Homestays in Jiangsu, China

I arrived in pouring rain. I thought I could walk to my hotel but it was impossible in the downpour. I didn’t want to bother any hotel owner.   I didn’t and still don’t  have an eSIM that can make local  call but thanks to Trip.com, there is a link that I could call the owner for free.  I didn’t advise the owners my arrival time so they were off running errands.  I called the owner to pick me up and thankfully he answered. He was busy but gracious enough to turn around and picked me up. It knew Zhouhuang requires a ticket but I didn’t know that no cars, nor motorcycles, nor bicycles are allowed. Without him I would have arrived the hotel easily.  I always like to meet the owners instead of employees . They were very helpful and answered all my questions. They are honest people who dedicate their  blood and sweat to their business. The owner even offered to walk me to the bus stop  to Suzhou which was my next destination.  This  operates two hotels with 9 in one and 6 in the other. The one that I stayed in with 9 rooms is in a  lively and busy area . Just outside the hotel is a restaurant and there are plenty of places to eat. Inside the hotel is a peaceful oasis where you won’t hear any noise. The location is the best. The other hotel is in a quieter neighborhood a few minutes away. Each of the 15 rooms has it’s own personality, is different and has its distinctive decoration. The owners said they decorated them themselves. I love the decoration and especially the lighting.  After you reserve a room, be sure to contact the owner for the exact address in case you want to arrive on your own. I think it is best to request the owner to take you there because he/she will lead you to the ticket booth to buy tickets. There are a number of bridges so heavy big luggages can be a bit of a challenge .  If you arrive after 5 pm, you can enter free of charge as no one is there to check your ticket. . But once you are inside, and if you choose to leave the area after 8 or 9 am until 5 pm, you have to pay to come back in. You can buy a one day or in my case 3 days pass.  Do check with the owner for up to date information.  The room was quite clean. There were hot water all the time. There were other guests during my stay but they were not noisy at all. I barely heard them. I slept very well during my 3 nights there.  Zhouhuang is really beautiful. There are many canals, bridges, boat rides, good food of all kinds. I had some of the best meals there. In fact , I ate in the same restaurant that serves dumpling twice. One night I had grill (BBQ) meat just outside the entrance for 4 yuans. .  There is decent size supermarket just outside the turnstile and not too far away is a much bigger supermarket. It was there where I bought half a Peking duck for only 32 yuans . The seller sliced the meat and separated the meat from  the bones. The bones he fried so it was crunchy.  It was delicious. There is a theater that offers performances. The night view is great. If you step out your room, you will be overwhelmed in a good sense by the exciting surroundings.  This hotel definitely is one of the best that I have ever stayed in. Look at the beautiful pictures and find one that you like.  I stayed only 3 nights and one of those days I went to Tongli. In my opinion, one should spend at least 2 to 3 full days in  Zhouhuang (and especially this hotel ) savor the ambience. I don’t think Tongli is worth the time because it was twice as expensive and there are not that many canals and boat rides. It is much quieter and has fewer things to see. . The worst is that the sightseeing places require you to show your ticket. After 2 places, I lost mine ticket and I  couldn’t get in the rest of the places. It is unnecessary to require proof of entrance because you can’t enter the area without a ticket. 

I was very satisfied with this homestay. They thoughtfully provided disposable towels and bath bags, and all the cups were individually packaged after being disinfected, which made me feel very secure! The strong Chinese style was amazing as soon as I opened the door – exactly my kind of aesthetic. Plus, there were toys my child loved! The location is also very convenient, with all the attractions within walking distance. There's also a cute little dog named Maikai. The breakfast was simple but nutritious, and again, just my style! I truly recommend it to everyone!

Nestled in the heart of a picturesque landmark, this guesthouse offers stunning views of Pingjiang Road at night. There's a cat café right across the street, which is a lovely touch. The breakfast spread is generous, and you can even do your laundry for free. The staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, making this a fantastic choice for your stay.

Haha, I found a bargain. The check-in experience was great! The front desk staff is warm and thoughtful, the room is clean and tidy, the bedding is comfortable, the breakfast is rich in variety, and the location is very convenient. Highly recommended!

The first time I lived in Taoist Temple, it was very fresh. Yi Daochang was very patient and attentive. He gave us guidance all the way. We bought tickets from the station (guests can enjoy the preferential price of 80 yuan ／ people including tour bus during the stay, great value) and went through the relevant procedures. Take the car to the top palace. According to the guidance of Yidao Chang, I quickly found the check-in room. After I checked in, the selected room was the only photography room that could open the door and see the mountain. Due to the recent rain in Changzhou, when I came, I caught up with the time period of the cloudy mountain and the fairy air floating on the mountain. The cloud mountain mist has a feeling of being in a fairyland. Although the visibility is not high, it has a flavor. We booked a meal of 150 per person a day in advance. Four dishes and one soup. The rice is basically not enough and it is free to continue. We ate Maoshan's famous goose meat and steamed salmon. Two vegetarian dishes are a large bowl (small basin) of seaweed egg soup. We ate very delicious. It feels very good. After eating at about 7:30, Yidao Chang also arranged a night tour for us. The cultural history is floating in a fairy spirit. It really feels like being in a fairyland (remind everyone that the temperature on the mountain is generally lower than the mountain, and you must bring warm clothes or you will catch a cold). We also booked the head incense at 12 o'clock in the evening in advance. This is a benefit that accommodation customers can enjoy. It is really superb and the price is super high. The next day we also drank the highest altitude coffee in Jiangsu Province, with plain noodles, and it felt really good. I took a few photos of good visibility before checking out. I really recommend everyone to have the opportunity to experience it. It feels super good. We will come again next time.

