Hotele z: Pools w Fujian, China

This place makes me wish there was an option for six stars. I study Asian art for a living, and I travelled to Jianyang to visit the home of Jian ware, classic tea bowls of the Song dynasty (960 to 1279 CE), distinguished by their black and brown glazes. Over the last few decades, firing Jian ware in the Song tradition has been revived in the area. I chose Nanping Colourful Village Homestay because it was in Jianyang, affordable, and accepted international guests. What I found was a luxury resort with all the warmth and personal attention of a homestay. I asked the front desk about an excavated Song kiln site in a nearby village, and the receptionist brought me the manager, who arranged for someone to take me the next day. My driver was Ms. Huang, an employee of the resort whose job involves buying and selling contemporary pieces. She knew everything about Jian ware! The kiln site isn’t run as a tourist site, so I was only able to view it because Ms. Huang arranged for it to be opened for me. I had told them I was vegetarian, so for lunch they took me to lunch at a vegetarian buffet. Then we visited the town’s Jian ware museum, where they have exhibits on the history of tea and Jian ware, historical pieces, and the work of contemporary Jianyang potters. To my delight, Mr. Gao, the potter-in-residence at the resort, uses a Song-style wood-fired dragon kiln, built right on the grounds! His pieces that range from beautiful but quite affordable to exquisite and appropriately expensive. They include both iridescent silvery oil spot and orange-to-black hare’s fur pieces. I am still thrilled that I was able to purchase wood-fired pieces on my limited budget. For dinner, the resort’s restaurant prepared vegetarian versions of Fujian cuisine for me. The food was all delicious, featuring classic Fujianese mountain ingredients like local bamboo and mushrooms. Then we visited Mr. Gao’s dragon kiln, and later his studio, where he experiments with different local clays and glaze recipes. The rich colours and iridescence of Jian ware are the result of the iron-rich local material fired at high temperature, and the results are as unpredictable as they are beautiful. The next day, they drove me to Mr. Chen’s family tea plantation in the mountains, where they grow famous northern Fujian teas. These fine teas were all wonderful, smooth and rich with a touch of smoke, and sometimes fruity in flavour. We strolled through mountainsides of tea bushes and visited groves of centuries-old tea trees. This is a perfect place for an immersive experience in China that is also very comfortable and convenient. I often find tourist experiences in China claustrophobic due to the press of people, but the resort was spacious and airy, and they took me to places where there was no one else but us and the occasional local going about their business. Everyone was very patient with my limited Chinese language skills. They were also happy to work with translator apps on our phones, so if you don’t speak any Chinese, you will be fine. This would be a great place to come as a family. There are gardens and rides for kids right next to the resort. You can learn how to whip Song-style tea and carve your name into the base of your own Jian ware cup. Not far away is a historical theme park with a collection of real architecture from the Ming (1368 to 1644 CE) and Qing (1636 to 1912 CE) dynasties. The employees wear period dress and there are performances and activities. Nearby there are hiking trails, historical sites, and lovely villages to visit. It’s also very close to Wuyi Mountain National Park, so it would be a perfect place to stay if the mountains are your destination. If you ask, they could arrange for you to visit famous sites or take you to breathtaking places that only locals know, whatever you want. They can also arrange transport to and from the train station or airport.

The location is great, right on Zhongshan Road, so it's very convenient to get around. The subway station is right outside the hotel entrance. The environment is also good, tidy and clean. The service was excellent too; they even helped me with my luggage after I checked out and got into my car.

The moment I stepped into this hotel, a good portion of my travel fatigue just melted away. The front desk staff greeted me with warm, polite smiles, and the check-in process was quick and smooth, without any unnecessary delays. I had only mentioned a preference for floral scents, and a small sprig of fresh jasmine was discreetly added next to the welcome tea and snacks.

