Hotel Dengan Gym di Fujian, China

Facilities: The showerhead has a very weak water pressure. Cleanliness: The tables are generally dusty, and the blankets and pillows are not very clean. Environment: Average. There's no elevator, so you have to climb stairs, which is tiring to carry luggage up. Service: Average. Not very enthusiastic.

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's location is quite close to the South Railway Station, about a 15-minute taxi ride away. The room is also relatively spacious and bright, over 30 square meters, and kept very clean. The front desk staff were really nice 😊. There's also a gym and a laundry room. Overall, it's pretty good!

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.

Staying at the Hilton Fuzhou Sanfang was an extremely satisfying experience. The Sky Lobby on the 40th floor has a sophisticated ambiance, and the check-in process was smooth, with staff who were gentle and attentive. I stayed in a river-view room, which was spacious and well-maintained. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the Min River; as dusk fell and the city lights came on, the nighttime atmosphere was absolutely captivating. The bedding was just right, neither too soft nor too firm, ensuring a very peaceful sleep. The bathroom was equipped with both a bathtub and a shower, and the toiletries were of high quality. The breakfast on the 39th floor offered a wide variety of choices, catering to both Western and Chinese tastes, including local Fuzhou specialties. The high-altitude dining experience was excellent. The heated infinity pool on the 41st floor provided breathtaking views, and the gym was well-equipped, making for a very comfortable place to relax. The hotel's location is superb, with comprehensive commercial facilities nearby, making travel very convenient. Whether for business or leisure, this is a highly recommended hotel in Fuzhou!

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

I was in Quanzhou for two days and arrived quite late. The front desk staff, Xiao Feng, called in advance to confirm my check-in. When I arrived, they even helped upgrade my bed type. The service was excellent overall. I'm very satisfied. I'll book here again if I'm in the area.

The hotel's location is excellent, making it very convenient for getting around and dining. The rooms are clean and tidy, with complete facilities, and the service is warm and attentive. The stay was comfortable and reassuring, offering good value for money. I would definitely choose to stay here again on my next visit.

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.

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.