Ananas Green Lake Kunming — A Boutique Beside Green Lake, in a Quiet, Characterful Corner of the Old Town
Picture waking up in a room of soft greens and warm wood, with a round bathtub set right in the bedroom, heading down to a lobby so full of leafy plants it feels like a small courtyard, then walking a few minutes to Green Lake Park (翠湖), the green heart of Kunming's old town. That's daily life for guests at The Ananas Hotel Green Lake Kunming (昆明翠湖安舍酒店) — a compact boutique design hotel from the Ananas (安舍) brand, planted on Chuanjin Road in Panlong District, in the old-town quarter, about 400 metres from Chuanxingulou metro (Line 2) and a short stroll from Nanping Pedestrian Street. The Trip.com score sits at around 9.5/10 from over 4,000 real guest reviews — remarkably high for a small hotel that trades on design and atmosphere. Honestly, if you're in Kunming to wander the old town, stroll the lakeside, sip Yunnan coffee, and want a photogenic room at a sensible price, this is the kind of boutique many couples fall for the moment they step inside.
The first selling point here is a central old-town location beside Green Lake, with everything in easy walking range. The hotel sits on Chuanjin Road in Panlong District, an old quarter at the heart of Kunming. Guests say the same thing again and again: about 400 metres out the door and you're at the entrance to Chuanxingulou (穿心鼓楼, Line 2), and just a few minutes' walk brings you to Green Lake Park (翠湖公园), the city's green lung, where migrating gulls blanket the water each winter. Nanping Pedestrian Street (南屏街), the popular shopping-and-eating zone, is about 1.3 km away, an easy walk or short ride, and the old Yuantong Temple (圆通寺) is close by too. It's a base that lets you explore the old town all day with barely a need to hail a car.
Getting around is easy. Kunming Metro Line 2 runs through the city centre and links onto the other lines. Most travellers from Thailand fly into Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG), northeast of the city; from there it's a 35–50 minute ride into the old town by Airport Express bus or taxi (there's no direct metro link to the airport — bus or taxi only). The other way in is by high-speed train to Kunming South Railway Station (昆明南站), then Metro Line 1 into the centre. Kunming is also the gateway to Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La and Xishuangbanna, and a base for a day trip to the Stone Forest (石林). This kind of location suits travellers who want to settle in the old town and then carry on exploring Yunnan.
One guest recalls: "A small hotel but full of charm — every corner is beautifully designed, and the lobby is so green it feels like a little garden. The room had a round bathtub, was spotlessly clean, with a soft bed, and it's just a short walk to Green Lake. The staff were lovely and full of tips on where to eat and what to see. Excellent value for a design hotel this central in the old town."
On the rooms, it helps to understand the Ananas (安舍) brand first — this is a small boutique-design hotel built around looks and atmosphere, using soft green tones offset with warm wood and polished-stone walls, with curved archways, linear LED lighting, and in many rooms a round bathtub set right in the room, which has become its signature. There's a good spread of room types, from a compact Standard / Queen at around 25–28 sqm, up to a Deluxe / King at about 30–35 sqm that's roomier and usually comes with the round tub, and a Suite / Family at 35–40 sqm with plenty of space. The recurring praise is for a look that punches above the price, cleanliness, a soft bed, strong hot water, and friendly staff.
The criticisms are real and worth knowing first. The first: this is a small hotel, with a review base not as large as the big chains (around 4,000 reviews), and its facilities are fewer than a large property — there's no swimming pool and no full gym, the focus being stylish rooms and atmosphere. If you're expecting a rooftop pool or a spa, look at the 5-star hotels over in the CBD or on Dianchi Lake. The second: some entry-level rooms are on the compact side and a few lack an open outlook, since the building sits in a dense old-town district where blocks press close together. If a view matters to you, or you specifically want the round tub, choose a Deluxe/King or above and flag it when you book. One more thing: it's an older building down a small lane, which can be a little hard to find at night on a first visit — drop a map pin ahead of time and it helps a lot.
A score of around 9.5/10 from over 4,000 real reviews (Trip.com rates it "Exceptional") reflects how delighted guests generally are, especially with the design, the quiet courtyard feel, and the spot beside Green Lake. The repeated praise is for photogenic rooms, easy old-town strolling, and warm, helpful staff. The hotel also has a stylish lobby-bar corner and a leafy plant-filled courtyard that many guests enjoy lingering in over coffee. Worth flagging clearly: this is a small boutique built around lovely rooms and a calm atmosphere, not a full-service all-amenities hotel. If you're travelling in a large group, or you want a lavish breakfast buffet, a pool and a gym, compare it against the bigger hotels in our list first.
Standard rates start at around ~¥420 (฿2,100) per night, with a typical range of ฿2,100–3,500 depending on season and room type (rooms with the round tub run a little higher). China's long holidays — Golden Week (October 1–7), Chinese New Year, and Labour Day (May 1–5) — push rates up and fill rooms fast, since Kunming is a favourite with domestic tourists and the gateway to Yunnan, so book several weeks ahead if you're coming then. The honest summary, friend to friend: Ananas Green Lake is for couples and travellers in Kunming to wander the old town, stroll beside Green Lake, sip Yunnan coffee, and have a stylish boutique room at a sensible price. If you can live with a small hotel, fewer facilities and no pool, it's charming and excellent value — but if you want an all-amenities hotel with a pool, a gym and lake views, compare it against the Green Lake Hotel or the Wanda Vista in our list first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central old-town spot beside Green Lake — sightseeing on foot all day
- ✓ About 400 m to Chuanxingulou metro (Line 2) and close to Nanping Street
- ✓ Stylish boutique rooms, many with a round in-room bathtub, spotlessly clean
- ✓ Leafy lobby and courtyard, a quiet, calm feel — great for couples
- ! A small hotel with fewer facilities — no swimming pool
- ! Some entry-level rooms are compact and lack an open outlook
- ✓ Warm, friendly staff who give great tips on where to eat and what to see
- ✓ Beautifully designed throughout — a green-toned lobby and bar to sit and photograph
- ✓ Easy strolling to Green Lake, Yuantong Temple and Nanping Street
- ✓ Quiet and calm with a courtyard feel — a restful base in the old town
- ! No swimming pool and no full gym
- ! Down a small lane — can be a little hard to find at night on a first visit
- 💡If you want a full-service hotel, a swimming pool or a gym · This is a small boutique built around stylish rooms and atmosphere, with no pool and no full gym · Fix → see the Green Lake Hotel or the Wanda Vista in our Kunming hotels list
- 💡If room size matters or you definitely want the round tub · The entry-level rooms are compact at around 25–28 sqm and not every room has a tub · Fix → choose a Deluxe/King (30–35 sqm) or above and request a room with a bathtub when you book
- 💡If you're travelling in a large group or with a lot of luggage · It's an older building down a small lane, with limited lifts and common space · Fix → drop a map pin before you arrive, and if you need connecting rooms or more room, look at the bigger CBD hotels in our list