Rissai Valley , a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Extremely satisfied with this hotel! Even before arriving, I could feel the hotel's warm welcome and thoughtful service. Upon checking in, I was greeted enthusiastically by a butler and the entire service team. Walking around the hotel's public areas, all the staff members proactively greeted us, offered their help, and provided attentive service, including guiding us and explaining things. A special thanks to Nimo, our butler, who took my two children on a tour right from check-in, feeding the deer and lambs. And to two other staff members who accompanied the children as they explored the hotel's public areas, catching butterflies and insects. The gym and swimming pool cater to all workout needs. The hotel's organized activities (like making mooncakes, beaded bracelets, lanterns, hiking, and meditation) also provide ample emotional value and relaxation. I genuinely love and highly recommend this hotel!

“Rissai,” meaning ‘village’ in *******, directly informs the hotel’s design ethos: it’s not a luxury hotel merely ‘placed’ within a landscape, but rather a modern ******* village ‘growing’ organically from the mountains. When Rissai Valley opened in Jiuzhaigou, the industry once hailed it as Aman’s strongest challenger in China. However, after experiencing it firsthand, a somewhat harsh conclusion emerged: it adopted Aman’s form, but not its soul. 🌈 **Environment: The Sense of Seclusion Diluted by the ‘Village’** Aman’s site selection philosophy is ‘isolated and independent’ – Amandayan is nestled deep within tea plantations next to Lingyin Temple, while Amandayan sits atop Wangu Building on Lion Mountain. Once you check in, the world quiets down. Rissai Valley’s ‘seclusion,’ however, is compromised. Zhongzhagou itself is not a hidden gem; it’s more like a ******* village scenic area undergoing tourism development. The hotel faces Bori’e Village across the valley, which sounds poetic, but the actual experience is: you can constantly see tourists, self-driving vehicles, and tour buses from the opposite village. Aman’s seclusion is ‘seclusion from the world,’ whereas Rissai Valley’s seclusion is ‘maintaining distance from the scenic area.’ There’s a whole magnitude of difference between the two. 🙈 **Smoking in Public Areas: A Fundamental Failure for a Luxury Hotel** In Aman’s public areas, you'll hardly smell smoke – not because there are no smokers, but because the service team politely yet firmly guides them. At Rissai Valley, openly smoking guests are not uncommon, and no one intervenes. While having breakfast outdoors, tourists directly in front of us were smoking while enjoying the view, and the waitstaff even ‘thoughtfully’ provided an ashtray… For a luxury hotel that prides itself on being ‘secluded,’ this is a fatal lapse in detail. You’re paying Aman-level prices, yet you have to tolerate secondhand smoke drifting into your mountain morning – this goes beyond brand image; it’s a collapse of basic service standards. Furthermore, Rissai Valley’s breakfast is a full buffet, with a rich variety and reasonable flow, but it's essentially no different from any other five-star hotel. The moment you wait to pick up your food, the illusion of ‘seclusion’ shatters. The logic of a buffet is efficiency; the logic of à la carte is care. Aman chooses the latter; Rissai Valley chose the former. 💬 **WeChat Butler: Actually Quite Good, But I Don’t Really Need It** Rissai Valley’s private butlers have a special name – Nieba, meaning ‘housekeeper in a noble family’ in *******. However, the service relies excessively on WeChat: group chats before check-in, frequent greetings during the stay. Every message is polite, enthusiastic, and ‘thoughtful for you,’ but together it becomes a continuous disturbance. You’re in the mountains, yet your mind is constantly pulled back into service procedures by your phone’s WeChat. I’ve always believed that the best service is the one you don’t feel. One last point about the transfer vehicles. Transfers should be the prelude to the experience, but Rissai Valley’s transfers are outsourced to a third party. The driver was talking on the phone and replying to WeChat messages while driving. Midway, under the guise of the driver needing a restroom break, we were taken to a shopping spot at a ******* family’s home. Although there was no forced selling, it was utterly bizarre. Rissai Valley’s hardware, design, and location are all excellent among luxury hotels. But since it has chosen to compete in Aman’s league, it must accept the comparison: that constantly missing ‘something’ is precisely the hardest ‘something’ to make up.

Due to a tight schedule, we only made a quick stop at Rissai Valley , a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. However, I must say that their service is exceptionally attentive and warm. A special shout-out to our host, Sybil, whose meticulous care truly deserves high praise.

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars... The hotel environment, facilities, service, and responsiveness were all impeccable. When one of the kids showed mild altitude sickness, the hotel even arranged a complimentary car to take us to the hospital. We are truly grateful. Our whole family also planted a wishing tree at the hotel, and we hope to return in the near future. It is well worth looking forward to.

