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 hotel boasts an excellent location, making it incredibly convenient for getting around and dining. The room was clean, odor-free, and spacious, with soft, comfortable bedding. The bathroom had great water pressure. The front desk staff were friendly and efficient with check-in and check-out, and they were quick to respond to any requests. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience and my top choice for travel. Highly recommended! Plus, Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street is right downstairs.

An overall smooth check-in experience. I booked a National Day discount voucher before the holiday, and they upgraded me to a high-floor river view room for free. The hotel butler contacted me in advance via WeChat. The service at the hotel lobby for check-in, luggage storage, and room cleaning was all excellent. The hotel design is Chinese style. Although the location is not in the city center, the nearby commercial area is convenient for dining and shopping, and it's very close to Suning Plaza. I would choose this hotel again next time I visit.

Pet-friendly with no extra pet fee. Service: Good service. They gave us a heads-up in advance when room availability was tight. Cleanliness/Location: Fantastic location and very convenient. Everywhere nearby was either within walking distance or just a base-fare taxi ride away. Having parking spaces was also a great plus. Environment/Amenities: The overall ambiance was decent. The breakfast rice cereal/paste was delicious—I had two bowls! Other breakfast options were a bit limited, but there are plenty of food spots around, so we were eating non-stop anyway. Overall, a great stay. I’ll definitely stay here again next time I visit Quanzhou—dining, lodging, and getting around were all super convenient.

A wonderful stay with exceptional service We had a very enjoyable stay at Crowne Plaza Xiamen Jimei Seaview. The hotel is modern, beautifully designed and very comfortable, with lovely sea views and excellent facilities. Our room was fantastic, and we were very grateful for the generous upgrade. The hotel also prepared a lovely anniversary surprise for us, which was a genuinely thoughtful touch. We particularly enjoyed the evening turndown service, something we do not encounter very often and which added a nice five-star touch to the stay. The dinner buffet was another highlight. We were impressed by both the quality and variety of the food. The 22nd-floor Executive Lounge also deserves a special mention. It is a beautiful space with wonderful views and a very relaxing atmosphere. We took quite a few photos because we enjoyed the setting so much, and it is definitely somewhere we would recommend other guests experience. Most importantly, we would like to specifically recognise Merry. She was exceptional throughout our stay — warm, professional, patient and genuinely attentive. From helping with our room arrangements to checking on us throughout the stay, we always felt that she sincerely cared about our experience. Service like this makes a significant difference and is one of the main things we will remember about this hotel. The only area that fell short for us was the Level 5 swimming pool and health club. During our stay, the pool was extremely crowded due to external swimming activities, which unfortunately made it difficult for us to use. This was particularly disappointing as the swimming pool, gym and sauna were among the reasons we specifically chose this hotel for a stay during several rainy days. However, after we shared our experience with the hotel, our feedback was received with genuine concern and handled extremely professionally. We appreciated that very much and hope management can improve this aspect, because the quality of the leisure facilities should match the otherwise excellent standard of the hotel. Overall, despite this one area for improvement, we leave with very positive memories of our stay. The modern rooms, sea views, excellent food, beautiful Executive Lounge and, above all, the outstanding hospitality we received made this a hotel we would happily consider returning to. Thank you especially to Merry and the team for taking such good care of us.

I enjoyed my stay overall. While the hotel isn’t perfect, it offers great value if you’re looking for a relaxed beach holiday away from the busy tourist areas. Location The hotel is in a peaceful area close to Huangcuo Beach and Xitouxia, with plenty of small local seafood restaurants and traditional Chinese eateries nearby. If you’re not into seafood, there are still a few other dining options within walking distance. It’s about a 30-minute walk to popular cafés like Oncebook Coffee and Snow Peak Café. Further along the beach you’ll also find beach bars such as Breeze Bar and Amoy Beach Bar, where you can enjoy drinks overlooking the ocean. Most of Xiamen’s major attractions, including Shapowei, Zhongshan Road, Gulangyu Ferry Terminal, and MIXC, are around a 20–30 minute taxi ride away, making them easy to reach. Facilities The highlight of the hotel is definitely the swimming pool. It’s clean, relaxing, and has two sun loungers, making it a nice place to unwind after a day of exploring. The hotel doesn’t offer breakfast or have its own restaurant, but there are several places nearby where you can eat. Room The rooms are spacious and nicely designed, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide beautiful ocean views. The bed is exceptionally comfortable, with soft memory foam pillows, and the air conditioning works very well—something you’ll definitely appreciate during Xiamen’s summer. The bathroom is modern, with a large rainfall shower that has excellent water pressure. There are a few downsides, however. The room could be cleaner, and the hotel provides disposable towels instead of regular bath towels, which wasn’t my favourite. There’s also no minibar or mini fridge, which would have been a welcome addition. Service The reception staff deserve special mention. The gentleman who checked me in was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable throughout my stay. His hospitality left a very positive impression. Final thoughts If you’re looking for a quiet beachside stay with comfortable rooms, beautiful ocean views, and don’t mind taking a taxi to Xiamen’s main attractions, this hotel is a solid choice. Just don’t expect luxury facilities or a full-service resort experience.

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.

Initially, I thought it was just an average hotel, nothing spectacular. However, the service truly stood out and made me feel right at home. Check-in was fast and efficient. When they heard we were tourists, they proactively offered recommendations for nearby attractions. After completing the check-in process, the front desk manager personally escorted us to the guest room elevators, which made us feel incredibly welcome. Upon entering the room, there was a plate of welcome fruit on the table. Taking a bite, it was sweet to the taste and warmed my heart. When I requested a few extra bottles of water, a robot promptly delivered them. Throughout the hallways, lobby, and restaurant, the staff consistently greeted us with smiles. Before check-out, Ms. He at the front desk kindly asked if our stay was satisfactory and offered us several bottles of mineral water, suggesting we take them for our journey due to the hot weather. You could truly feel their genuine care. From check-in to check-out, I consistently experienced the warmth of the staff. Although I hadn't heard of this hotel before, after staying here, I genuinely felt that staying at a Junlan Hotel gives you a wonderful sense of home!

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.

Overall, I'm extremely satisfied! I stayed here for 3 days during my trip to Xiamen, and they upgraded us to a sea-view room. The hotel isn't located on the island, so transportation isn't the most convenient. However, compared to hotels of similar quality on the island, the price is very advantageous, making the transportation costs worthwhile. The hotel staff are incredibly friendly and warm. Whenever we encountered housekeeping staff in the hallway, they always greeted us proactively. On our departure day, when they learned we were checking out and heading home, they even asked if we needed two bottles of mineral water for the road. On a daily basis, when taking a taxi, staff at the hotel entrance would always help open and close the car doors, and their attitude was excellent. On Mid-Autumn Festival, we returned to our room to find a mooncake, which was a very thoughtful touch! When they found out I wanted to take a bath, they brought me a disposable bathtub liner, and also provided disposable toilet seat covers. In short, it felt like a home away from home – a truly wonderful stay.