Our stay at Cloud Villa (Yunduanjingyuan Mountain View Homestay) was, without question, one of the highlights of our trip to Zhangjiajie. My friend and I stayed for four nights, and from the moment we arrived until the moment we left, we were treated with a level of warmth and hospitality that far exceeded our expectations.
The homestay itself is absolutely stunning. Our room was beautifully designed and tastefully decorated, with breathtaking mountain views that we looked forward to waking up to each morning. Every detail of the room felt thoughtfully curated, and the luxurious bathtub was my favorite way to relax after long days of hiking and exploring Zhangjiajie’s incredible scenery.
The service was exceptional from start to finish. After our late-night flight from Xi’an, we were greeted at the airport and driven to the homestay in a beautiful, comfortable car. Every morning we were treated to an incredible homemade breakfast prepared by their wonderful housekeeper. We got to personally choose our breakfast the evening before, and it would be freshly prepared each morning. It was delicious, filling, and the perfect way to fuel up before a day of exploring the national parks.
What truly made our stay unforgettable, however, were the people.
The homestay is run by an incredibly kind and generous owner who welcomed us not as customers, but as family. She took the time to get to know us, shared stories about her own life, and consistently went above and beyond to make us feel at home.
The manager was equally outstanding. He was always ready to help with our luggage, answer our questions, and make sure we were comfortable throughout our stay. Since we were foreigners visiting Zhangjiajie for the first time, his assistance was invaluable. He helped us arrange tickets in advance for both Tianmen Mountain and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (the “Avatar Mountains”), and recommended optimal routes for us to take making everything incredibly smooth and stress-free.
What impressed us even more was the genuine care they showed us as people. During our trip, my friend became sick, and the manager regularly checked in on her to make sure she had everything she needed to recover comfortably. Later, after I slipped and suffered a minor injury while visiting one of the parks, he showed the same sincere concern for my well-being. Their kindness never felt transactional, it was genuine. He really is quite exceptional!
The owner saved the best surprise for our final day. We planned to spend the day at Tianmen Mountain before heading directly to the airport. Rather than having us store our luggage in a crowded locker facility, she generously offered to drive us to the park, keep our luggage safely in her own car throughout the day, and then take us directly to the airport afterward. That alone would have been incredibly thoughtful.
But then she surprised us again!
Before taking us to the airport, she prepared a wonderful homemade meal featuring fresh oysters, shrimp, eggplant, mixed vegetables, and rice! It was one of the most memorable meals of our trip, not only because it was delicious, but because it was prepared with such genuine generosity and care. We left for our flight with full stomachs and even fuller hearts.
Because of the incredible hospitality we experienced at Cloud Villa, our time in Hunan became even more memorable than we could have imagined. There are many accommodations with beautiful rooms, but it is rare to find people who make you feel so genuinely welcomed and cared for. She even gave us cute parting gifts to commemorate our stay!
To anyone, especially international travelers, planning a visit to Zhangjiajie, I cannot recommend Cloud Villa enough! If I ever return to the area, there is no question about where I’ll stay. I’ll gladly return not only for the beautiful accommodations, but to visit the wonderful people who made us feel like family.
Thank you for making our trip truly unforgettable!
