Homestays in Gansu, China

the hotel is small, but the room is nice, in the old town & night market. There are many shops & restaurants around and a shopping mall is just cross the street. The only thing is the car can’t access directly to the front of the hotel near to walk to the major road. The receptionist is very friendly & helpful even-though she is only one to take care the whole tasks. We recommend the owner should hire 1 more staff to assist the front desk, so the check in will not consume lots of time & waiting.

For our first night in Dunhuang, we definitely opted for a desert stay (Dunhuang Shazhou Wild Luxury Camp Hotel). For the second night, however, we needed something a little less rugged. Staying in the desert means sand everywhere, constantly – on your head, on your face, even packed into your ears! But the kids absolutely loved playing in the sand; they could spend the entire day there, even under the blazing sun. Be sure to apply plenty of sun protection; the desert sun is incredibly intense. Guesthouses are better than regular star hotels because star hotels have high foot traffic, and it's important to be mindful of protection against common illnesses like flu and respiratory infections. So, we completely skipped the Huaxia, Guoji, Tianhe, and Shazhou hotels in the city center. If your budget is tight, the Mumei Kachi Desert Camping Base is also a viable option, though it's not actually at Mingsha Mountain. If you're staying a third day in Dunhuang, you might consider some of the larger, standard hotels in the city center that have swimming pools. Also, the Sheraton in the city center is a stripped-down Four Points by Sheraton, and it doesn't have a pool.

Very well located in the old town, but the name given by Trip.com, ”Hidden Guest House,” is completely wrong. The real name is Guiyin Minzu. To find it, look next to the house of General Zheng Yuanquan. A very pretty house, tastefully renovated, the rooms are very well equipped, and the shower is perfect. I recommend this hotel if you want to visit Majishan. The young woman at the hotel is a great help in finding a taxi. Thank you very much to her for her assistance.

It was my first time to experience ******* houses. It was quite special. Their house was very big. The biggest highlight was that there was a large public area on the second floor where you could drink tea and chat, and children could walk around and play. The boss was very nice, and there were also breakfast drinks. The room was all wooden, and I personally was not used to the smell. I chose a private bathroom, but the room was very small. The one in the picture without a bathroom was very large. It depends on your personal preference.

Best hotel I’ve stayed in on my trip. The family made me feel so welcome. The room was very comfortable and quiet. Lots of hot water. Food was great. They gave me a bike to cycle to the grasslands and did my washing for free! Also dropped me at the bus station. So kind and lovely. And the owner speaks perfect English.

Amazing, the hosts/staff were so friendly and helpful. From giving great advise on what time to visit different areas of the canyons to avoid crowds, driving you to scenic areas too far to walk and even dropping me off at the railway station at midnight when I couldn’t get a taxi. Just fantastic! Room was comfortable and great size, amazing showers, super peaceful and mostly importantly amazing views of the canyon (including lights being projected onto the canyon at night). I definitely recommend for a great experience!

My parents went to Jiayuguan for fun, and I booked this for them. I chose Moluo Inn purely because of the reviews, but the feedback from my parents proved that my choice was right. The environment is very clean, the breakfast is exquisite and nutritionally balanced, there are three-fort tea, and herbal bags for foot bath. Because my parents are older, the boss also provided free pick-up and drop-off services, and helped to contact a chartered car for sightseeing the next day, which made people feel the warmth of a strange city. The room is also very clean and quiet. You can see the Qilian Mountains in the distance from the room, which is very suitable for complete relaxation.

Honestly, when you come to Dunhuang, there's no need to rush from one attraction to another every single day! This time, I deliberately chose this guesthouse tucked away in a village, mainly to slow down, relax, and just chill. The overall experience was really therapeutic, but there are a few honest critiques I want to share to help future visitors. First, let's talk about the major positives! The location truly exceeded my expectations. It's not in the bustling city center; instead, it's hidden in a village, completely avoiding the crowds and traffic of the city. It's peaceful and quiet, not noisy at all, setting the perfect mood for a relaxed vacation. It's also not far from Mingsha Mountain and Mogao Grottoes, and taxis are readily available whenever you step out, making it super convenient to get to attractions without having to wake up early or squeeze onto a crowded bus. The value for money for accommodation is also great. For around 300 RMB per person, you can stay in a courtyard room with two large beds, offering excellent privacy. It's really pleasant to sit in your private little courtyard and have afternoon tea. I have to praise the memory foam pillows provided; they're just the right balance of soft and firm, ensuring a good night's sleep after a day of traveling – a huge plus point! The guesthouse itself has an Instagram-worthy cafe. The freshly ground coffee is excellent. There are several spots for afternoon tea, including a sandy area, a pool, and an orchard. Sipping coffee and taking photos with the cool breeze from the desert makes every shot look like a professional, atmospheric photo, instantly bringing a sense of relaxation. In the evening, there's also a stargazing platform. Far from city lights, you can look up and see a sky full of stars, instantly melting away all your travel fatigue. You don't have to worry about food either. While there aren't many restaurants within walking distance, the guesthouse can arrange customized local specialty meals. Having a BBQ or hotpot in the courtyard feels so special. If you don't feel like moving, delivery services for takeout are also very fast, perfectly satisfying any lazy traveler. Now, for a few honest minor complaints – consider these if you're particular: Since it's in a village, there aren't many shops along the street nearby, so it's not very convenient to just go out for a casual stroll, snack, or buy groceries. However, anything you need can be ordered for delivery. The temperature difference between morning and evening is significant, and it can get quite windy in the courtyard. Remember to bring a light jacket if you plan to have outdoor afternoon tea. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons. This place is perfect for those who don't like rushing from one attraction to another, prefer peace and quiet, and are looking for atmosphere, healing, and a truly relaxing and laid-back vacation.