Excellent stay! The breakfast spread was fantastic with a wide variety of options, and I loved the self-service tea and coffee in the lobby. The hotel's location is perfect, really close to all the main attractions. The soundproofing in the room was great, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep, and everything was spotless. The front desk staff, especially the lady who helped me, was amazing – super responsive and helpful with any request. Five-star rating for sure! This will definitely be my first choice when I visit again. 😊

This hotel truly exceeded my expectations! The location is fantastic; you can see the sea right outside the door, and taking a walk with the sea breeze is so relaxing. The service was exceptionally attentive and thoughtful; the staff were warm and attentive, making me feel very welcome. There are tons of food options nearby, so it's convenient to find whatever you want to eat, and the price-performance ratio is excellent. The rooms were fully equipped, clean, and tidy, providing a comfortable and reassuring stay. Overall, a perfect experience, I'll definitely choose this hotel again next time!

This hotel is simply perfect! The room was huge, and the cleaning staff tidied up every day. Every evening, they'd bring sweet soups like tremella or red bean, along with fruit, right to our room. The restaurant on the 22nd floor was also great; we could leisurely enjoy breakfast there before heading out. There's a gym and a pool on the 6th floor. Speaking of which, I almost gave a bad review. When I chose this hotel, it was specifically because of their swimming pool. However, when I got there, I found out that during the Chinese New Year period, the pool hours were only from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM. This is exactly when we were out and about! How could anyone use the pool then? I was so annoyed. But, considering their excellent service, I let it go and still gave a full five stars. I also want to give a special shout-out to ”Huihui” at the front desk. We accidentally left something in the hotel fridge and only realized it after we'd checked out. Huihui very enthusiastically helped us find it and even mailed it to us. We're so grateful! All in all, this is a hotel with complete facilities, thoughtful service, and a warm, lovely atmosphere. It's the kind of cozy place that made us look forward to coming back to rest every day after a tiring day of sightseeing.

The room was small but exquisitely designed. The outdoor hot spring area and pools were incredibly photogenic! The water jets also created a fantastic 'wave' effect. My only suggestion is that the outdoor lights at night need to stay on for several times longer than they currently do; that definitely needs adjusting! The hotel restaurant's food was also excellent. I hope they continue to maintain their high standards. It's a hot spring hotel worth recommending!

This is a very good hotel. It is right next to the shopping mall, so restaurants and coffee shops are everywhere. We really appreciated the friendly front desk staff getting us an upgraded room. It is spacious, cleaned, comfortable, and fully stocked with everything we need. We love their long and cleaned pool. It’s perfect for lap swimmers. Definitely we will recommend this hotel to our friends and family.

The hotel environment is impeccable, with spacious public areas and beautiful birdsong and flowers. Perched on a hill, I was woken up every morning around 5 or 6 by the chirping of various birds. It's about a 15-minute walk to Xiamen University and Putuo Temple, though it's uphill and a bit tiring, but taxis are quite convenient. The room was also very large, with a bedroom offering a distant view of the rooftops of Xiamen University. All in-room facilities were well-equipped. While I wouldn't delve too deeply into the cleanliness details, it was acceptable, but the sound of water running from the rooms above or next door was particularly noisy. The service was excellent, with prompt responses to all requests! Overall, I was satisfied, with one exception: the breakfast was too basic. It felt like it cost less than five yuan to make, truly the most perfunctory breakfast I've ever had in decades of staying at hotels. We ended up ordering takeout for the kids for both days, so I don't think it's worth booking a rate that includes breakfast. I'd like to offer a suggestion to the hotel: with such a great location and environment, it should strive for perfection by putting more thought into improving the breakfast. For tourists, a hearty breakfast is truly important. If a buffet isn't feasible due to cost-cutting, at least the set menu could be more varied, instead of just offering a bowl of congee and one or two pre-made buns every day, which is quite unappetizing.

The environment is excellent, and the service is very attentive. Afternoon tea and breakfast are both provided. Every day, when you open the curtains, you're greeted by the clear blue sea, which is incredibly satisfying. **Facilities**: Very complete. There's even a charging point for the electric scooter we rented. **Cleanliness**: Clean and tidy. They even provide face towels, and the toilet is sterilized. **Environment**: Facing the sea, with a warm and vibrant floral view. **Service**: Everyone is enthusiastic, and shuttle service is available.