5-Star Hotels in Shanxi, China

Visiting Pingyao to marvel at its ancient city, steeped in a thousand years of history, and experience life from the Ming and Qing dynasties feels like a trip back in time around every corner. So, where should you stay at night? You absolutely must experience this charming, antique-filled courtyard residence. Strolling along the cobblestone streets of Pingyao Ancient City, you can feel the weight of history and the richness of culture. When traveling in Pingyao, what kind of experience do you seek? Everyone who appreciates traditional culture dreams of having their own courtyard – with tall trees, a cat napping beneath them, and birds chirping in the branches. During leisure time, sitting alone in the courtyard, sipping tea and reading, living as freely as the clouds. Many visitors to Pingyao prefer staying in a guesthouse or inn. With so many options in Pingyao, how do you choose? Consider a courtyard like this one, where 'you can hear the birds in the morning and await the lingering sunset in the evening'.

Decided last minute to visit Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi (missed it on my last trip). Searched on Trip.com and found Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong, a five-star hotel 🌟, so I booked it without hesitation! I reserved an executive king room, and the hotel's room service absolutely blew me away! The staff were incredibly warm, attentive, meticulous, and thoughtful. They even added two extra hooks 🪝 in the bathroom (so convenient for hanging clothes while showering or bathing). It's the little details that truly show their excellence! I highly recommend Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong for anyone visiting Datong!

This is by far the best value five-star hotel in Taiyuan. The management is well-organized, and the hygiene is consistently excellent, making you feel right at home. Both the facilities and services are well-maintained. The surrounding area offers a complete range of commercial amenities and convenient transportation, with a subway entrance right next to the hotel. Tianmei and Beimei New World shopping centers are just next door. Overall, it's great value for money. The only minor drawback is that it's an older hotel and could use a full renovation. Given that Shanxi is a strong tourist province, a refurbishment would certainly justify a price increase.

The Taiyuan Nanzhonghuan Intercity Hotel is conveniently located directly opposite the International Financial Center, offering easy access to dining and shopping. Parking is convenient, making it ideal for guests traveling by car. The hotel is very new, with well-equipped rooms and a simple yet elegant decor. It's exceptionally clean, and the breakfast is extensive, featuring both Western and Chinese options, as well as local Shanxi specialties. The front desk service was excellent; they thoughtfully upgraded my room. Everything was thoroughly satisfying, and I'll definitely choose the Nanzhonghuan Intercity Hotel again on my next visit to Taiyuan.

Ctrip's target is five diamonds, except for the lobby and services, none of the other links meet this standard. Room facilities are old. But at this price, don't expect too good hardware. The breakfast was good, which is to be commended. There is no business district nearby, so it is not very convenient to eat. Service: The service is rated five points, very thoughtful and enthusiastic. Facilities: old. Will not live again in the future.

The cleanliness and service rating goes to Aunt Jin on the tenth floor. Aunt Jin is incredibly responsible and would ask us every day if we needed anything. Seeing that we had children, she proactively offered kids' toiletries, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. One day, we came back after going out to find Aunt Jin had prepared lime juice for us, which was truly heartwarming. However, the staff at the front desk and in the restaurant really need some serious training. On the day we checked in, because we had two children, I casually asked if we could get an upgrade. I wasn't trying to be difficult, and we would have been fine if an upgrade wasn't possible, as we had originally booked a YunYa Twin Room. But the front desk staff had a very unpleasant expression. If you're unable to do something, you can just say so directly, instead of telling us we'd been upgraded to a Family Room, only for me to check on Trip.com and see that all Family Rooms are above the 20th floor, and we were still given a YunYa Twin Room. What's the point? It made us feel really uncomfortable. The breakfast hostess was the same. Every day, she'd stop us, saying we only had two breakfasts. I paid the extra on the first day, but then every single day! We had breakfast for 5 days, and every day she'd stop us and say we only had two breakfasts! The handover between departments and staff is terrible. The breakfast area, too – breakfast ends at 10:30 AM, but before 10 AM, there was no cold milk left. After I informed them, they said they'd restock, but they never did, telling me to go to the Wyndham next door to get some… Sigh, in short, having stayed in so many hotels, these are genuinely first-time experiences for me.

