Inns in Shanxi, China

I did not want to leave. That is the most honest thing I can say about Xihe Academy. ”Guest house” is a label that does not prepare you for what this place actually is. If you are American and hearing that term for the first time, forget whatever image just came to mind. This is not a MIL suite tucked behind someone's garage. This is a fully realized, deeply considered experience wrapped inside one of the most stunning environments I have ever walked into. The courtyard alone stopped me mid-step. The surrounding area looks like an active film set -- you keep half-expecting to hear ”action” called from somewhere just off camera. And then you step inside and somehow it gets even better. I genuinely lost my words. The room is the kind of space where you realize someone has actually thought of everything. Included minibar. Fresh fruit and snacks. Loose-leaf tea so you can brew a proper cup. Bathrooms fully stocked down to the shower shoes. You can arrive with nothing but your clothes and be completely at ease. They have handled the rest. The staff made all of it feel personal. When a language barrier created a small miscommunication, they were patient and gracious without a flicker of frustration. When I joked that I had gone a little crazy shopping and could not close my suitcase, they immediately offered suggestions to help. That warmth is not a policy -- it lives in the people. They coordinate meals as well, and mine was delivered to my room and genuinely delicious. One thing I will say without hesitation: use their driver. This is a private, gated area and you cannot simply grab a random car or rideshare. Arrange your pickup from the train station or airport in advance -- it is seamless, affordable, and completely worth it. Do not skip this step. This was my first guesthouse experience, and Xihe Academy has set a bar I was not expecting to clear so soon. If you stay here, you will not regret it. Five stars is not enough.

It was just an absolutely amazing experience from the very beginning and until the very end of our stay, not even just in the hotel, but in the city of Pingyao itself in general. Me and my friend are traveling very light and without guides, and in Pingyao we had only one day: from evening to evening of the next day. Huge huge thanks to everyone who made this day unforgettable and ultimately comfortable for tired us: Alice, Helen, Fenny, Hana, and all others who was there for us. The hotel service is simply excellent: as soon as they learned about our late arrival, they immediately offered to meet us at the railway station, which was absolutely the sweetest thing. They brought us to the city gate, met us there, and walked us to the hotel. There they gave us a map, on which they explained in great detail where everything is, what is worth paying attention to, how it is better to build the route, and what opening hours different sights have. They also helped us organize a private transfer to Shaolin Temple the next morning. It was just perfect: we got there in 15 minutes instead of one and a half hours by foot, and after our walk in the temple they met us and brought us back. Also on the evening of arrival they helped us immediately buy the ticket for visiting all attractions of the city, valid for three days. And also they advised us where to eat, and gave us a hotel discount in both places. We did not regret it even once, the food was amazingly delicious in both places! The hotel itself is just wonderful: it really looks exactly like in the photos. You want to photograph every corner and record how the sparrows are chirping on the roof, and how two wonderful cats are meowing. The room also matches and even exceeds expectations. A huge kang bed, very comfortable. Excellent shower with everything needed. Breakfast is included in the stay: the traditional Chinese one was very tasty! Unfortunately, we did not manage to eat the egg, it was freshly boiled and still hot, but we were hurrying to Shaolin Temple by opening time. Also the hotel has a laundry service, and special thanks for that too! Washing and drying were very fast, and we got our nicely smelling clothes back already after four hours, which was critical for us, because we were leaving the same day. We felt like we really were honored guests, and we really appreciated it, even if only for one day.

My experience staying at this hotel as below. 1. They provide pickup and drop off from the train station. The day before the Inn contacted me to make arrangement for the pickup. Then they arranged to drive me back to station on the day I leave. Service was efficient and prompt. Much appreciated. 2. I was able to use the washing machine to wash come clothes which was much needed. Comb and toiletries were provided. So grateful for these little necessities as I left mine at the previous hotel. 3. The boss upgraded me to a bigger and better room because it was the low season. The kang bed was so comfortable and firm. I had the best sleep so far at this Inn. I'm so happy. 4. The Inn is inside the old city and practically next to one of the city gates. Very convenient for sightseeing old Pingyao city. 5. Everyone very friendly and helpful. Boss also gave me a bottle of vinegar. Wish I could take it back to UK with me. 6. The price of this Inn is also very reasonable and affordable. 7. Pingyao is a beautiful, ancient old city. Worth coming. I highly recommend staying here. I will be uploading photos and videos of the Inn and my travel experience of China on my YouTube channel TheTravelDiary and goody2shoos once I'm back in the UK so look up my channel for full information and experience. Happy travels everyone.

I highly recommend this guesthouse! Firstly, the location is excellent. It's right inside the ancient city, very close to Huayan Temple, Nine Dragon Wall, and the ancient city wall, making it incredibly convenient for getting around. Secondly, the room layout is fantastic. In a prime location within the ancient city where every inch is precious, finding a guesthouse with two bedrooms and two bathrooms is quite rare, and it perfectly met our needs. Room hygiene: The room was clean and tidy, with no strange odors, and it was cleaned daily. Disposable bath towels and toilet seat covers were provided. The guesthouse also has parrots 🦜, peacocks 🦚, squirrels 🐿️, and goldfish 🐟, which add a lot of life to the place, and these little animals are all very friendly to people. While there are many guesthouses in the ancient city now, I still recommend this one the most, and the reason is the service! The owner of this guesthouse has an excellent service attitude, answering every question. As soon as we arrived, seeing that we were tired, they immediately brought us iced watermelon 🍉 and peaches 🍑. In the morning, they brought us warm, homegrown old corn 🌽 and local specialties. We were very touched!