The hotel is nestled in the 'back garden' of Jiuzhaigou, a 20-30 minute drive from the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and about 3 kilometers from Huameisheng. It boasts unique mountain and wilderness views, which are simply beautiful. The check-in experience is full of ceremony: upon arrival, staff present Hada scarves, prepare tea and towels, and there's a traditional intangible cultural heritage welcome performance. Afterwards, a butler meticulously introduces the hotel's design and overall layout, and luggage is delivered directly to your room. The guest rooms offer complimentary bubble baths and turndown service. Balconies are equipped with a bonfire pit, allowing you to enjoy the mountain scenery in colder weather or at night. Each room comes with professional binoculars; on clear, starry nights, you can contact staff for assistance with setting up the equipment for stargazing. The wash area also features a heated towel rail, a thoughtful design touch. The hotel provides a wealth of family-friendly activities, including a kids' club where children can experience archery, mushroom picking, and feeding lambs and deer. There are also many recreational facilities: the cinema and mahjong tables require advance reservations, while the billiard table, outdoor ping-pong, badminton courts, and swimming pool can be used directly. The pool offers stunning views and has a separate shallow children's pool with warmer water, perfect for kids, while adults can swim in the larger pool. The hotel offers travel photography services, which are recommended to book a few days in advance to secure a suitable time. There are three shooting locations: the golden sail, the lawn, and the hotel architecture. The entire process of makeup, shooting, and photo selection takes approximately 2 hours. During peak season, it's also advisable to book dinner and lunch a few days ahead, otherwise, you might face long waiting times. The hotel breakfast offers a rich variety, and the overall service is attentive. Small suggestions: For the sofa bed service, essential oil-infused towels could be wrapped around the armrests. In the evening, essential oil diffusers or incense could be offered to further enhance sleep quality. It's recommended to install lockable screen doors on room doors, so guests can open them for ventilation at night without worrying about mosquitoes. The outdoor air here is incredibly fresh, and even with the in-room fresh air system, it's hard to beat the natural mountain breeze; opening the window allows for a better experience of the air and beautiful wilderness. Additionally, portable oil heaters could be provided near the bed, sofa, and in the bathroom to help maintain indoor temperature.

Rissai Valley , a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is surrounded by mountains with an unbeatable location that truly lives up to its secluded reputation. From the hardware and software to the overall service, everything is well worth the price.

The location is fantastic, the room facilities are excellent, and the service is top-notch. The restaurant offers a great variety of delicious dishes, and the cocktails at the bar are wonderful. My butler, Sisse, was extremely attentive, offering great recommendations and arranging various activities for us. It was a truly wonderful stay.

I stayed at Rissai Valley for exactly 24 hours, and just as online reviews said, the scenery isn't the best. It certainly doesn't have the endless, rolling hills of colorful trees like Naizigou, nor the vastness of the Qiangtang uninhabited zone, and it's even less secluded than its sister property, Niseko Hinode Hills. However, the human touch at this hotel is truly among the best I've experienced. From the moment we walked into the lobby, and our butler Sarah escorted us back to the villa for check-in, she mentioned they grow their own vegetables nearby – mulberries, lettuce, mint, and other seasonal greens. Right then, I knew coming here was the right decision. Good hotel service isn't just about pure luxury; it should permeate into the smallest details of a guest's life. When we went to the banquet hall for bead stringing, it was no problem to string a few extra beads. Most importantly, three spa staff members, Silvia, Sofia, and Sinara, bent down and spent a long time helping my friend and me pick out pink beads from a pile of white ones. In the evening, during plant rubbing, we met the incredibly congenial Caroline and the very talented photographer Susan (who took some amazing photos of my friend). Caroline gave my friend and me two mysterious gifts, which made us incredibly happy. We were the only two left lingering at the rubbing station, and they stood there chatting with us. When they took us back to the villa, they somehow produced a bottle of pear soup, saying it was cold and we should drink it to warm up. This completely elevated our overall stay experience. My friend specifically wants to commend Salvia, who took beautiful and patient photos of her copying sutras. There were so many staff members who served us that I can't possibly name them all, but every subtle, thoughtful detail made me feel so comfortable. For example, at breakfast, a plate I moved aside was cleared away by a server within a minute. My salad, noodles, and fried eggs were all prepared to my specifications and brought to me without me having to wait. When I was looking around the salad bar, a staff member introduced me to some of their breakfast greens, which they grow themselves, and eagerly offered to make me something. Although I wasn't planning on eating, I ended up getting a portion, and it was quite delicious. Although the concept of Hinode Hills is to escape and be undisturbed, my personal preference for a hotel experience is still about connecting with others and nature, and receiving genuine service from the hotel staff. It makes me feel truly welcomed by the place. I don't believe formulaic politeness and service constitute the ultimate experience. In Aba, Sichuan, a region known for its warm hospitality, I personally think Rissai Valley balances these two aspects very well. The hotel experience itself isn't just about the scenery; it's about whether the hotel can elevate its human-centric service and guest experience to match its own standards. This has little to do with the hotel brand, but rather with the training received by the on-duty staff and the team's service philosophy. This is a very difficult thing to control, which is why I'm writing this long review. P.S. The hotel's little lambs are incredibly cute and well-behaved! They are absolute darlings, very well cared for, and have lovely temperaments. You can pet and cuddle them freely. Staff members said they even wash them with shampoo. It truly melts your heart!

What a hidden gem – this truly defines a 'secluded luxury' experience! I stayed for two nights, and it definitely lives up to its reputation as one of the top hidden luxury hotels in China. The experience was absolutely fantastic! Surrounded by mountains and mist, the Tibetan-style architecture blends seamlessly with modern luxury. The private villas offer unparalleled privacy. It's also very convenient to get to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. Our butler, Sisse, provided meticulous and thoughtful service, with a Hada welcoming ceremony upon arrival. She also thoughtfully prepared ginger tea and pear juice, showing attention to detail at every turn. The room was spacious, and the terrace offered direct views of the valley and snow-capped mountains. Both the scenery and the service were impeccable. It's absolutely worth another visit!