5-Star Hotels 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.

Overall, this is a recommended hotel. Here’s a detailed breakdown of my experience. **Pros:** 1. **Spacious Room with Good Soundproofing:** The room was large and spacious with bright windows and a bathtub. The soundproofing was excellent; even a thunderstorm outside didn't disturb my sleep. 2. **Excellent Location:** The hotel boasts a prime location. You can see the city wall right outside, there are plenty of dining options nearby, getting a taxi is convenient, and it's easy to buy local specialties. 3. **Friendly and Attentive Staff:** From the front desk to room service and dinner staff, everyone was very enthusiastic and tried their best to meet guests' needs. 4. **Good Breakfast with Variety:** The breakfast tasted good and offered a wide variety of fruits. There were many kid-friendly options like steamed vegetables, eggs, various porridges, bread, and yogurt. They also had freshly cooked lamb offal noodles and刀削面 (daoxiao mian - knife-cut noodles). **Areas for Improvement:** 1. **Room Cleanliness and Facilities:** The cleanliness of the room needs improvement, especially the bedsheets. The facilities are quite old; cups showed visible wear. The carpet had noticeable and numerous stains, and the children's play facilities were barely cleaned. The electronic piano was very dirty, and there was dried snot (鼻gaga) on the tent's carpet, which made my child hesitant to go inside. 2. **Lobby Congestion:** The hotel hosts many weddings and birthday banquets, and this mixes with regular guests, making the lobby quite chaotic. 3. **Inconvenient Accessibility from Parking:** It was very inconvenient to get from the parking lot to the lobby with luggage and a stroller. There was no accessible ramp; the side entrance had high steps, and reaching the main entrance required walking further and navigating through the driveway.

The hotel's location is good. Although it's a bit old, it still has all the hardware facilities expected of a five-star hotel. Let me focus on the most unpleasant service experience this time. We booked a family room, which included three breakfasts. Our child had an upset stomach the night before and was throwing up and had diarrhea all night. So, in the morning, only the two adults went to eat, thinking of getting a takeaway box for the child. This is where the unpleasant experience began. The person in black, who seemed to be a supervisor at the restaurant, said that if we had already started dining, takeaway boxes wouldn't be provided (at this point, we thought we only had two breakfasts included). Later, after checking the order, we confirmed that the family room included three breakfasts. We went back to the restaurant reception to ask for a takeaway box, clarifying upfront that our room included three breakfasts and that we wanted to pack something because our child was unwell. Even then, the front desk staff said that after 6:30 AM, it's recommended to dine in, and takeaway boxes are generally not provided. She also claimed it was busy and she couldn't authorize it (even though there were no guests waiting at the front desk at that time) and that only the supervisor could approve it. I had to wait for her to call the supervisor over again before I finally got a takeaway box. Throughout this entire process, both of them had cold faces and showed absolutely no service意识 (service awareness). This definitely deserves a negative review!!!

A Sanctuary When I Needed It Most I arrived in Taiyuan not feeling well and ended up staying seven nights without ever leaving the room. Labor Day holiday, full DND stretches, just me and delivery apps. And honestly? It was exactly what I needed, and this hotel made it possible. Let me start with the moment that defined this stay. My housekeeper came in most days to refresh the room, and each time I'd ask for the same drinks. After a few days he just knew -- knew what I wanted, knew I wasn't feeling well. He'd heard me coughing while he cleaned and was clearly paying attention. On my last day, when I had DND up and didn't want any service at all, he quietly left a bag of my favorite drinks outside the door anyway. No knock, no disruption. Just a person who had been paying attention all week and wanted to take care of me. That kind of warmth doesn't come from a training manual. I won't forget it. The room itself held up beautifully for a long stationary stay. Clean, accurate to the photos, well-appointed. Floor-to-ceiling windows, two bathrooms, excellent shower pressure, generous storage, a proper tea set, and a beverage bar housekeeping kept replenished without being asked. The slippers were genuinely excellent -- better than some five-star properties I've stayed at. For seven nights of recovery during a national holiday, this hotel and its people delivered everything that mattered.

An old five-star hotel with very high cost performance. In particular, the front office service is very good, and the lobby manager Wang Jue is attentive.

The room was quite spacious, and the soundproofing was excellent. I kept hearing firecrackers, though I'm not sure where they were coming from. However, there were far too many mirrors in the room, which would be awkward if you're staying with friends. There's also no partition when you step out of the shower to change. On the plus side, the in-room fridge had complimentary drinks, and there was a generous supply of water and towels. The hotel is located in the new city, about a 10-minute drive from the old city, with a taxi ride costing under ¥15. The hotel's Fenglin Pavilion restaurant was decent. As for the hotel itself, it lacks entertainment facilities, and the breakfast was terrible, absolutely terrible. While there seemed to be a lot of options, everything was unappetizing, with nothing good to eat. Every morning, almost 2,000 people had breakfast, sharing a hall with the Wyndham hotel, and the food on both sides was identical. It felt like pig feed. The ingredients were very poor, definitely not up to five-star hotel standards. Not a single dish was good. This hotel is suitable for business trips, but it falls short for family vacations.

The hotel's location is superb; it's the perfect choice for exploring the old city, with all the sights and great food nearby. The hotel is very clean, the restaurant food is delicious, and the staff provide excellent service. As I was traveling alone and wanted to try local specialties, the staff kindly reduced the portion sizes, which was great – tasty and no waste! The room facilities are new, but there's a minor issue: the sink and shower are in separate areas, and the bath towels are kept under the sink. This makes it inconvenient to grab a towel after showering. If you take it into the shower beforehand, there's nowhere to hang it. Perhaps a hook could be added?

Check-in was smooth and convenient. Our room faced the cultural tourism town, so we could enjoy the animation show for free in the evenings. Breakfast offered a good variety. There's also a Chinese restaurant for dinner; it's not managed by the hotel but the food is quite good. We didn't try the buffet, but the dining options close at 2 PM, which feels a bit too early. So, dining was a minor drawback. However, the environment is truly beautiful, surrounded by pine trees, green grass, and flowers. The tranquility is especially appealing for city dwellers. This will be my top choice for accommodation on my next trip to Wutai Mountain.

A very cozy and comfortable B&B, located right in the ancient town's pedestrian street, offering a peaceful retreat amidst the bustling area. The courtyard is spacious, the rooms are clean, and all amenities are of high quality. Breakfast is plentiful, and the staff are friendly. The location is excellent, with all of the ancient town's attractions within walking distance, which is great when traveling with kids as it saves a lot of hassle. Plus, many popular restaurants often have long queues, but because this place is so close, you can easily grab takeout and enjoy your meal back at the hotel, saving a lot of waiting time. I'll definitely stay here again next time I visit Datong.

This hotel has a fantastic vibe, apparently designed by a Beijing-based architect. The space is exquisite and super photogenic! The food was delicious 😋 and the butler service was excellent. The sound system in the room was amazing, and the in-room amenities were thoughtfully chosen and high-quality! Highly recommend! It's also very close to the high-speed train station, so you don't need to arrange transportation too far in advance.