Yunnan Province's Department of Commerce, Department of Reform and Development, Department of State-owned Assets and Department of Environmental Protection have jointly issued a circular promoting green hotels across the province.

The circular says that a hotel wishing to be designated as a "Green Hotel" must be a model in cost-saving and environmental protection.

At present, there is no detailed standard for being "Green", but some basic requirements such as using high-efficiency lighting products and reducing guest amenities have been promulgated.

By 2010, Yunnan Province representatives say they hope tourists can live in the real green hotels when they travel in Yunnan Province. The government departments say there will be 10,000 green hotels in China in the next four years.