Inns di Zhejiang, China

Super fun! This was one of the theme hotels that were hidden on the Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street set. Appropriately, the Rosslyn Hotels' brand icon is the Landlady from Kungfu Hustle. Upon arrival, you check in at the North Gate's Tourist Services Desk. The concierge welcomed me with a complimentary bag of fresh fruit and asking me to add their butler (Housekeeper Xiao Xiao) to my WeChat. If I needed anything, I just had to text the Housekeeper Xiao Xiao (who was super helpful with all my questions (in English) during my stay). Then the bellhop whisked me away, via golf cart, to my hotel. There were several hidden hotels, with different themes, throughout the set. The bellhop took me through an unassuming door among into what looked like an empty set, and up an elevator to the room floors. The walkway offered a lovely view of the Ming Qing Palace set next door. The rooms were supposed to be themed as Guangzhou and Hong Kong in the 70s and 80s, but could easily pass for old Shanghai. The room was immaculate. The bed was very comfortable, the shower has nice and hot and with fantastic water pressure. The room has some of the largest closet space that I have seen in any hotel. The WiFi worked without the need to register a local cellphone number (I've found that many other hotels, in China, offered free WiFi, but you need to verify with an ID code text to you. The texts never come through to my U.S. phone number, so I have never been able to take advantage of free WiFi; that is until I got to this hotel.) The little details were delightful surprises around every corner. They always refer to guests as ”laoshi” (an honorific of teacher, or master, bestowed to actors) or as ”starlet”. Not gonna lie, I really wanted to take home the pair of the room's bone china cups. The stay also comes with very decent breakfast buffet that had both Chinese and western dishes. They will even make you fresh wontons and noodle soups to order. The restaurants in the park are not great and quite expensive by China's standard. I recommend loading up at the more tasty free breakfast to power through the day. The hotel's location was very convenient for touring Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street; which had very lively evening shows. (As you walk through the streets, look at the stores' signs and test your TV shows and movie knowledge by finding the Easter eggs.) The Qing Ming Palace Set is across the street from the Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street's South Gateon the other side of the park (don't worry, it's not that far). To access the other sets, you can take their shuttle, but it does not come around very often. It's more efficient to get a Didi. Overall, it was a magical stay of being in the movies.

This homestay is the one that is closest to nature that I have ever lived in. Living in such a place with my dog, I can avoid the noise and troubles of the city, and I don’t have to walk the dog every day. When I open the door, there is a bamboo forest in the mountains. The dog is also very curious and excited. The boss is very enthusiastic and hospitable, and tries his best to meet the adjus**ent needs of the guests. During this period, he also needs to use the computer for work, and the boss’s charging cable is also very powerful! Sleeping at night is to experience sleeping in the mountains, with rustling wind and gurgling streams. Fortunately, their dog is very kind and sensible, and stays outside at night, which makes me feel safe. A farmhouse a few steps away has ok dishes. If you want to eat something else, you have to drive. I personally think that this homestay is very suitable for retreat and rest. Stay in it quietly to read books, work and think about your thoughts. But if you want to see various attractions, you have to drive out. I personally take my dog ​​with me and rest aimlessly, which is quite suitable.

For this price and location, cannot complain. Was quite content. Great location, rooms clean enough. It’s a family run property in an old town and old building, so please do not expect 5-star service.

