5-Star hotele w: Shanxi, China

My stay at JW Marriott Taiyuan Maoye exceeded my expectations. The hotel's location is excellent, with direct access to the Maoye Tiandi commercial area, making travel, dining, and shopping very convenient. The room was spacious and elegant, with a great view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The cleanliness was meticulous, and the bedding was soft and comfortable. The mini-bar offered several complimentary soft drinks, which was a nice touch. The front desk and room service staff were professional and courteous, friendly without being intrusive. The breakfast had a wide variety of options, and the executive lounge maintained high quality. Both the facilities and service lived up to JW Marriott's luxury positioning. However, the only minor drawback was the bathtub, which was the smallest I've ever seen – a bit too small to lie down in comfortably.

I did not want to leave. That is the most honest thing I can say about Xihe Academy. ”Guest house” is a label that does not prepare you for what this place actually is. If you are American and hearing that term for the first time, forget whatever image just came to mind. This is not a MIL suite tucked behind someone's garage. This is a fully realized, deeply considered experience wrapped inside one of the most stunning environments I have ever walked into. The courtyard alone stopped me mid-step. The surrounding area looks like an active film set -- you keep half-expecting to hear ”action” called from somewhere just off camera. And then you step inside and somehow it gets even better. I genuinely lost my words. The room is the kind of space where you realize someone has actually thought of everything. Included minibar. Fresh fruit and snacks. Loose-leaf tea so you can brew a proper cup. Bathrooms fully stocked down to the shower shoes. You can arrive with nothing but your clothes and be completely at ease. They have handled the rest. The staff made all of it feel personal. When a language barrier created a small miscommunication, they were patient and gracious without a flicker of frustration. When I joked that I had gone a little crazy shopping and could not close my suitcase, they immediately offered suggestions to help. That warmth is not a policy -- it lives in the people. They coordinate meals as well, and mine was delivered to my room and genuinely delicious. One thing I will say without hesitation: use their driver. This is a private, gated area and you cannot simply grab a random car or rideshare. Arrange your pickup from the train station or airport in advance -- it is seamless, affordable, and completely worth it. Do not skip this step. This was my first guesthouse experience, and Xihe Academy has set a bar I was not expecting to clear so soon. If you stay here, you will not regret it. Five stars is not enough.

On my trip to Datong, I booked a stay at the Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong, located right by the ancient city, through Trip.com. It's rated 5 stars online, and it truly lives up to the hype! As soon as I checked in, I was upgraded for free to a deluxe business suite. It was my first time seeing a suite with a dining table big enough to host over 10 friends and family. After one night, I switched back to my originally booked business king room. The king room was also incredibly comfortable, measuring a spacious 62 square meters. Opening the curtains revealed views of Datong's streets. If you walk to the end of the corridor, you can even see a panoramic view of the ancient city of Datong. What truly stands out is the fantastic Chinese restaurant at this 5-star hotel. I stayed in Datong for three days, and除了one lunch I had in Hunyuan Ancient City, all my other five lunches and dinners were enjoyed at the hotel's Chinese restaurant. Here, a bowl of Shanxi's specialty knife-cut noodles is only 6 RMB, and a bowl of cold noodles, even tastier than those in Hunyuan, is just 3 RMB. You can order half portions of shumai, and during the first dog days of summer, they even had dumplings. I tried the braised deer tendon with scallions, something I'd never had before, and it was superb, as were the husband and wife lung slices and jellyfish salad – perfect with drinks. Dining here is delicious and affordable. If you top up 200 RMB, you even get a complimentary plate of Shanxi's signature 'guoyourou' (fried pork in sauce). A huge shout-out also goes to the restaurant staff. They are warm, thoughtful, and genuinely care for guests, even advising against ordering too much, ensuring just the right amount! In summary, I give a 5-star rating to both the hotel and the F&B department. The last photo is of the hotel's breakfast, which was also excellent. The hotel has two breakfast restaurants, so even with many guests, it never feels crowded!

I stayed for 4 days. There was almost no service. I arrived at the hotel at 4 PM, and although they helped me arrange a higher floor, I waited for almost an hour, and the room they arranged was still not ready. They then switched me to another room on the same floor. The lobby was very hot, and all the temporary resting spots were directly in the sun. When I got upstairs, I was a bit dumbfounded to find my room directly facing the elevator. Oh well, I checked in. The check-in experience wasn't great. Disposable toiletries weren't replenished promptly; besides toilet paper, you literally only got them once. For a 4-day stay (2 days booked via a group deal, 2 days via other platforms), the bedside power outlet didn't work. I had to unplug the table lamp to charge my phone, and that outlet was just awful. The floor-to-ceiling window blinds were very dirty, covered in dust. For the same pre-sale price, Shangri-La offers much better value for money. Kempinski seemed forced into pre-selling, almost as if they don't want future guests. There are just too many options in Taiyuan for this price point.

