Hotel 5-Star di Guizhou, China

I was a little nervous before booking because the price wasn't cheap, and I worried the experience wouldn't be good enough. However, I figured the numerous positive reviews about the excellent service would be good. My experience was truly beyond expectations (I knew it would be good, but I didn't expect it to be this good), and the scenery was breathtaking. Guizhou-style dinner for two: The hotel offers a complimentary dinner for two, and my husband, an elderly couple, and three children didn't have to pay extra. We enjoyed the hotel buffet. We arrived at 7 p.m., and while the food was plentiful, the manager kept saying they were out of dishes and even cooked us a special Guizhou spicy chicken dish. My husband said it was incredibly flavorful. The bar always had drinks and ice water, making it a relaxing summer drink. After dinner, we took a stroll around the hotel, which was very relaxing. The driver of the electric scooter was always available, and when we left, he took us to the parking lot and then back to the scenic area gate to take us to the bus. The entire hotel staff gave me the same friendly and relaxed feeling as a Sanya resort hotel. My second child was struck by the hotel's beauty the moment they entered, and even asked if it had a swimming pool. It felt like a seaside resort. Swimming in the outdoor pool felt like wandering between heaven and earth, and the fresh scent of the pine forest permeated my breath. We also received complimentary tickets to the Yunmen Tun Scenic Area, which also included a stroll, and the scenery was beautiful. We took photos and posted them on WeChat, and everyone was amazed by the beauty. I look forward to returning in autumn to see the different scenery. A small suggestion would be to add more family-friendly facilities and some forest activities. While you can swim in the summer, there are some activities in the fall and winter that will provide a more enriching experience for children.

The view from the room's balcony is unbeatable, directly facing the classic panoramic view of the Miao Village. The location is very close to the observation deck bus station, which perfectly meets the needs of both enjoying a high-altitude view and being able to take a bus back to the hotel. The night view of the Miao Village wasn't as beautiful as I imagined, but having breakfast on the hotel's terrace in the morning, facing the village, was a lovely experience. You can tell it's a boutique hotel from the amenities. The service was warm; the front desk lady recommended a great restaurant, and Butler Xiaojin helped us with our luggage all the way when we were leaving, which was incredibly important after several days of intense hiking and touring.

The hotel is conveniently located, just a 12-minute walk from Guiyang Station. It's also within walking distance of Qingyun Market and Jiaxiu Tower. A major plus is the zoo right outside the breakfast area, which is great for families and even has staff to guide you. However, the facilities are a bit dated, and it was a shame the executive lounge wasn't open. While there are four washers and four dryers in the laundry room, it's often crowded and unavailable during peak season. The gym is outsourced, but the front desk service and cleanliness are both good.

This hotel is located right inside the scenic area, which makes getting around incredibly convenient. The service was exceptional from start to finish. After we got our tickets, the hotel's private shuttle was already waiting for us. We had the whole car to ourselves, and the driver was so friendly and attentive. He proactively helped us with our luggage, both getting in and out of the car. When he learned our next destination was from Libo to Xijiang, he even assured us that the hotel shuttle would take us directly to the bus pick-up point for our return journey, advising us to simply inform the front desk in advance. The hotel also has a dedicated laundry room with washing machines and dryers, which was a huge plus for keeping our clothes clean. On the day we checked out, the driver immediately recognized us – he was the same person who picked us up two days prior! Our stay was smooth and very satisfying.

Overall, my recent stay was just average. The breakfast buffet offered a good variety of dishes, and the taste was decent. However, during breakfast, I was seated by the window, and right next to my table, on a cabinet, were cleaning supplies, including disinfectants, along with discarded food scraps, used tissues, and other rubbish. Having trash right next to where I was eating created a very unappealing sight and made for an uncomfortable dining experience. Cleaning supplies and garbage should not be exposed in guest dining areas. I hope the hotel can improve its venue management by storing cleaning tools and waste in the back and not immediately next to guest tables, to enhance the overall dining experience.

Close to the high-speed train station, the rooms are quite spacious, and the hygiene facilities are excellent. One of the rooms had a smoke smell, and after reporting it to the front desk, they promptly sent a Xiaomi air purifier, which perfectly solved the problem. The front desk staff were very friendly and even gave us a free room upgrade. Anshun West High-Speed Train Station pickup: The pickup service was quick, and the car was clean and odor-free.

