AabcdtweetyOur 4-day, 3-night stay at Zoland Emeishan.
Waking up to lush green mountains and birdsong one moment, and misty, ethereal rain the next.
After a quiet moment of zoning out, brushing my teeth by the window while gazing out at the endless shades of dark green made my eyes feel somehow clearer.
Later, my travel companions and I strolled over to the restaurant for breakfast. From *qiaojiao* beef rice noodles and wontons to millet porridge, various traditional rice cakes, and eggs... the spread was different every day and completely unlimited.
After filling up, we curled up with cups of coffee or black tea, four women chatting away about everything under the sun, taking photos, getting creative, laughing out loud, and indulgently squandering this precious leisure time.
In the afternoon, we continued roaming around the hotel grounds to take photos and create content.
We enjoyed afternoon tea, followed by more playful banter and booming laughter.
We carved out time to join the hotel's traditional incense-making experience, where, under the guidance of our private butler, we all successfully lit our hand-crafted golden lotus incense seals.
Next came a tour of the wine cellar and cigar lounge. Two-thirds of the wine collection comes from major wineries across China, creating a dazzling array. The sheer variety and quantity were truly eye-opening.
As night fell, dinner became the daily highlight of the trip. The Youchuan Restaurant served completely different menus across our three nights: a French-style course meal, a fresh seafood and broth hotpot, and innovative Sichuan fusion cuisine. According to the introduction, the culinary director is a renowned chef. My verdict: it has the refined style expected of Michelin standards, combined with the genuine flavor great food should have—appealing to the eyes, nose, and palate alike.
Even more commendable was the restaurant's service team, who were equally well-trained, professional, warm, and attentive. From introducing the dishes and wine pairings, to serving and wine pouring, down to clearing the plates, the entire experience felt intensely Michelin-esque.
Oh, and the complimentary glass of wine per person during dinner featured freshly opened bottles every single night, courtesy of their rich cellar collection, and changed daily.
After dinner, our handsome butler led us on a room tour of different guest room categories to help us digest. The design styles of the various rooms maintained a cohesive aesthetic while each holding a distinct theme—all of them extremely eye-catching.
After treating our eyes, we joined a one-hour singing bowl healing session. Afterward, our handsome and lovely butlers escorted us back to our rooms.
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All of the aforementioned daily perks—half-board (breakfast and dinner), wine tasting, incense-making experience, singing bowl session, as well as the wine cellar, cigar lounge, and room tours—required no extra charge. Selected room types even come with complimentary daily spa treatments and afternoon tea.
Other free services included daily laundry and ironing, high-speed rail station transfers, and shuttle rides to nearby attractions. Certain room types even include free airport transfers to and from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
The room facilities at Zoland are, so far, the only ones I've ever encountered that rival the convenience and usability of my own home, perfectly balancing taste and comfort. By the way, everything from the tableware in the restaurant to the tea sets in the rooms was not only gorgeous to look at but also felt wonderful in the hand—not clunky at all. I loved them so much.
The hotel's entire curation of activities and services, combined with the exceptional culinary output of the restaurant, ensured that holing up deep in the mountains of Emeishan for several days was never boring, nor was there any shortage of good food. Coupled with the comfortable room amenities and public areas seamlessly integrated into the mountain forest, I truly believe one could comfortably stay on the property for days without ever stepping foot outside.
Of course, the biggest bonus was the outstanding team.
Our dedicated butler, Xiao Luo, began meticulously taking care of us even before our trip, helping us select our dinner menus. Thank you so much for looking after us every step of the way.
Special thanks to General Manager Karma Renzhi for gifting us a stroke of luck—a complimentary upgrade to a room type that doubled our wonderful experience.
And to all the handsome and lovely butlers and service staff: your warm, attentive, and professional presentation delivered the perfect vacation for us.
Sincere wishes for Zoland to thrive and keep up the fantastic work.
I definitely want to come back for a second visit.
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