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.

Loved it!! Although we were only here 2 nights, this was one of our 2 favorite stays of our 2 weeks in China. We’re loved it here. This hotel was just what I was hoping for. Traditional courtyard hotel. It’s beautiful! We felt like we were in a movie. It was so relaxing. Both mornings I just relaxed on the swing in the courtyard and enjoyed the peace and the environment. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Helen was very nice and helped us with any questions we had. The room was clean and beautiful. I will say you need to be prepared for a very firm bed - but that’s the style and party of the experience, This was one of our favorite parts of our trip. If we’re fortunate enough to have the chance to come back, I will definitely stay here again. I highly recommend.

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.

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!

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

Superb! The front desk service and the staff who showed us to our room were incredibly warm and helpful, offering fantastic tips for exploring. Our room was spotless, the bedding was super comfy, and the 'kang' (heated bed) was huge – big enough for five! They even helped us arrange a private car and a really professional tour guide. The food recommendations were divine, and the restaurants near the hotel were also delicious. The location is perfect, making it easy to get in and out of the city. What really sets this place apart is that it's the only guesthouse within the ancient city walls with a grand seven-courtyard layout, very impressive! Even celebrities have stayed here and loved it. The in-house photo shoot service was also a nice touch! Breakfast was excellent, especially the handmade noodles – we each had two bowls! Overall, our entire family was extremely satisfied. An absolutely fantastic stay! 👍👍

Extremely satisfied with my stay! The B&B is right near the county government office, and the architecture is wonderfully ancient and charming. As someone from the south, it was my first time experiencing a 'kang' (heated bed), and it was quite good. The owner was very hospitable and even gave us some vinegar when we left.

Staffs are friendly. The inn is situated inside the ancient wall town , which make it easy to walk around the town. The decor of the inn is very unique and i luv it. The only downside of the inn is no lift. But staff will help you to carry the luggage up. Highest floor is 3 levels.

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.