To answer your questions:

Sadly I did not get to meet the GM. He was out when I stayed.

Noise from the city was not an issue but the staff informed me that it can in fact be bothersome on some nights.

I did not feel that I was in the middle of a big city although Dayan is just down the hill from where the property is perched. For my entire stay, I felt as though I were in a secluded and exclusive retreat.

The hotel is still in soft opening. Not all the rooms are ready and the spa treatments are conducted in converted rooms instead of the actual designated space by the pool.

I do not know if the airport transfer is complimentary. I stayed at another hotel in town on my first night and was picked up by my Aman guide to begin our excursion early the next day. My tour for the day ended at Aman.

I did all the cultural excursions as well as the Snow Dragon Mountain. Everything was top notch!

There are a number of connections to the Lijiang airport from other main cities. Kunming and Chengdu seem the most convenient.