The hotel's location is superb; it's the perfect choice for exploring the old city, with all the sights and great food nearby. The hotel is very clean, the restaurant food is delicious, and the staff provide excellent service. As I was traveling alone and wanted to try local specialties, the staff kindly reduced the portion sizes, which was great – tasty and no waste! The room facilities are new, but there's a minor issue: the sink and shower are in separate areas, and the bath towels are kept under the sink. This makes it inconvenient to grab a towel after showering. If you take it into the shower beforehand, there's nowhere to hang it. Perhaps a hook could be added?

This hotel is nestled inside the southern gate of Mount Wutai Scenic Area, surrounded by serene mountains and a meditative atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of Taihuai Town. The guest rooms are spacious, and the balconies offer direct mountain views. It boasts excellent facilities including a heated swimming pool and a gym. There's a complimentary shuttle bus service daily to and from the core ancient temples, and self-driving is convenient with ample parking. Breakfast offers a wide variety of choices, including local delicacies like Shanxi knife-cut noodles. The only minor drawback is that it's about a 15-minute drive from the main prayer area, and some interior furnishings show slight signs of age. Overall, it's a tranquil and healing place with attentive service, making it a top-notch choice for a restful stay and peaceful pilgrimage in the mountains.

On this trip, after leaving my job, I've stayed in many places, but Datong was the most surprising city. It's full of historical sites, delicious food, and a vibrant, down-to-earth atmosphere. But what surprised me even more was the guesthouse I chose. I did extensive research and ultimately decided to stay within the ancient city, which turned out to be incredibly convenient for dining, lodging, and getting around. It was fantastic and perfectly suited me. Initially, I considered guesthouses in the Southeast District, but they were all new, and their styles were quite similar and unremarkable, much like guesthouses in other cities. So, I picked one with unique traditional Chinese characteristics, and it completely exceeded my expectations. The breakfast was exactly to my liking – nutritious and light. The room was warm and cozy, and the toiletry kit was amazing, with thoughtful items inside. Even though it's been in the ancient city for ten years, the decor and renovation show no sign of age; it's incredibly well-maintained. The housekeeper mentioned they had just upgraded all the rooms before my arrival, haha! 😄 This guesthouse truly helped my restless mind calm down. It felt like staying in a museum. The aunties and housekeepers working here told me stories about every single object and corner, which deeply moved me. This is what a guesthouse should be – unpretentious and full of stories. The biggest surprise this time was having the chance to meet the owner, a wonderful lady. She was so nice, I initially thought she was just another staff member; she had absolutely no airs. More importantly, her experiences and background are incredible – she does extreme sports and has even climbed Mount Everest! Talking with her made me feel so comfortable and helped me let go of a lot of things. Thank you for the encounter; it was truly destiny. This was the most unexpected gain from my trip to Datong, and I will definitely go back if I get the chance! It felt just like home, with no sense of unfamiliarity whatsoever.

Dude, I'm gonna strongly recommend Yunjincheng Mansion! It's got an awesome location, right in the heart of Pingyao Ancient City. You can just take a stroll to major attractions like Rishengchang Draft Bank. It's super convenient to get around. The century - old courtyard has that classic and elegant charm, so peaceful and refined. You can totally immerse yourself in the style of the Shanxi merchant compound. The guest rooms are clean, tidy, and comfy. The toiletries are really good, and the stay was great. They even gave us a foot - soaking bucket. How sweet is that! The breakfast has a wide variety. There are freshly - made hand - cut noodles, pure Shanxi aged vinegar brewed on the spot, and freshly - ground coffee that smells amazing and tastes so rich. The staff are friendly and polite, and their service is so detailed. The turn - down service at night really shows they care. I felt so comfortable throughout the stay. I'll definitely choose this place next time I come!