Hotel Dengan Gym di Fujian, China

The room was clean, the receptionist was friendly, there was a laundry room, the room was well soundproofed, and the breakfast was plentiful.

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.

I chose this hotel for a trip with my parents and child, and the whole family was very satisfied! The hotel has accessible ramps and elevators, making it convenient for the elderly to move around. The room was spacious, and even with an extra small bed, it didn't feel cramped. They also provided children's slippers and toothbrushes, showing great attention to detail. For breakfast, there was soft, easy-to-digest congee and light side dishes suitable for the elderly, as well as sandwiches and juice that the kids loved. A park is right next to the hotel, which was perfect for morning strolls with my parents. In the evenings, it was safe to take the kids to play in the square. The front desk staff also recommended attractions suitable for both the elderly and children, making our itinerary relaxed and enjoyable. I'll definitely choose this place again next time!

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.

The hotel staff were all exceptionally warm and welcoming. The room was clean and tidy, and the bedding was extremely comfortable, making for a restful sleep. The location is very convenient for visiting Yantaishan, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys (Sanfang Qixiang), and Shangxiahang, with a subway station nearby as well. The facilities are fully equipped, featuring a restaurant, gym, and swimming pool.

The stay was good overall. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff were helpful. A few small things could be improved, but it was still a pleasant experience

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.

The hotel is very close to the scenic area and commercial district, so you can walk to explore and dine, saving you the hassle of taking taxis. The room has good natural light, is spotlessly clean, and the soundproofing is decent, making it very comfortable to rest after a day of sightseeing. The front desk staff also provided thoughtful tips for exploring, which was really helpful. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting!

Mary, our housekeeper, provided excellent service. She communicated with us in advance about the room details and our requirements. Knowing we were a couple, she even offered complimentary welcome fruits and drinks, and upgraded our room for free. The stay was fantastic! The room was very clean and comfortable, making us want to return. Sam, the restaurant manager, also offered great service. All the food was fresh, and breakfast was abundant.

Pros: 1. The location is excellent, very close to the scenic area. It's super convenient for dining and shopping. There's also a Sanfu and a 7-Eleven downstairs, and Cotti Coffee from the first floor can be delivered directly to your room. 2. The front desk staff's service attitude was great; they pretty much fulfilled every request and even agreed to upgrade our room type. Although it was a less desirable 'end room,' it was acceptable. When we needed disposable chopsticks, cups, etc., they brought them up without hesitation, and extra blankets were provided free of charge. 3. The room's overall cleanliness was good. The bedding was clean, with no stains or hair. The showerhead in the bathroom also had no water marks or limescale. Thumbs up! Cons: 1. The hotel seems to have been open for quite a while; the linens are pretty old, which made me a bit hesitant to use them. There were large oil stains on the table surface; I tried to wipe them off, but they wouldn't budge, which was a bit off-putting. I hope they can add a tablecloth to cover it. 2. Please remember to disinfect the sink in the restroom; it had a strong odor. 3. The message board needs to be cleaned; there were pencil shavings as soon as I opened it. 4. Disposable items like the toothbrush were quite poor. The toothpaste and toothbrush were surprisingly separate, and the toothbrush was very uncomfortable to use—too big and too hard. 5. The pillows were average, and there were no special sleep pillows or buckwheat pillows available.