I booked the Five Lakes Riverside Balcony Room with Main Channel View and Bathroom at Regalia Riverside for Dec 30 and 31, 2025. The room looks exactly as it does in the photos. The balcony has plug ins, teapot, teacups and tea prepared for you. Across the balcony, you can see the famous bridge and the boat station. You can also see up and down the channel. Room size is good for 2 persons. In the room is a heater/AC which worked perfectly and Ms. Sun also kindly turned on the heater since she knew my arrival time. The room has a kettle but no cups, coffee. Luckily I had brought my own. Also, know that the hotel does not provide breakfast - not a problem for me but for those we eat breakfast, just step outside. Location is perfect, it's in the heart of ancient town so easy to walk everywhere. Outside your door is snack street and at the end of the street is a ”food court”. Despite it's central location and opposite of the boat station, the noise was manageable. When I closed the balcony doors, I didn't hear anything (maybe too cold for people to loiter around?). Everyone was very nice and kind. Ms. Sun went out of her way to help me with my return bus ticket to Hangzhou, giving me directions on how to arrive at the hotel/meeting point where she waited for me, and her colleague even walked and waited for my car when I departed for Hangzhou. Going from Hangzhou to Xitang was an adventure as I read many different versions and my hotel told me another in my research. All in all, i highly recommend Regalia and Xitang! Thank you to Ms Sun and everyone for making my 2026 new year experience so memorable!

The Shuixiang Youth Hostel was under maintenance, so we received a complimentary upgrade to a Balcony King Room at Zhenshui Resort Hotel. The hotel facilities seemed a bit dated, and the walls had some noticeable stains. The bathroom was also on the smaller side. However, our overall stay was very pleasant, and these minor points didn't significantly impact our experience. Given its location within the scenic area, this hotel is genuinely affordable and offers excellent value for money. Both the check-in and luggage transfer services were convenient and prompt. Breakfast could be swapped for Zaochake (from 7:30 to 9:30 AM). While the food itself was quite ordinary, it was a unique experience as you could watch a performance. We're very grateful for the free upgrade, which allowed us to enjoy the beautiful view from our balcony. Highly recommended.

We stayed here in early March and booked a starry sky suite. You can really see the stars at night (you have to turn off all the lights). Chatting on the tatami and basking in the sun on the balcony, this is really the best place for a vacation. The lady boss was also very enthusiastic and gave us a lot of nuts from Bestore. Although the snow on the mountain had not completely melted in early March, we saw that the water in the swimming pool had been pumped out and the workers were cleaning the pool. This shows that this hotel attaches great importance to the sanitary environment. The parking lot is relatively large and parking is very convenient.

One of our best stays in China! This place was absolutely amazing. The ladies running it are hilarious and always made us laugh. First of all - the rooms are really good for the price. We got upgraded to a much better room after our first night, free of charge. It’s also conveniently located next to grocery shops, cafes, restaurants and the beach, while still being a little out of the way from the hustle and bustle. The food here is really good too - the (included) breakfast as well as what you can buy for lunch/dinner is really fresh. Because of the language barrier they tried to accommodate by providing more “western style” breakfasts for us, but when we realized and asked about it they made us a second breakfast that was like the one everyone else got. They also helped us out with a driver to take us to the abandoned village, and booked our tickets back to Shanghai. Also, the aircon here is FAST and reliable which we’ve realized isn’t a given after a few weeks in China. So that’s another (small yet important) plus for sure! Usually I like to explore different places and stay at different accommodations if/when I revisit places, but I’d probably make an exception and stay here again if I ever come back to visit the island!

The location is fantastic, just a 10-15 minute stroll from Dongzha, Xizha, and Nanzha. The surrounding area is bustling with plenty of restaurants, breakfast spots, coffee shops, pharmacies, small supermarkets, and even massage spas – really convenient! The hotel reception also offers free stamps of Wuzhen attractions, which is a nice touch. To be honest, I'd never stayed in a guesthouse before, having only experienced 2-5 star hotels for business and leisure. Given that I have no guesthouse comparisons, and considering the price of just over a hundred yuan a night, here’s my review: First, soundproofing: The sound insulation between rooms and between the hallway and rooms is comparable to a standard hotel. Occasionally, I'd hear cars passing outside, but it wasn't overly noisy or disturbing. Cleanliness: The bedding was very clean, and as someone with sensitive skin, I had no issues during my three-night stay. The bathroom was also good, even providing disposable toilet seat covers, which is more comprehensive than most hotels! Service attitude: Overall, the staff were very friendly and helpful. Daily cleaning was prompt. Knowing I was from the north, they reminded me to turn on the air conditioning upon entering the room, but early spring in Jiangnan was surprisingly cold, so I ended up asking for a second duvet on the second day. Facilities: While it's only a bit over a hundred yuan a night, and considering the accommodation quality, I shouldn't really nitpick, but I do want to mention one minor drawback: there was no place to hang clothes in the bathroom. 😥

