The most special trip we took before the New Year was to Songzan in Stone Moon, Nujiang, Yunnan!
I have always been a fan of Songzan, as each of their locations holds a special place in my heart:
Lying in Songzan Meili, watching the sun shine on the Golden Mountain;
Sitting in the courtyard of Bomi Mountain Lodge, admiring the blooming peach blossoms;
At Songzan Laigu, next to a glacier, looking at the end of the world;
…
We may all have longed for distant places, dreamed of the solitude at the edge of the world, and yearned for a cosmic-level romance… and Songzan is like a dream weaver, restoring all our imaginations of faraway lands and the “Shangri-La world.”
Moreover, in those breathtaking domestic destinations, where “the eyes are in heaven and the body is in hell,” it fulfills our wish for a relaxing vacation.
Songzan not only delves deep into the stunning landscapes that have been forgotten by man but also allows people to unknowingly immerse themselves in the local culture.
There are many hotels with advantageous locations and beautiful designs, but few can seamlessly integrate local culture like Songzan. Over the years, Songzan has consistently adhered to the principle of “employing local staff.” We don’t just come to spend a night in a hotel; we come to live like the locals.
The Songzan Stone Moon we visited this time is located in Nujiang, which I have wanted to visit for the past two years. The term “Nujiang” represents “Yunnan’s last secret realm.” In today’s age, where places like雨崩 have begun commercialization, Nujiang remains a sanctuary of solitude and mystery.
There are no train stations or airports here; reaching it requires a long drive and a lengthy walk. But when you see the confluence of three rivers, Bilu Snow Mountain, and the intricately patterned women… everything is worth it.
Recently, Cai Cai first launched a special opening package for Songzan Stone Moon during “See You on Monday!” It was a lively launch of Songzan’s new store, a hit from the beaches of Thailand, and many shareholders expressed great interest.
To restock, the package is available for just one day, ending tonight (February 12) at midnight.
Yunnan Songzan Stone Moon Lodge: 2 nights including breakfast + afternoon tea each day + one dinner for two + round-trip transfer from Baoshan Airport, priced at 3199 RMB; 3 nights including breakfast + afternoon tea + one dinner for two + transfer, priced at 4199 RMB.
Validity: February 6, 2024 – May 31, 2024, usable during the Spring Festival, with a supplement of 700 RMB per room night during the May Day holiday (April 28 – May 5).
This price is 200 RMB more than the last time. Generally speaking, opening prices represent the lowest price from a hotel. This package is only available for one day; we communicated with Songzan that the rates at Songzan Stone Moon Lodge will continue to rise. Currently, the hotel calendar rate is 1424 RMB per night, but you should know that our package includes round-trip transfers and one meal. A one-way trip from Baoshan Airport to Stone Moon Songzan takes 4.5 hours.
1 Purchase Taobao code: 89￥ CZ3456 FqCSWQHnpr0￥ https://m.tb.cn/h.5sP1jup/
Just for one day, it will go offline at midnight.
You can get a refund without an appointment, for expiration, or at any time, so everyone can stock up with peace of mind.
Next up is the freshly baked report (the main text also features nearby activities), and we rushed over immediately.
🏨
Songzan’s first canyon hotel
Can cohabit with the divine
The Songzan hotel chain consists of three series: Linka, Mountain Lodges, and Tent Camps. This one belongs to the Mountain Lodges series, which is not only small and exquisite but also has a very advantageous location.
Location
Songzan Stone Moon Lodge is Songzan’s first canyon hotel, located in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, known as a “place where humans and the divine coexist.”
Founder Mr. Bai Ma Duoji visited Nujiang multiple times for site selection, ultimately deciding on the hotel’s location in Chi Sa Di Village, Luma Deng Township, Fugong County.
This area is situated at the east bank of the Nujiang River and the heart of Bilu Snow Mountain, a prime spot for the convergence of three rivers.
At every balcony and floor-to-ceiling window of the hotel, you can see the three-dimensional Nujiang Grand Canyon and the azure Nujiang, gazing afar at the timeless, ever-rising round moon — the sacred Stone Moon of the Nujiang Lisu ethnic group.
Just sitting there, one feels infinitely satisfied.
This is also a true escape hotel; we traveled nearly 8 hours from Lijiang. Flying to Baoshan Airport is a bit closer, taking about 4 hours by car.
Key point: Friends who purchased the previous package can enjoy free transfers from Yunnan Baoshan Airport.
The beautiful scenery along the way is also worthwhile, with the journey offering views of mountains, rivers, and canyons. When the weather is good, the snow-capped mountains are clearly visible, allowing you to enjoy this world-class scenic route even while traveling.
During this visit, I also took the opportunity to stop for two days in Baoshan, and I’ll provide a travel guide for Baoshan later!