I always choose to stay here whenever I'm in Wuxi, and it's consistently a fantastic experience. The front desk service is excellent and attentive, the rooms are spotlessly clean, and the facilities are well-equipped. This is my absolute go-to for accommodation in Wuxi! Highly recommend!

Overall an enjoyable and relaxing one night stay at this tiny cosy hotel in Zhouzhuang, for our final leg of our 6 days Suzhou trip. We took a didi over to Zhouzhuang, which was faster and cheaper than I expected, just a little over half an hour. The hotel staff called me the day before to arrange for pick-up near the watertown ticket office. Actually I can't speak Mandarin and their English wasn't too good but we ended up chatting on Wechat as Wechat has a built-in translate function in their chat. So, 15 minutes before we arrive, we just had to let them know on Wechat. And the staff is already waiting for us, helped us with the luggage and guided us through the ticket buying process. You do have to pay for the ¥100 RMB ticket to get into the watertown and the ticket is good for 3 days. The hotel is about a 10 minute walk from the entrance. I picked this hotel because it was right inside the watertown and it had the ancient Chinese interior, although all the amenities are modern, including a robust and high-tech Kohler smart toilets in each bathroom. There is a nice coffee shop inside the hotel and the coffee shop owner is friendly and takes his coffee craft seriously. The hotel gives you 2 free drinks during your stay and the coffee menu is quite extensive. If the hotel rooms are not booked on that day, we are told the hotel opens their doors to coffee customers. The hotel owner is actually younger than I expected so I am impressed she meticulously created this authentic experience and the attention to detail. She was friendly and helpful and was open to accommodating our needs. We booked the entire 2nd floor, which was 3 bedrooms and we had 6 adults in our group. This tiny hotel only has 3 bedrooms so if you booked all 3 rooms, you pretty much get the entire hotel to yourselves which include the first floor which is spacious and comfy. When I visit Zhouzhuang again, I am looking forward to stay here again. It's certainly not cheap, but you do get what you pay for - which is people passionate about hospitality (in a Chinese way) and also a hygiene and staying experience that is certainly up to international standards.

My family and I recently had the pleasure of staying at Racha Mankha, and I can’t recommend it enough! This hotel is a hidden gem, offering a secluded and quiet retreat that truly embodies peace and relaxation. The ambiance is simply delightful, making it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. One of the highlights of my stay was the food. I can confidently say that the Thai cuisine here is some of the best I’ve ever had in Nanjing! Each dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. Additionally, I indulged in their Thai massage services, and it was an absolute must-try! The skilled therapists provided a rejuvenating experience that left me feeling refreshed and relaxed. While the area may not have as many tourist attractions as other parts of Nanjing, the tranquility and quality of service at Racha Mankha more than make up for it. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway with fantastic food and pampering, this is the place to be!

It's 500 meters from the East Gate of Lingshan. You can have hot pot in the courtyard. The room is close to the bamboo grove and has a small balcony, making it quite comfortable. The service is excellent; when it's not busy, the owner is happy to help with luggage. The breakfast is simple and home-style, and the auntie is very helpful. The welcome fruit is also a thoughtful touch.

So happy I stayed at this Inn for my trip to Suzhou. Nearest metro station is Beisita. Only 1 station from Suzhou railway station. From Beisita come out to exit 1, turn right, walk a few steps and you see a big zebra crossing on the main road. Cross this zebra crossing and almost in front of you is the small alley/lane Dawangjia Alley. Go straight down this alley a minute or so and you come to another even smaller alley on your right. Turn into this alley. The first door in this alley is the location of the Inn. On the day I arrived. I came out of Beisita station, exit 1 and was met with torrential rain. I had no idea which way to go. I called the owner via the trip phone service. Somehow I got the owner to understand I'm stuck at station and don't know where to turn. She kindly came to station on her moped to pick me up. Saving me from the downpour. I'm so grateful. The Inn is very traditional Chinese style housing. The room large and very comfortable. Has everything you need. But I especially like the large, clean and fully tiled bathroom which has it own window opening to the outside allow for good ventilation. All the other places I stayed so far the bathroom is tiny with no window thus no proper ventilation which makes the bathroom always feel damp with a musty, mouldy feel. This is the first time I feel the bathroom is airy and comfortable. Inn is close to Suzhou museum, Humble administrator garden and Lion Grove garden. Took me around 15mins walk to these places. The owner also make good recommendations on what to avoid and where to eat etc. I highly recommend this Inn and should I come back to Suzhou shall certainly stay here again. I will be uploading more photos and videos of the Inn and my travels in China on my YouTube channels TheTravelDiary and goody2shoos once I'm back in the UK so check out the channels for more information. Happy travels.