An absolutely wonderful stay! Worth every word I'm about to write. **Facilities:** The amenities are incredibly thoughtful and refined. There's a courtyard, and you can dry clothes on the rooftop. We happened to catch a light rain, and if you don't mind, you can just sit in the courtyard and listen to it fall – very pleasant. **Breakfast:** We heard the breakfast is made by 'Auntie,' and you can truly taste the local flavors. I highly recommend the 'Mai Xia' (shrimp and wheat noodles, I assume). **Hygiene:** Absolutely spotless, no complaints whatsoever. **Environment:** The hotel is a guesthouse converted from an old building, with a bookstore in the front and the guesthouse behind. It's beautifully laid out and I loved it. You can also sit and have tea, which is very relaxing. **Service:** This is where I really want to elaborate. The service was the most delightful surprise. I'm used to the standardized service of five-star hotels, but this time I wanted a change of scenery and chose this place for its location and cultural features. The service, however, truly astonished me. Unlike typical hotel service, this place offers a warmth that feels more like trust between family and friends. Let me list a few points: 1. They added me on WeChat before check-in. Before we even got out of the car, staff members were sent to meet us at the intersection. 2. On the day of check-in, something in the room triggered my allergies. (Disclaimer: I am allergic to certain things, but my travel companion had no reaction, so the room itself wasn't the issue.) I initially thought I'd just tough it out, but around 10:30-11 PM, I noticed my allergy worsening. On a whim, I messaged the owner via WeChat. To my surprise, an employee was sent to check on me in less than 2 minutes and even accompanied me to look at other rooms to see if there was one that wouldn't trigger my allergies. This truly amazed me. Not every hotel (including five-stars) can offer such a quick response and professional service. 3. On check-out day, I went to Ziyang Street next door to buy pastries. Just as I stepped out, it started pouring rain. The owner immediately called me, but I missed the call. They then sent a WeChat message asking if I needed an umbrella delivered. This message felt incredibly heartwarming. Even though I had my own raincoat, their thoughtfulness made me feel like they treat guests as cherished friends. There's not much to photograph inside the room, but here are three pictures of the view from the window and rooftop. Absolutely loved it! 😊 I will definitely come back to visit again when the weather cools down!

The hotel within the scenic area is relatively easy to find. However, first-time visitors will still need some time to navigate and get their bearings. I chose to stay inside the scenic area because I was worried about wasting time commuting and not having enough time to explore. I was traveling independently: high-speed train + bus + walking. Staying inside allowed me more time to play and enjoy the night view. The 3-yuan ferry had incredibly long lines, and several times I missed the boat because it was already full. But how could I not get on a boat when staying inside the scenic area? This hotel is just a few minutes' walk from the ferry and ticket office. I went early in the morning to queue for the first boat, and not only did I get on, but after disembarking at the East Gate, I bought another 3-yuan ticket and took a round trip. It definitely made staying inside the scenic area worthwhile. The hotel's decor and environment are quite good. The owner is a tea merchant who runs the hotel as a sideline and is very busy. I had read previous reviews and assumed the owner was trying hard to control their impatience, being as polite and friendly as possible to guests, and answering all questions. Anyway, I was only staying for one day, so I didn't care much about the owner's enthusiasm. However, I have a suggestion for the owner: if there's only one cleaning staff member, they could simplify their work by making things easier. Toiletries, towels, bath towels, cups, toilet seat covers, etc., could all be replaced with disposable items. This would significantly reduce the amount of washing and changing work, and they would only need to clean the room and change the bedding after guests check out.