Traveling from Hangzhou to Datong this time, I stayed at the Yungang Hotel. My first impression after checking in was: Datong hotels are incredibly grand! 😂 When I arrived at night, the fountain at the entrance turned on, the lights lit up, and the whole hotel looked particularly impressive. Inside, it was 'resplendent' all the way through; the lobby and corridors had the feel of an old-school high-star hotel, perfect for casual photos. The room was much larger than I expected, and the bed was very wide. I could spread out my suitcase completely without it getting in the way. The cleanliness was meticulous; the bedding, desk, and bathroom were all very neat. Overall, my stay for several nights was very comfortable. The bathroom was also spacious, and the double sinks were very convenient – two people could get ready in the morning without fighting for space. The breakfast is also worth praising. The variety was truly extensive, not just a few random items like some hotel breakfasts. There was a huge spread of fruits, hot dishes, and main courses. Those with decision paralysis would definitely go back for several rounds! 😂 It's especially friendly for tourists; eating a hearty breakfast before heading out to explore means you won't get hungry easily for the whole morning. Overall, it's a place I'd be happy to recommend. The environment is grand enough, the room is spacious and clean enough, and breakfast is abundant. If you care about accommodation comfort when visiting Datong, you can confidently choose Yungang Hotel, especially if you spend your days exploring and want a good rest at night. Next time I come to Datong, it will likely be among my top choices for accommodation.

If you're coming to Taiyuan, you absolutely have to stay at this Intercity hotel! It was by far the most unexpectedly amazing experience I've had with Huazhu H Rewards. The location is fantastic – the subway is right downstairs, making it convenient to get anywhere. The Guo Jin Center, with tons of food options, is just across the street. I really loved the decor; it's a German style, and the room was incredibly spacious. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the laundry room and gym, unlike many hotels that just throw in a washing machine and a few dumbbells and call it a day. The room service offerings were incredibly extensive, and breakfast was beyond expectations. And the best part? It was only a little over 400 RMB! The value for money is absolutely off the charts, so much so that I'd even come back to Taiyuan just to stay at this hotel again.

An old five-star hotel with very high cost performance. In particular, the front office service is very good, and the lobby manager Wang Jue is attentive.

1. The hotel boasts an excellent location, and parking is incredibly convenient with plenty of available spaces. 2. Having stayed in hundreds, if not thousands, of hotels, I can confidently say that the cleanliness here is exceptionally rare. The sheets and floors were completely free of hair, the sink had no stains, and the toilet not only lacked any unpleasant odors but even had a subtle, pleasant aroma. The housekeeping is truly outstanding. They even thoughtfully provided hand cream on the bathroom vanity. 3. On the day of check-in, because I booked late, all the family rooms and suites were fully booked, leaving only twin rooms with 1.2-meter beds. These beds are a bit narrow. It would be even better if the hotel could replace the 1.2-meter twin beds with 1.35-meter or even 1.5-meter twin beds. 4. The hotel only offers a laundry service charged per item, with no self-service washing machines. For guests traveling for extended periods, a self-service washing machine is an essential must-have. It would be great if the hotel could add self-service laundry facilities.

The Xinghuacun Hotel boasts an excellent location right in the heart of Pingyao Ancient City, directly across from the county government office. A right turn out of the hotel brings you to the bustling South Street, where all the major attractions are located. The rooms are incredibly spacious and feature double sinks. They're also super cool; we didn't even need to use the AC at night, making for a very comfortable sleep. The abalone millet porridge at breakfast was delicious, and the pour-over latte coffee was just as good as what you'd find in a coffee shop. The mini-fridge was stocked with various complimentary beverages, and all the bottled water was Baishui Mountain brand. What surprised us most was the complimentary fruit delivered every afternoon, and a thoughtful farewell gift upon check-out. The service truly was superb! 👍 Highly recommended!

Location: The location is excellent, right in Datong Ancient City. The hotel is directly across from Huayan Temple and Huayan Temple Square. It's also very close to many famous Datong restaurants like Zini 369, Longjuxiang, Beiwei Jiayan, and Xijindao, all within walking distance, which is incredibly convenient. Service: It's understandable that hotel prices increase during peak tourist season, but the service should also keep up. Before check-in, a hotel staff member called to ask about any special requests. I mentioned I had a child and needed children's amenities prepared in advance. However, upon arriving at the room, I found none were provided. I called the front desk to request them, but waited a very long time without anything being delivered. My family eventually stopped a cleaner in the hallway to get them. On the second day of our stay, the bathroom wasn't even cleaned – the trash was still in the bin, and the tissues hadn't been replaced. There was no staff outside to assist with luggage. On a positive note, my child lost a tooth and got some blood on the duvet, and the cleaning staff promptly replaced it, which was great. Breakfast: The restaurant isn't large, and there weren't many diners, which made for a comfortable experience. They offered freshly cooked items like lamb offal soup and knife-cut noodles. The variety of dishes wasn't extensive, but it was decent. Overall, there's still room for improvement regarding the details.