Spirited Silky Inn Review: What Century Are We In?

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I’ve always loved ancient cities, anywhere in the world. For me, visiting one feels a little like time travel. So whenever I travel somewhere with an old town or ancient city, I usually try to find accommodation nearby.

When I was looking for a hotel in Dali, Spirited Silky Inn immediately stood out because of its design and location. I knew staying here was going to be an experience in itself. The hotel is beautiful and looks like something straight out of the Chinese period dramas I watched growing up (hello, Tony Leung’s The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre!). The location was another big plus. It’s within walking distance of the South Gate of Dali Ancient Town, so I was sold.

I booked a room for two nights and arranged a pickup from Dali Railway Station through the hotel for 80 yuan, which I paid directly to the driver. By the time I arrived in Dali, it was already evening, and my driver was waiting for me at the station. From there, it took around 45 minutes to get to the hotel.

The Hotel & First Impression

The hotel is tucked away in a quiet alley, about a five-minute walk from the main street. Check-in was easy. None of the staff spoke English, but they have a translation device at reception. When the staff speaks in Mandarin, the English translation appears on the screen, and vice versa. It made communicating surprisingly easy.

After checking in, one of the staff helped carry my luggage to my room on the second floor. On the way, we passed through the courtyard for the first time, and I was in awe. The hotel is particularly beautiful after dark, with all the lights reflecting on the pond in the middle of the courtyard. This was definitely my what century are we in? moment.

There are also some really nice spots around the hotel where you can take photos or simply sit and enjoy your breakfast or afternoon tea. The hotel even has a collection of traditional Chinese outfits from different ethnic groups that guests can borrow for free and wear for photos around the property.

The Room & My Stay

I booked their double bed room in the ancient Chinese style. The room was really spacious, with a small living area as you walk in. There’s a raised seating area that almost feels like a mini tatami space, as well as a sofa bed facing the TV. I ended up using most of that space for my luggage. The bed and pillows were comfortable enough, and the bathroom was decent, with a shower and hot water that worked perfectly fine.

My room had a window facing a traditional market, so it could get quite noisy in the morning if I opened it to let some fresh air in. I personally didn’t mind it at all. The market closes in the evening, so noise was never an issue when I was trying to sleep.

Breakfast was also quite good, with a few options to choose from. Each morning, they give you a piece of paper with the breakfast choices and you simply mark what you want. Since I stayed for two nights, I tried the porridge on my first morning and went for the rice noodles on the second. The hotel also offers complimentary afternoon tea, which you can enjoy once during your stay.

Unfortunately, I suffered from altitude sickness while I was in Dali, so I ended up spending quite a bit of time at the hotel, resting and just chilling by the pond. In hindsight, I was pretty glad I chose a hotel where I actually enjoyed spending time. There are also plenty of restaurants nearby, so I didn’t have to walk far to find lunch or dinner when I wasn’t feeling my best.

Overall Experience

Overall, the service was really good and all the staff were very helpful. I arrived quite late, and they kindly recommended a few restaurants nearby for dinner, all within about a five-minute walk from the hotel. Basically, if you need recommendations for restaurants, cafés, or shops, or just need help with something during your stay, the staff will try their best to assist you.

I’d actually been in touch with the hotel via WeChat before I even arrived in China. They asked me to send my train schedule in advance so they could arrange my pick-up from the station. This may not be a five-star hotel, but I really appreciated how attentive the staff were, from before I arrived all the way through check-out.

My only regret is that I didn’t get to try their hanfu experience because I was feeling really ill. If you have the time (and are hopefully feeling much better than I was!), definitely give it a try.

The hotel seems to be quite popular with both Chinese and international travellers, so I’d recommend booking ahead, especially if you’re visiting during a Chinese public holiday. I paid around USD 100 for two nights through Trip.com, which I thought was a pretty good deal considering the timing.

I think this is a great option for solo travellers (like yours truly), couples, or families. They also have larger rooms that can accommodate three to four people.

If you’re curious about staying here, you can check the current rates and availability here.

So, would you stay here for your own little time-travel experience? ♥️