The hotel's hardware is excellent, but its service and management get a zero. We checked in after 4 PM, and the room wasn't even ready yet. After it was finally cleaned, I walked in to find the previous guest's socks still sitting on the bedside table, as shown in picture one. It made me seriously doubt if they even cleaned it properly. The hotel's swimming pool is an Instagram hotspot, but because it's outsourced, the actual experience was a zero. There are no lockers! The entire changing room is as small as shown in picture two – that's it! The floor was covered in water and trash, and no one was cleaning it. There were no towels unless you paid 10 yuan for a disposable one, and no slippers unless you paid another 12 yuan. The breakfast was terrible, with very few options and no local specialties. Compared to other state guesthouses like the Wuxi Taihu Hotel, Nanjing Dongjiao Guesthouse, or Wuhan Donghu Hotel, the breakfast here was basically on par with a county government guesthouse. All in all, it's absolutely not worth the price. Booking the Zhijin Hotel was definitely the biggest regret of my Guizhou trip.

The greatest strength of this hotel is undoubtedly its staff. Despite language barriers, everyone we encountered was friendly, patient and genuinely eager to help. A special mention must go to the hotel manager, who went far beyond what could reasonably be expected. When we were struggling with transport arrangements, he personally offered assistance and ultimately drove us to the train station himself. Only afterwards did we discover that he was actually the hotel manager, not a driver. He refused any payment and demonstrated a level of hospitality and generosity that left a lasting impression on our family. The staff also helped us order food delivery using local apps that were difficult for us as foreign visitors to navigate, communicating through translation apps whenever necessary. The hotel is conveniently located beside the Olympic Sports Centre, which was ideal for our visit to the Asian Gymnastics Championships. The rooms were spacious and clean. However, there were several aspects of the stay that prevented it from feeling truly comfortable. The surrounding area felt unusually quiet, with many restaurants and commercial spaces appearing closed, giving parts of the district a somewhat deserted atmosphere. Dining options were limited, and finding lunch or dinner nearby was often challenging. The rooms, while large, had relatively small windows, which meant there was not much natural light. The air conditioning sometimes struggled to keep the room as cool as we would have liked, and the hot water supply was inconsistent. The beds were extremely firm, and each guest was provided with only one fairly hard pillow. Some travellers may appreciate a very firm mattress, but we found it a little uncomfortable for a longer stay. Also, we were only provided with 2 bath towels even though there were 3 of us sharing a room. Overall, this is a hotel with exceptional staff and a convenient location for events at the Sports Centre. While the accommodation itself fell short of our expectations in several areas, the kindness and professionalism of the staff left us with positive memories of our visit.

To this day, the hotel has not offered a solution. They only called me on a landline to ask if I was feeling better. On the day of check-in, the linens were fine. The next day, when we extended our stay, we asked for a sheet change. Around 10 PM, after getting ready for bed, I rested on the bed for about half an hour and developed a small patch of red bumps. I immediately contacted the front desk. Later, a female duty manager proactively contacted me. She didn't come to inspect the linens but directly asked if I had any requests to make. By 8 AM the next morning, both of my legs were covered in an allergic reaction. I contacted the front desk again, and a male manager came. He didn't proactively offer to move us to a different room. Even after we checked out – because my child also had a fever – we left around 3 PM. Apparently, the hotel's linens are laundered by a third party. As a result, they still haven't provided a solution to this day, saying they need to report it to their superiors. The last duty supervisor who called us just asked if the leg allergy had disappeared. The worst part of this trip was staying at a hotel that carries a five-star brand, only to have issues arise and receive continuous calls without any proposed solutions. I hope everyone avoids this place.

The room was spotless and very clean. The loft space upstairs was quite large. The best part was the balcony view; you could see the entire Miao village from there, and both the daytime and nighttime scenery were fantastic. No need to jostle with crowds at the observation deck! The butler service was excellent. They helped us with our luggage upon arrival and provided a delicious afternoon tea. The guesthouse is right by the road, so no climbing stairs, which is great for seniors and children. The only minor issue is that it's quite close to the observation deck, so the road noise at night was a little bit loud. However, the location is superb, the room is clean, and the service is top-notch. We had a very comfortable stay.