Check-in and Room
This Songzan offers a total of 55 guest rooms, with types including superior rooms, deluxe rooms, and luxury suites with two or four bedrooms.
Room sizes start at 40 square meters, and every room faces the Nujiang Grand Canyon, providing excellent viewing angles. We stayed in a deluxe room.
By the time we arrived at the hotel, it was already late at night. As soon as we sat in the lobby, a staff member served us tea, snacks, and towels.
No need to check in yourself; after enjoying the tea for a while, the staff completed the check-in procedures and brought over the Songzan-branded key.
The room design follows Songzan’s traditional aesthetic, with a warm space that makes one feel relaxed; opening the door feels like returning to one’s imagined home.
Upon entering the room, the turn-down service was already completed, and the complimentary fruit and dessert soup were delicious.
Although it was quite late, both I and the photographer @Xiao Yun were still excited to explore the room, and many details were captivating.
The room features elements of Songzan as well as extensions of local culture.
Brass products, rough stone walls, woven baskets, mosaic bricks on the walls… it was full of the essence of Songzan.
In particular, the brass items immediately visible upon entering the room, from the wash basin to the keychain, are all handcrafted, each with unique hammering patterns, making every piece truly one of a kind—this is quintessentially Songzan.
The curtain inspiration comes from traditional patterns of the Lisu ethnic group, and the copper doorplate features both Lisu and Mandarin Chinese inscriptions. If you look closely, you can even see the small “Stone Moon” logo on the “Do Not Disturb” sign; these little details always touch me.
On the desk is a copy of Songzan’s “The Hidden Door,” which you can read to learn about the stories behind Songzan.
The first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was draw back the curtains; the view of the Nujiang Grand Canyon outside was even more beautiful than I had imagined. The balcony is an exceptional viewpoint, equipped with a comfortable sofa.
In the winter, the Nujiang is blue, and sitting on the balcony, I could see the blue river, the distant snow-capped mountains, and the floating sea of clouds before my eyes—a very ethereal scene, reminiscent of a secluded haven for deities in a fantasy world.
It was a lovely morning to brew a cup of tea, sipping it while absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.
When we visited, the weather wasn’t perfect, but if luck permits, you could witness the clouds rolling in from your room. Vacationing amidst the clouds is an extraordinary kind of romance.
Amenities
I almost forgot to mention the room amenities—the mattress is a custom version from King Koil for Songzan, and the bath products are also custom-made by Songzan. Additionally, the room is fully equipped with a bathtub, a B&O portable Bluetooth speaker, a coffee machine, and more.
I particularly love the bathtub in the room; it is spacious and allows you to enjoy the stunning views while soaking in it—what a beautiful gorge view!
Also, each room has a minibar stocked with some water and drinks for personal use.
Common Areas
The Songzan Mountain Lodge series is small yet beautiful, yet it has all the essentials. There are restaurants, a bar, spa, gym, multifunctional room, and an infinity pool… allowing you to fully enjoy the holiday experience within the hotel.
Waking up in the morning and taking a stroll in the common areas, the oxygen-rich canyon air feels refreshing, and the sight of snow-capped mountains that feel almost within reach is beautiful.
There are also four century-old walnut trees in the common areas, visible from many angles. In winter, the walnut tree leaves fall, and the bare branches with the snowy mountains create a unique aesthetic.
The common areas have many “viewing platforms,” whether pavilions or terraces, all with excellent viewing angles.
I find the view from the infinity pool to be the most stunning; you can swim while privately enjoying the entire canyon view, with every moment filled with the dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Dining
Dining at this hotel is also completely acceptable. After all, the quality of food is a key criterion for a getaway hotel.
For me, looking at stunning, heavenly scenery while having to settle for mediocre food can be a bit frustrating.
Breakfast is semi-buffet style, with main dishes like rice noodles and vermicelli, while fruits, bread, drinks, etc., are all served buffet-style; it’s quite rich.
Perhaps due to the recent opening, currently there are only set meals available for lunch and dinner, with different menu options daily recommended by the chef.
For lunch, we had the chef-recommended Gongshan black truffle braised pork rice.
When the rice dish was served, the staff first mixed the pork, black truffles, and rice neatly and then placed them in small bowls in front of us, requiring no effort on our part.
The braised pork in the rice dish is made from local pork, and the flavorful pork combined with each grain of rice infused with its aroma, complemented by the black truffles—sublime!
The stir-fried beef in the set was also excellent, quite spicy and paired well with the rice.
For dinner, we enjoyed a lacquered chicken hot pot; lacquered oil is a special edible oil from Nujiang, extracted from lacquer trees and is quite precious.
Lacquered oil-based foods such as lacquered chicken and lacquered pig are the highest expressions of hospitality in Nujiang.
