Inns in Shanxi, China

A rather mediocre experience. I've been a Ctrip member for 15 years and rarely leave bad reviews, so I'll give this a passing grade of 3.0. The main reasons for the average experience were: 1. My baby had a fever in the middle of the night and couldn't get up the next day. I wanted to take some breakfast back to the room, but they wouldn't allow it, and the staff's attitude was quite stiff. At over 1700 RMB for two nights for three adults and one child, the price wasn't cheap. Since the hotel couldn't be understanding towards me, I can't be understanding towards them in my rating. 2. There must be floor heating or central air conditioning, because the room was extremely dry, even drier than indoors in Beijing during the heating season.

We had a amazing time staying at this hotel. It's in an ancient house over 200 years old and it's absolutely beautiful. Like walking into a museum but still with all the facilities. It's in a brilliant location in the old city. Easy to walk to. We were picked up from the high-speed train station and taken about the 20 minutes to the outside of the the city and our cases were brought in on the electric trolley. We were given a good welcome with a map to explain where everything was and some recommendations for restaurants. Breakfast was was tasty with local produce and he shared some of his vinegar with us as well. It was all good, a comfy bed, air conditioning shower was good and the staff were really well. Welcoming and friendly. Very small but but pleasant stay.

If you are looking for a unique experience, this is definitely the place to stay. One of the highlights of our trip to Pingyao was the host. They were incredibly kind, messaged us before we arrived in Pingyao, and even offered a free pickup service. They made sure we did not have to wait at the railway station. Their communication was always excellent, and they were very transparent with information. On our last day, the host asked for our train tickets so he could arrange the timing to drive us to the station, which was about a 20-minute ride away. Before we left, they even gave us homemade vinegar as a gift. It was such a lovely experience, and we felt so warmly welcomed throughout our stay. There are no words to describe how happy we were during our time here.

Stepping into Datong Ancient City in the afternoon, the first pleasant surprise was stumbling upon Renyi Inn. The inn's antique courtyard, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, and warm red lanterns, instantly brought a sense of calm. The family who runs the inn is incredibly humble and kind, their conversations warm and thoughtful, making you feel right at home. What's even more admirable is their exceptional care for animals; the inn is like a mini-zoo. They treat every little creature with gentleness and patience, which in turn fills the entire courtyard with life and spirit. Upon entering, a majestic grey parrot, both poised and lively, greeted me from the front desk – I'd never seen such a large pet parrot before! Two smaller parrots chirped happily nearby, completely unafraid of strangers, lively and adorable. Outside my room was a small courtyard with two tea tables. After a 'special forces'-style day of temple hopping, when I was tired to the point of tears, sitting there enjoying a cup of tea was incredibly relaxing. In the adjacent fish pond, a dozen or so vibrant koi, each weighing at least two to three pounds, swam gracefully, their bodies stretching elegantly. Next to the pond, a large and a small tortoise slowly ambled, quiet and therapeutic. In a corner cage, a tiny grey squirrel darted around, agile and playful. As dusk fell, watching the lights reflect on the pond and listening to the soft sounds of the small animals, the weariness of travel seemed to melt away in this gentle atmosphere, leaving my heart filled with peace and healing. I thought this wonderful experience was complete, but to my surprise, a new delight awaited me the next morning – two peacocks, 'Wenqing' (blue and white) and 'Xiaofeng' (emerald green), strolled leisurely in the courtyard with their magnificent tails fanned out – yes, they even have names! The eye-spots on their tail feathers shimmered, as if they were wearing the entire starry sky, beautiful like something straight out of an ancient painting. For a moment, I couldn't tell if I was in an inn or a secret wonderland. Renyi Inn is far more than just a place to stay; it's a hidden gem within the ancient city. The harmonious coexistence of people and animals creates a warm and healing atmosphere, adding countless gentle and delightful moments to this journey.

The hotel is decorated in the ancient Chinese style. The location is very good and on one main street. The rooms are very pretty and also decorated in ancient style but also feel new and very clean. the staff is very friendly. And the provided gifts are great 😃 breakfast is also tasty. I would come again.

Great location and looks pretty cool. But its nothing more. And I didn’t like Pingyao. Way too touristy. Also there was a bar next to the hotel which was a bit bothering when i tried to sleep. But it was ok. Friendly staff. But when it come to the laundry service its weird. You have to ask the staff if they can turn on the washing machines which just stands in a random spot. Then you have to hang your clothes in the backyard

Definitely a five-star review, this is my second stay, and I'll keep coming back to this hotel! It really captures the essence of Pingyao, with elegant decor. I specifically looked for a 'pit bed' room to experience the feeling of a Jin merchant's home, and it was perfect for photos. This time, I felt the bedding had been upgraded, which was a nice touch. The owner is also very kind and provides excellent service.

The architecture is beautiful, and the courtyard looks lovely both day and night. It's very pleasant to sit in the small courtyard. Upon check-in, a staff member helped with our luggage. I initially thought the guesthouse decor would be mediocre, but it turned out to be quite nice, and the blackout curtains were excellent. The 'kang' (heated brick bed) was very comfortable and spacious. For breakfast, there were a lot of pickles, which were a bit spicy and not entirely to my taste, but the service auntie was very enthusiastic and gave us plenty of dishes, which made me feel a bit embarrassed. The only minor drawback was regarding the service. The hotel package on Ctrip stated 'one round-trip transfer to the ancient city,' but when I contacted the housekeeper, they said it was either a pick-up or a drop-off, not 'round-trip.' This caused a bit of disappointment. The complimentary minibar was a nice touch, and the fruit box was very refreshing. The complimentary afternoon tea was thoughtful, allowing us to rest after exploring before continuing our sightseeing. Overall, it's good, I'd give it a 4.7 out of 5.

This room was very small—one of the smallest rooms I have stayed in during my travels. It was too small for two people, and I made the mistake of looking only at the photos instead of checking the room size. The best thing about this place is the location, which is fantastic. It was also really quiet at night, which was a plus. The price was okay, but other than that, there was nothing particularly special about the room. Overall, it was alright, but not memorable.

The hotel is located just within the old town after the north gate. The hotel is well decorated with a beautiful garden. The hotel room was clean and spacious. The hotel staff are superb friendly and helpful. In one of the nights in 平遥古城, I had left a shop without my haversack after my meal at the old town. I only recalled about my haversack when I returned to the hotel. Immediately, I reported the incident to the hotel staff. Without hesitation, the hotel staff 小武 brought me back to the said shop with his own bike in a cold weather. Although we managed to locate the shop, however, it had already closed for business and there was no people in the shop. It was nearly midnight at that time . Even though i didn’t manage to recover my haversack (cuz i needed to leave the town to another destination early in that morning), I sincerely appreciate 小武 for helping me to find my haversack. He also suggested to me to lodge a Police report so that my lost item could be recovered by mailing it back to my hometown. It was a good idea but I didn’t do it cuz the belongings in the bag were not valuable and nothing important. Once again , I really want to thank 小武 for his patience and service rendered to me. Cheers! 👍