"Jianglu's service is exceptional. I had previously read reviews mentioning that while the facilities were good, the service fell short, and I almost missed out on this hidden gem of a hotel.
During my visit to Meili Snow Mountain, I stayed at Songtsam, Ji Xia Shan, Jianglu, and Shi Qi. I feel I can confidently comment on the overall service of each.
First, regarding butler service: I made a last-minute booking for Jianglu around 5 PM, and immediately after, Jianglu contacted me to add my butler on WeChat. Songtsam added me two days in advance. For Shi Qi, I had to actively call them in the late afternoon, almost 5 PM, the day before check-in to get added. Ji Xia Shan didn't contact me until almost 8 PM the night before check-in, and again, I had to call them to add the butler (Ji Xia Shan explained that they had called me around 3 PM that afternoon but no one answered, and then they asked Trip.com to send me an SMS, but no one followed up to check on the next day's guests – I was quite disappointed by this, as I would have been forgotten if I hadn't called proactively). Aside from these issues, the butler service at all hotels was generally good.
Regarding location and snow mountain views: Jianglu is right next to the observation deck, directly facing the Thirteen Peaks – an excellent location. You can enjoy panoramic views of the snow mountain from the balcony, though it's a bit tricky to see while lying down. Ji Xia Shan is more secluded; only the suites seem to offer direct snow mountain views from the room, while other rooms don't. During summer, definitely avoid the Yunling room type. They claim you can see Baima and Meili Snow Mountain, but it's completely obstructed by vegetation. You'd be better off booking a cheaper room type. The floor-to-ceiling windows in Ji Xia Shan's fourth-floor cafe observation deck offer stunning snow mountain views. Shi Qi is across the road from Feilai Temple observation deck, surrounded by bookstores, cultural creative shops, convenience stores, and many other guesthouses. I chose the 'Lianshan' room, which in pictures showed the bed directly facing the snow mountain, but it's not actually direct. The cafe also has floor-to-ceiling windows, offering beautiful snow mountain views. Songtsam's snow mountain rooms truly allow you to see the snow mountain from bed. Songtsam is located on a separate mountain, and it's the only hotel there. So, if your budget is around 3,000 RMB, unless you're staying at Songtsam where you can see the snow mountain from bed, for other hotels, I recommend booking the cheapest room type and just going to the observation deck for the views.
Regarding noise: If you prefer peace and quiet, definitely avoid Shi Qi. The Feilai Temple scenic area is very lively, and new hotels are being built nearby, plus the hotel itself is renovating its restaurant. The hotel is also right by the road, with large trucks frequently passing by and honking – the noise is truly terrible. However, if you enjoy a lively atmosphere, the Feilai Temple area is like a small town with many shops, and construction hours are from 9 AM to 6 PM. Jianglu, Ji Xia Shan, and Songtsam, on the other hand, are all very quiet and perfect for a relaxing and healthy getaway.
Regarding dining: The food at all these places is decent. Shi Qi's meal prices are significantly cheaper than the others, though their stir-fries are a bit on the oily side. Only Songtsam's breakfast starts at 7 AM, which is great for early risers or those needing to leave early. Songtsam's beef 'er-si' (rice noodles) is delicious; when I asked the chef for a few more pieces of beef, he gave me a whole bowlful. The other hotels' breakfasts all start at 8 AM. Jianglu is unique in that breakfast runs until 1 PM and is unlimited.
Regarding afternoon tea: The cakes at Shi Qi's afternoon tea are very good, and they have many drink options. Jianglu's afternoon tea is simpler, with only green tea available. However, their paid coffee bar offers a wide selection of drinks, including hot cocktails, which was a pleasant surprise for me as I can't have cold drinks. Songtsam's afternoon tea is buffet-style. Ji Xia Shan offers complimentary coffee and tea all day, and their afternoon tea features delicious dried beef.
Regarding facilities: Jianglu is quite distinctive and very thoughtful. Besides the usual fruits and snacks, Jianglu's rooms also provide facial masks and facial cleansing towels, and even condoms. At the front desk, you can find self-service makeup remover wipes, hair ties, hair clips, motion sickness patches, and more.
Regarding ginger tea: For me, ginger tea is excellent for relieving altitude sickness and stomach discomfort. Songtsam's ginger tea is the best, with perfect taste and temperature. Jianglu's is a bit too sweet and lukewarm, Ji Xia Shan's is too spicy, and Shi Qi doesn't offer ginger tea.
In summary, I am very satisfied with Jianglu. Coincidentally, I only saw the 'Golden Mountain at Sunrise' during my stay at Jianglu, which felt very fortunate. Jianglu is also great for photos, with a very textured feel, and I was very happy with the travel photoshoot I had there."