The B&B as a whole completely exceeded our expectations: highly recommended🌟 Very very clean, the design is particularly warm. The rooms with balconies are equipped with a full set of equipment for making tea around the stove. You can make tea on the balcony yourself. The balcony is at the highest point of the entire Zhagana B&B. The Fairy Beach and the mountains opposite can be seen. At 7:30 in the morning (we came in May), you can watch the sunrise directly on the balcony 🌅 The room is fully equipped. We came in May. The weather was slightly cool. There was a vertical air conditioner in the room. It warmed up in five minutes. The bed, toilet, and shower room were all very clean. Disposable toilet mats and towels were all prepared. It was more thoughtful than we thought. The restaurant is on the top floor. You don’t have to worry about food problems when playing around. You can solve three meals a day in the restaurant. There are Chinese meals. It can be said that it is very delicious. It is the most delicious meal in Gannan. As soon as I entered the door, the boss sister cooked three cups of highland barley milk tea for me, and also cut the watermelon and melon. The boss brother and sister are very neat people. Even their own dogs are very clean. The rooftop is very clean and the view is very good.

Dunhuang, a place my heart longs to visit. The guesthouse is tastefully furnished, and you can lie on the sofa and stargaze at night. The suite perfectly accommodates a large family; our group consisted of my wife, my father-in-law, and two children, but it seemed like four adults and children could fit comfortably. We drove from Longnan, experiencing lush forests, breathtaking natural wonders of Danxia and Yardang landforms, and finally, Dunhuang, a treasure in the hearts of every Gansu resident. Everything in Dunhuang was exactly as I imagined, and this guesthouse perfectly matched that. No regrets about staying here. The guesthouse is very close to Crescent Lake, about a kilometer walk to the main entrance. If you happen to be there during a stargazing concert, you can take the owner's small electric scooter directly to the main entrance. Along the way, you can see newly sprouted jujubes and camels happily returning home from work. After the concert, you can call the owner to pick you up from the main entrance. At night, you can also ask the owner to escort you to the campsite to photograph the Milky Way. The owner has car washing tools. There were quite a few small insects along the way, and during the summer, many large trucks carrying beehives made a significant impact on the city's appearance after exiting the highway! Since we drove here, it was very convenient to get to Shazhou Night Market. I've already checked it out for everyone. You absolutely must try the scallion beef pancake at Shazhou Food Inn, where the longest queue is! Also try the Northern-style grilled fish, apricot tea, iced tofu pudding, and a steamed dumpling stall inside – that's enough. There's no need to try anything else. Our itinerary was to check in at 4 PM on the first day, then head straight to Shazhou Food Inn (it's located inside Dunhuang Night Market; the guys at the entrance are very enthusiastic and good at attracting customers, but time is limited, so this part of the time is well worth dedicating to Shazhou Food Inn). We bought tickets that evening; one ticket is valid for three days, and children can play in the sand on nights without the stargazing concert. Remember to bring your ID! The next morning at 7:00 AM, we drove to the parking lot at the east gate of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake. If parking is convenient, you can also park at the parking lot under the large shade structure at the main gate. After entering the park, we first rode camels to tour the mountain (the riding distance here is definitely worth it; pedal firmly and follow the camel's gait without hurting your butt. To be honest, the camels here don't have an unpleasant smell). The camel resting point is near Mingsha Mountain. After eating a really expensive creative ice cream, we started climbing the mountain. Before 9:00 AM, the sand is not hot to the touch, so be sure to wear shoe covers. If you only wear flip-flops or Crocs, they will get stolen. The little sparrows in the desert are quite idyllic. At the top of the ladder, you can see the entire view of Crescent Lake and roughly know where to go next. If you have extra energy and amazing stamina, you can climb further up to the top and see a vast, endless desert. It's very beautiful but a little scary. There are refrigerator magnets with small sand bottles in the creative shops by Crescent Lake. You can take some fine sand home, but they are a little pricey. At noon, we checked out Ga Liu, then went to Dunhuang Bookstore and bought a set of ”The Amazing Dunhuang” for the kids. We also glanced at the Danghe River nearby. It's worth mentioning that Dunhuang's urban area is very unique; there are no high-rises. Even though the architecture is modern, you can still feel the strong Western Region style. The cultural heritage is truly impressive. Then we went back to the room to sleep. At 4 pm, we finished the makeup, styling, and photoshoot for the next morning (during summer, definitely book for 6 pm, those who know, know). In the evening, we had the much-anticipated stargazing concert, which was a pretty good experience, but once is enough. You can sneak a drone; I recommend an Air 3s or better. With lots of people, the lower the risk of crashing at night, the better. On the third morning, we got up very early. Makeup and styling took about an hour. The photoshoot was at a campsite; make sure to bring plenty of water. We had a quick lunch. During peak season, we set off an hour and a half early for the Mogao Grottoes (tickets need to be booked a month in advance; if you don't get them, you might occasionally find tickets at 7 am, 7:30 am, and 4:30 pm, but it's all luck). That concludes our Dunhuang tour.