Hanting Hotel Lijiang Ancient Town — Sleep Cheap but Clean by the Old Town Gate, a Few Steps from the Waterwheel and the Stone Lanes
Picture checking in, rolling your case a few minutes' walk and reaching the north-gate square of Dayan old town (大研古城), marked by its giant twin waterwheels (Dashuiche 大水车) — then wandering into the ancient stone lanes along the canals all day, while paying only a few hundred yuan a night. That's daily life for guests at Hanting Hotel Lijiang Ancient Town Dashuiche (汉庭酒店丽江古城大水车店), a budget chain hotel from Huazhu's Hanting (汉庭) brand planted on Minzhu Road, near the old-town north gate, in the heart of Lijiang. The Trip.com score sits at around 9.0/10 from over 1,200 real guest reviews — high for a budget chain. Honestly, if you're in Lijiang mainly to stroll the old town, photograph the waterwheel, climb Lion Hill for the views, and head out to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and you'd rather keep your budget for sightseeing than spend it on a room, a clean, reliable chain hotel within a few steps of the old town is the most reassuring choice at this price.
The first selling point here is a spot right by the old-town gate at budget-chain prices. The hotel sits on Minzhu Road, near the north-gate square of Dayan old town — the point marked by Lijiang's signature giant twin waterwheels (Dashuiche 大水车). Guests say the same thing again and again: a few minutes out the door puts you on the waterwheel square and into the ancient stone lanes. From there it's only about 10–15 minutes on to Sifang Street (四方街), the heart of the old town, lined with teahouses, snack shops and old Naxi timber houses. The Black Dragon Pool (黑龙潭) — where the snow mountain reflects beautifully in the water — and the Mu Palace (木府), the Naxi chieftain's mansion, are both within walking distance of the hotel.
On getting around, it helps to know first that Lijiang has no metro, and Dayan old town is pedestrianised — cars can't drive in. Most travellers take a DiDi or taxi to the old-town gate and walk in (porters with carts are available if your stay is deep in the lanes — but Hanting sits right on the main road just outside the pedestrian zone, so a car can drop you at the door and you don't have to drag your case over the stone lanes). From Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) it's about 28 km, roughly a 40–50 minute taxi ride; for those arriving by train, Lijiang Railway Station (丽江站) is about 10 km away, with trains to Kunming, Dali and Shangri-La. This kind of location suits travellers who mainly want to explore the old town on foot without losing time on long rides in and out.
One guest recalls: "The location is excellent — only a few minutes' walk from the hotel to the waterwheel and the old-town gate, and a DiDi can drop you right at the door so you don't have to drag your case into the lanes. The room is small but clean, the bed comfortable, the hot water strong, and the staff gave good tips on what to see. Great value for somewhere this central."
On the rooms, it helps to understand the Hanting brand first — this is Huazhu's budget chain, built around clean rooms and simple wood-and-grey design, consistent across every branch (this one was renovated in 2021, so the rooms look newer than you'd expect at the price). There's a decent spread of room types, from the compact Superior Queen at around 15–20 sqm, up to a Twin at about 21 sqm, a Superior Twin at around 22 sqm, and a Family Room around 25 sqm that sleeps the whole family. The recurring praise is for cleanliness, a soft and comfortable bed, strong hot water, and in-room heating (which matters a lot in Lijiang, where the nights are cold). Not luxurious, but it has everything you actually need.
The criticisms are real and worth knowing first. The first: rooms are on the small and basic side, especially the entry-level Superior Queen — it's a two-star budget chain, not a courtyard guesthouse, so don't expect Naxi character or pretty views. If you're travelling as a group or with big cases, upgrade to something roomier. The second: the walls are fairly thin, and some guests report hearing the next room or the corridor; the fix is to ask for a higher floor or a room away from the lift at check-in. One more thing to prepare for is the altitude: Lijiang old town sits at around 2,400 m above sea level, so you may tire easily on the first days and feel out of breath climbing Lion Hill — rest up, drink plenty of water, and let your body adjust.
A score of around 9.0/10 from over 1,200 real reviews (Trip.com rates it "Excellent") reflects how pleased guests generally are, especially with the location and value. The repeated praise is for easy old-town walks, clean rooms, and helpful staff who can recommend places to see. Worth flagging: this hotel has no swimming pool, no gym, and no full breakfast spread — it's a budget chain focused on clean rooms and a great location, with just a simple breakfast room and luggage storage. If you're expecting Naxi atmosphere within the hotel, a snow-mountain view, or a spa, look at the higher-tier options in our list, such as the Atour branch by the waterwheel or a courtyard guesthouse in the old town.
Standard rates start at around ~¥260 (฿1,300) per night, with a typical range of ฿1,300–2,200 depending on season and room type. China's long holidays — Golden Week (October 1–7), Chinese New Year, Labour Day (May 1–5) — and the summer peak (July–August) push rates up and fill rooms fast, since Lijiang is among the top draws for domestic tourists, so book several weeks ahead if you're coming then. The honest summary, friend to friend: the waterwheel branch of Hanting is for travellers who want to explore Lijiang's old town on foot, with a clean, dependable base by the gate on a tight budget. If you can live with a small room and thin walls, it's superb value — but if you want Naxi atmosphere or a better bed and breakfast, compare it against the Atour branch by the waterwheel or the Blossom Hill Inn courtyard in the old town from our list first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ By the north-gate square of Dayan old town, walkable to the waterwheel and Sifang Street
- ✓ A DiDi or taxi can drop you at the door — no dragging cases over the stone lanes
- ✓ Spotless rooms, comfortable bed, strong hot water, renovated in 2021 so it looks fresh
- ✓ The best value in the area for a chain hotel right by the old-town gate
- ! Rooms are on the small and basic side, especially the entry-level Superior Queen
- ! Fairly thin walls; some rooms pick up noise from next door or the corridor
- ✓ Staff give good tips on getting around and what to see
- ✓ In-room heating, which matters a lot on cold Lijiang nights
- ✓ Walk to the Black Dragon Pool and the Mu Palace within minutes
- ✓ Range of room types, from a 15 sqm Superior Queen to a 25 sqm Family Room
- ! No swimming pool, no gym, and no full breakfast spread
- ! Rates rise and rooms fill fast over the Chinese long holidays and the summer peak
- 💡If you're travelling as a group or with big cases · The entry-level Superior Queen is small at around 15–20 sqm and may feel tight · Fix → upgrade to the Twin (21 sqm) or the Family Room (25 sqm); the difference is small
- 💡If you want Naxi atmosphere or a better bed and breakfast · This is a simple budget chain, with no old-town character of its own and only a basic breakfast · Fix → choose the Atour branch by the waterwheel or the Blossom Hill Inn courtyard in the old town from our Lijiang hotels list
- 💡If you're sensitive to altitude and noise · Lijiang old town sits at around 2,400 m, so you may tire easily at first, and the walls are fairly thin · Fix → ease in, drink plenty of water, rest up, and ask for a higher floor or a room away from the lift at check-in