth the trip - just make sure you get the "western" trip - and are not the only westerners on a trip targeted at the chinese tourists...

We cannot recommend Zen Garden highly enough - we can wait to go back...

If you go to Lijiang...stay here. I travelled to Lijiang with my wife ( who is Chinese ) my daughter,grandaughter, son in law, friends, for my 60th. The hotel is an absolute delight. The alarm call in the morning as music drifts into the room from the couryard is somethig else. Things you don't get are spacious rooms, decent breakfast, 5* western hotel comforts. What you do get is a gem of tranquillity, tradition, real China, and wonderfull friendly service. When we went in February the nights were cold but as we sat in the lounge a man said would we like him to go to all the rooms and switch on the electric blankets. In the lounge they lit a charcoal fire and we sat talking and drinking into the early hours. Long after the experience of western 5* leaves you the memories of Zen garden will remain. Loved it

If ever a hotel can be designed to be a work of art, this is the place! It's on various levels with an ample use of greenery, traditional Chinese furnishings, a fishpond, verandahs with a view, etc. Beautiful! And the view of Lijiang town at night -- with its lighting -- is wonderful. The hotel is hidden on a backstreet away from the tour groups and the heavy commercialism. However, our room was pretty small -- and cold at night. Mind you, there was a space heater. There were no coffee or tea making facilities in the room. Be sure that you have printed proof of your reservation: the front desk seems a bit disorganized (and had no proof of our reservation). However, I had the e-mail -- and all was settled amicably and quickly. Breakfast is set out very elegantly -- but is a little skimpy (for China). Be prepared for cold -- wear your coat at breakfast -- at least in winter.