We enjoyed an absolutely fabulous three-day stay at Jing's Residence. The building itself is a very nicely modernized Qing-era building. We've stayed in some similarly ages buildings in Europe and this was right up with the nicest of them. The spaces look very similar to the ones in the museums in town, albeit with bathrooms and more comfortable furnishings. The service was absolutely impeccable. Our room was constantly restocked with complementary drinks and baked goods, and the front desk staff (Crystal and Leo) was helpful with everything from restaurant recommendations to transportation to the train station to us mixing up our departure date (whoops). All staff spoke great English. Afternoon tea was a particularly nice touch: no fee, great service, and a very relaxing atmosphere. Food was light Chinese snacks, not the huge spread of a British-style high tea. Breakfast was a similar relaxing experience. We tried all the of the Chinese-style options and they were all excellent. We did not try the Western-style options. Dinner was a set menu, shown to us in the morning before making the reservation. It was a combination of Western dishes and local Pingyao/Shanxi food. If given the choice we would have preferred purely Chinese food, but it was all very good and honestly the change of peace was probably good-- getting a salad was nice after two weeks in China. The Pingyao Beef was the highlight: big cubes of high quality meat, easily my favorite of the three places we had this dish. The bar had a nice selection of Western wines, Scotch, etc, but I was disappointed to not see any local rice wine or Baiji. Air conditioning worked very well in our room, easily getting the temperature down under 20C even at midday on ＞30C days. Overall I really can't recommend this place enough: this hotel was really a highlight of our trip.

The hotel is in the ancient city. The car is parked in the public parking lot outside the ancient city. It needs to pay 20 yuan. The hotel cave-style room, the bed is sleeping, the room is not big, you need to bring your own bath towels and towels. Overall, they have their own yard. You can take photos of Mrs. Jinshang at his house. The film works well

Facilities: Well-equipped Cleanliness: Always cleaned and very tidy Ambiance: Absolutely stunning for a historical visit. This is a centuries-old inn, with seven courtyards deep. Being here felt like stepping back into the glorious era when Jin merchants thrived. Service: Excellent. There are two incredibly cute kittens in the courtyard that my son absolutely adored. The owner even provided toys for playing with them. When we weren't out exploring, my son spent his time in the courtyard playing with the cats and had a wonderful time.

The look and feel of this place are great, one can really think that is in a old Chinese movie. Rooms are fairly large with comfortable beds. Cleanliness is average, but everything that's advertised is available as far as amenities go. Location is great, no breakfast available. Staff speaks a little bit of English and are trying to help as much as they can. If you are a fan of the authentic Chinese housing then this is a place for you, bit if you expect European level of service and tidiness probably should avoid.

The biggest surprise of this trip was staying at this old Pipa Inn, which felt like a private museum. From the moment I stepped through the door, everything I saw was exquisite collections and memorabilia related to Zhaojun. Every decoration showcased the owner's aesthetic and ingenuity, making me feel as if I had traveled through time and was conversing with history. The location is simply impeccable. Huayan Temple is right outside the door, and the joy of walking everywhere is something truly special! The nearest taxi stand, Huayan Hotel, is only a three-minute walk away. Right at the doorstep is a food paradise, with famous local eateries like Xijindao, Fenglinge, Longjuxiang, and Zini 369 all within walking distance. Finding food was absolutely effortless, perfect for lazy people like us who don't want to plan. The inn also provides breakfast, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the meals, with a perfect blend of Chinese and Western options. Even more remarkable is the atmosphere here. All the guests were polite, and I even met some foreign friends. My biggest thanks go to the owner. When we had an urgent work matter and needed assistance, the owner not only didn't find it troublesome but went out of their way to enthusiastically help us coordinate resources, solving our immediate problem. This is no longer just an inn; it's the warmest support system on a journey. Highly recommended!

When choosing a B&B, I prioritize room size and location. ✔️ This B&B is near Xiaonanmen, and it's not a long walk to get there. Plus, they offer pick-up and drop-off service, with a staff member carrying luggage, so you don't have to lift a finger – truly great for those traveling with kids. Even better, they provide pick-up and drop-off from Pingyao High-Speed Rail Station, saving you the hassle of finding a taxi yourself. The B&B is right next to a pedestrian street, which is very convenient. ✔️ The environment is lovely. It's a two-story courtyard house with many flowers and plants in the central patio, creating a natural oasis. There are also common areas with sofas, swing chairs, and a coffee bar, making it enjoyable even if you don't go out. ✔️ Our reserved room was on the second floor, right next to the pedestrian street. The room layout is quite good; although it's an open plan, there's a sheer curtain as a divider, which prevents the bed from facing the bathing area directly. I particularly liked the sofa and tea area near the entrance. ✔️ Breakfast is served individually, with a good variety, and it's quite filling for adults. ✔️ Upon check-in, the front desk provides a map of the ancient town, highlighting key attractions, how to get there, how long it takes, and performance times. They also recommended two popular restaurants and gave us discount coupons. The Pingyao beef was indeed delicious. ✔️ Highly recommended.