Hotel Romantic di Shanxi, China

This guesthouse is very close to Datong Ancient City, located right across from Huayan Temple, so you can explore the ancient city on foot. The host couple, an aunt and uncle, are incredibly warm and helpful; they even helped us find a parking spot and cut watermelon for us. They seem to truly enjoy life, and their guesthouse is beautifully decorated, making you feel relaxed and at ease. Their courtyard is home to peacocks, parrots, squirrels, and more... On our second morning, we were lucky enough to wake up to a peacock fanning its tail feathers!

This is my second stay here! It's very close to the ancient city, about a 10-minute taxi ride away, and also about 10 minutes from Datong South Station. The hotel has a high star rating, and the butler service is attentive and warm. The rooms are well-equipped with everything you need. It's truly perfect for families, as it allows for separate resting areas while also providing space to work. A big shoutout to the lamb offal soup with vermicelli at breakfast – it was delicious!

The hotel rooms are housed in a main building, about three or four stories high, and some three-story villas. The hotel is integrated with a cultural performance town. Unfortunately, the performances were suspended after September 10th due to the cold weather. In the evenings, a few shops were still open, and the lights were beautiful, with some hotel guests strolling around. To reach the main attractions, you need to drive or take the hotel shuttle. Parking is free, but breakfast was very crowded.

The room size at this hotel really exceeded my expectations, and there was plenty of space to spread out the bedding. The bathroom's wet and dry areas were also quite spacious, so there was no squeezing during toiletries. Overall, it felt comfortable and not cramped, offering good value for money. However, I lost a charger and haven't been able to reach the front desk yet.

Hygiene: Better than expected! Even though it's an older five-star hotel, everything was spotlessly clean. Facilities: I personally prefer how these five-star hotels have everything you could possibly need. It's much better than modern, new hotels. They even provide separate shoe-shining cloths for sneakers and leather shoes, disposable face towels, bath mitts, irons, and umbrellas. Not only do they have soap, but also laundry detergent – so incredibly convenient! Service: Excellent! We received a complimentary fruit platter delivered to our room upon check-in. The breakfast/brunch buffet was very generous and, importantly, there was no queue. Location: Very close to the museum, city center, and other attractions. Taxis are incredibly easy to get.

My first impression was breathtaking. Built on the former site of the Ming and Qing Imperial Examination Hall, which Yan Xishan later converted into the 'Hall of Self-Reflection', the hotel has been beautifully renovated and rebuilt. The design, featuring grand courtyards, is incredibly stately and well-organized, with glazed tiles on the roofs and dark green and ochre hues dominating the color palette. It immediately won us over. Secondly, the service was exceptional. When checking in, I asked the front desk for an extra quilt and pillow. The young lady at the desk immediately responded, saying there were extra quilts in the room and asking if I was traveling with a child and their age. After confirming, and with my agreement, she promptly called housekeeping to request that the twin beds be combined into a large bed, and to provide a full set of extra toiletries. She also mentioned that our assigned floor offered a beautiful night view and specially highlighted that guests could visit Chunyang Palace for free (highly recommended! A morning stroll there reveals many remarkable sights, and it's also the second branch of the Shanxi Museum). Upon entering the room, several thoughtful details stood out: first, there were USB charging ports and even a wireless charging pad; second, the overall space was compactly and rationally designed. Initially, I thought there was no place to dry clothes, but then I discovered a hidden gem in the bathroom – a simple retractable clothesline installed in the shower area (so it wouldn't get wet or in the way when showering); third, two pairs of plastic slippers and two pairs of disposable slippers were provided; fourth, the TV remote control was disinfected and sealed in a plastic bag; fifth, the bathroom sink was deep, perfect for handwashing small items of clothing; sixth, there was an evening fruit platter and yogurt; and seventh, there was surprisingly a laundry room, and quite a large one at that, complete with sofas for waiting, an antique-style display cabinet, complimentary laundry supplies, clean laundry bags (for washed clothes), three sets of washing machines and dryers, and even small washing machines. Although the hotel was renovated in 2013, the facilities are still very good across the board. In our room, only the bathroom countertop showed a bit of wear, but everything else was excellent. The cleanliness was also top-notch. For a summer holiday, the price of just over 500 RMB felt like great value for money. Furthermore, the location is superb, right in the city center, making it convenient to get anywhere. There are many delicious eateries around the hotel, and it's very close to Zhonglou Street and Causeway Bay Shopping Center, which is incredibly convenient. To support the hotel and experience more, we specifically bought three breakfasts on our last day. The variety was extensive, and surprisingly, they even offered various alcoholic beverages like Fenjiu and rice wine. I was very satisfied. I initially thought the service at an older hotel would be mediocre, but I was delighted by so many thoughtful touches. I'm truly happy and will definitely choose Shanxi Hotel again on my next visit to Taiyuan. I genuinely love it, which is why I've written so much, and I hope they continue to maintain this standard!

Hotel was in a beautifully restored building, staff was nice but did not speak English. Cleanliness was ok, however I found many long hair in the room I believe housekeeping did not use vacuum cleaner. The reason why I would not stay here again is that it was impossible to relax. I could hear any noise coming from the courtyard, including photographers giving loud instructions for hours and hours to models dressed in traditional Chinese clothes. I was even asked to move out from the picture when I dared to access my room.

📍 Geographical location: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It is very close to the Qiaojia Courtyard scenic spot, 15 minutes drive, it is very convenient to go back to the residence after visiting the scenic spot, and the surrounding dining facilities are complete. 🏡 Environment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The overall environment is comfortable and simple, it is a new version of Home Inn products, with complete facilities. 🛏 Room: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Health is in place, bedding is comfortable, intelligent customer control, dry and wet separation, equipment is all available. 💁 Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The front desk is very welcoming, will explain the route, provide local food suggestions, breakfast is rich, there is free parking.

A very satisfying travel experience! The boss was very enthusiastic and drove us in and out of the city. He also recommended a tour route in the city for us, which was very heartwarming~ The environment inside and outside the hotel is beautiful, which is a surprise! The yard satisfies my fantasy of Pingyao Ancient City! Moreover, the hotel is near the city building, which is easy to find. It is in the center of the ancient city when you go out, and it is very convenient to go out for a walk and go anywhere! The facilities in the room are complete, the sanitary conditions are good, the bathing is very comfortable, and the sleep is also comfortable! I will bring my parents and relatives to play next time!

The environment is great! The house is big and clean. It really exceeded the expectations of this trip. Traveling to Datong is cleaner than Datong City and is close to the expressway and scenic spots. It is very convenient to eat in residential areas. Xiao Wu at the front desk has a good service attitude and is clean and hygienic. , parking is free, will stay again next time