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Camellia Hotel

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  • 96 Dongfeng Road
     Kunming
    +86 (871) 3163000
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SeenThat
SeenThat
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5 out of 5
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Camelia Hotel

  • April 14, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by SeenThat from Tel Aviv, Israel
Camelia Hotel

Among the hotels I have visited, Camelia has a special place. As always, I arrived at Kunming without any hotel reservations; finding one in an unknown place is half the fun of the first day and it supplies an excellent excuse for an exploratory walk.

After reading the Kunming chapter of my guide while in Jinghong, I only knew Camelia would be my last choice. Simply, choosing a place defined as the backpackers’ headquarters in a Chinese province practically under their occupation didn’t seem to be a sound choice. Shortly after, delaying my decision until after the arrival, I boarded a sleeping-bus and left for Yunnan’s capital.

However, the late dinner provided by the respectable bus company in a spotless restaurant wasn’t well received by my stomach. While the other passengers happily watched the movies or snored powerfully, I just felt miserable; a raged porcupine was within my belly.

Early in the morning – already in Kunming - I knew I’ll spend the next couple of days in bed. Unluckily, among all the bus terminals in Kunming, the bus left me at the one closest to Camelia.

"It’s only for the first night," I cheated myself and hurried there.

The first sight of the hotel didn’t match the guide’s description. Instead of the typical South East Asian guesthouse I found myself staring at several boxy structures designed with the Communists disregard for beauty. The archetypal guesthouse, with an internet café, a travel agency and a restaurant next to the lobby while the rooms were elsewhere within the badly adapted structure did not fit here.

The lobby was spacious and the reception desk fitted the ones at four stars hotels I later visited in China. The staff didn’t panic at the sight of the long nosed white devil, and answered in decent English. The booking was swift and soon I found myself led by a polite concierge to what became my home for the next nights.

The Location

Camelia enjoys an excellent location on Dongfeng Beilu. Beyond being one of the main avenues in the city – implying good dining and shopping options nearby – the hotel is not too far from the main railway station, making thus the task of getting a train ticket easier.

The Name

The hotel has two names, Camelia and Cha Hua Binguan. In China, the practice of adopting a second – English – name is common of places and people dealing with foreigners. Apparently, the reason is not shyness but a reluctance to hear the foreigners mutilate the tonal originals.

The Rooms

Camelia offers two types of rooms. There are cheap dormitories, which I didn’t check, and regular hotel rooms in a variety of qualities. The last differ mainly according to their location, those in the newer building are better. They include Western style toilets, a spacious room with big, good quality beds, cables television and a thermos with hot water.

The Television

In Camelia I became acquainted with the excellent CCTV9, the English channel of the Chinese television. During most of the day, the second half of each hour is dedicated to documentary films; while sick in bed, I learned much about the local culture just by watching the excellent programs offered there.

The Food

Camelia’s inner court includes a restaurant; however, the food is rather expensive and not typical of Yunnan, most dishes are just adaptations of popular international dishes. On the hotel surroundings there are several local restaurants which provide awesome glimpses into the local cuisine. However, Camelia’s restaurant offers folkloric shows, which – as always with such events in China – looks a bit too theatric and artificial.

Other Services

Camelia offers bicycles for rent, a pub and internet café, which the guests are invited to use free for half a hour per day.

The Consulates

Myanmar and Laos have consulates within the hotel grounds. Visas to both countries can be issued here. Laos can be reached through the Mohan-Boten border cross, while Myanmar is a different story. The border can be crossed through Ruilin, but the country’s heart cannot be reached overland. In order to visit Yangon or Mandalay a plane must be used.

The Concierge

Unlike any other guesthouse I saw, Camelia had concierges. Mine – seeing I was sick – refilled the thermos in my room with hot water several times per day and brought extra tea bags. Appreciating the kindness, I hid my electric kettle every time she arrived.

From journal Kunming: South of the Clouds

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