Pingyao County Inns

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.

A lovely traditional courtyard hotel with lots of character right in the heart of the old city within walking distance to everything you would want to see. The owner speaks good English and provides you with a map and details of beautiful Pingyao’s must see local attractions. The hotel is quiet and the Chinese breakfasts with either tea or coffee are delicious. The owner can also organise a good driver for any out of town excursions. Highly recommended

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! 👍

It's strange why this room type has been taken off the platform, because it's truly fantastic! The room is very spacious, with a private courtyard outside, and the interior layout is exceptionally well-designed. One minor downside is that the main bed is directly beneath a ceiling beam, so if that bothers you, you might want to choose a different room type. The hotel itself is incredibly large and has a fantastic atmosphere, often used as a photography location. While there are many people taking pictures during the day, the South Garden is outside the shooting area, so it remains wonderfully quiet. Because I was short on time, I directly chose the hotel's partner photography studio. It was super convenient for hotel guests to get their makeup done right at the front desk. Ms. Xiao Qiao, who did my makeup and styling, was so gentle and meticulous – I absolutely adored her! You can tell her you don't want the typical 'influencer' look, and she'll create something incredibly beautiful! The actual photoshoot felt a little bit like an assembly line, but that's probably unavoidable. However, if you're thinking of family photos, I'd suggest boys skip it, as the clothing options for them are limited and might not fit properly. But for little girls, go for it without a second thought!

Yun Jin Cheng Mansion is my top choice for accommodation in Pingyao, and the overall experience exceeded my expectations! This mansion was converted from a century-old Jin merchant courtyard, and its carved wooden corridors and red lantern courtyard exude a rich, ancient charm. It's a peaceful oasis amidst the bustling city; sitting in the courtyard for tea or a meal is incredibly pleasant. Plus, it's within walking distance of all the major attractions in the ancient city, making getting around very convenient. Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a complimentary upgrade to the Steward's Courtyard Suite. The room was spacious and elegant, with a traditional heated *kang* bed that was soft and comfortable. The entire room was impeccably clean. The classical decor combined with complete modern amenities made for an incredibly satisfying stay. The butler service was meticulous and attentive. The hotel offered pick-up and drop-off service, helped with luggage, and provided a detailed explanation of the old house's Jin merchant history. The thoughtful turndown service at night showed attention to every detail. The restaurant's Jin cuisine was authentic and delicious, suitable for both family trips and business stays. The environment and service were impeccable; I'll definitely choose Yun Jin Cheng Mansion again on my next visit to Pingyao!

We had such a lovely experience at Zhengjia Inn! It was a little hard to find initially but the location is exceptional, right in the heart of the ancient city of Pingyao. There was no one on reception when we arrived but we managed to call through the Trip.com app and they came out right away to help us check in. The hotel is gorgeous with a very traditional style, a lovely sunny courtyard and big rooms. The best part of our stay here was the hospitality of the family who run this hotel. They were so kind and generous! They annotated a map for us to show us where to go and how to get there, they made us a Western style breakfast in the morning and let us eat in their own home, and they very kindly drove us to the train station when we had to leave the next day. They were very friendly, kind and patient with us as we don't speak Mandarin. The bed was quite hard because it is a very thin mattress on top of wood so it might not suit people with bad backs, but it was fine for us! We would highly recommend this hotel!

Experience the grandeur of a traditional Shanxi merchant's mansion without even leaving the premises! The staff are incredibly attentive and the attention to detail is superb. The breakfast spread is fantastic! This is truly the perfect way to do a family trip. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to experience ancient charm. You can't go wrong, book it! The hotel's travel photography and makeup services are also top-notch. All in all, a truly worthwhile stay!

A wonderful inn nestled in a tranquil location amidst the bustle of the city. From the initial pick-up and parking arrangements to the final departure, there was not a single unpleasant experience; they were incredibly attentive, helpful, and meticulous. The inn is elegant, clean, and tidy. The staff are friendly, patient, and responsive. The aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air daily, and the Chinese and Western breakfasts are cooked to order. While the variety isn't extensive, every bite is satisfying, especially the bowl of beef noodles, which is incredibly good! The room's simple and elegant decor perfectly reflects the ancient city's style. No matter how exhausted you are from exploring, returning to the courtyard provides a truly relaxing and tranquil experience. Overall, it was a truly wonderful two-day stay. I'd especially like to thank Ms. Dong Yanxia (I think that's her name) for her patient, meticulous, and attentive service, which has left me and my family with wonderful memories of this holiday!

I must highly recommend this wonderful hotel in the historic centre of Pingyao. The hotel is really authentic, well equipped, the room was beautiful and I didn't miss anything during my stay. The owner is very nice and helpful, he was able to help me with everything. The front desk is guarded by a small, beautiful dog who gives you a proper greeting. Everything is a short walk from the hotel yet it is in a quiet area where you won't be disturbed. Not choosing this hotel for my stay would be a big mistake. Thank you very much -‐----------------------- Tento nádherný hotel v historickém centru města Pingyao musím vřele doporučit. Hotel je opravdu autentický, dobře vybavený, pokoj byl krásný a během pobytu mi nic nechybělo. Majitel je velmi milý a ochotný, se vším mi dokázal pomoci. Recepci hlídá malý, krásný pejsek, který vás náležitě přivítá. Vše je kousek od hotelu a přitom je v klidné oblasti, kde vás nebude nikdo rušit. Nevybrat si tento hotel pro svůj pobyt by byla velká chyba. Moc děkuji

We ended our five-day trip to Shanxi and were very satisfied with Shanxi, especially this B&B in Pingyao Ancient City. After booking the room, we contacted the inn and reserved a parking space for us. We got off the expressway and arrived at the parking lot smoothly, and someone came over. They were very considerate in picking up my luggage. The location of the inn is very good, just at the intersection of the pedestrian street. It is not noisy at night and is very convenient for traveling. This is the most recommended one. The inn is a typical Shanxi courtyard house, just like living in a TV series. The courtyard is very comfortable, the rooms are clean and hygienic, and the service is excellent. I recommend everyone to stay here.