Posted on Nov 24, 2025
Elizabeth Frances Rose
This place makes me wish there was an option for six stars.
I study Asian art for a living, and I travelled to Jianyang to visit the home of Jian ware, classic tea bowls of the Song dynasty (960 to 1279 CE), distinguished by their black and brown glazes. Over the last few decades, firing Jian ware in the Song tradition has been revived in the area. I chose Nanping Colourful Village Homestay because it was in Jianyang, affordable, and accepted international guests. What I found was a luxury resort with all the warmth and personal attention of a homestay.
I asked the front desk about an excavated Song kiln site in a nearby village, and the receptionist brought me the manager, who arranged for someone to take me the next day. My driver was Ms. Huang, an employee of the resort whose job involves buying and selling contemporary pieces. She knew everything about Jian ware! The kiln site isn’t run as a tourist site, so I was only able to view it because Ms. Huang arranged for it to be opened for me.
I had told them I was vegetarian, so for lunch they took me to lunch at a vegetarian buffet. Then we visited the town’s Jian ware museum, where they have exhibits on the history of tea and Jian ware, historical pieces, and the work of contemporary Jianyang potters.
To my delight, Mr. Gao, the potter-in-residence at the resort, uses a Song-style wood-fired dragon kiln, built right on the grounds! His pieces that range from beautiful but quite affordable to exquisite and appropriately expensive. They include both iridescent silvery oil spot and orange-to-black hare’s fur pieces. I am still thrilled that I was able to purchase wood-fired pieces on my limited budget.
For dinner, the resort’s restaurant prepared vegetarian versions of Fujian cuisine for me. The food was all delicious, featuring classic Fujianese mountain ingredients like local bamboo and mushrooms.
Then we visited Mr. Gao’s dragon kiln, and later his studio, where he experiments with different local clays and glaze recipes. The rich colours and iridescence of Jian ware are the result of the iron-rich local material fired at high temperature, and the results are as unpredictable as they are beautiful.
The next day, they drove me to Mr. Chen’s family tea plantation in the mountains, where they grow famous northern Fujian teas. These fine teas were all wonderful, smooth and rich with a touch of smoke, and sometimes fruity in flavour. We strolled through mountainsides of tea bushes and visited groves of centuries-old tea trees.
This is a perfect place for an immersive experience in China that is also very comfortable and convenient. I often find tourist experiences in China claustrophobic due to the press of people, but the resort was spacious and airy, and they took me to places where there was no one else but us and the occasional local going about their business. Everyone was very patient with my limited Chinese language skills. They were also happy to work with translator apps on our phones, so if you don’t speak any Chinese, you will be fine.
This would be a great place to come as a family. There are gardens and rides for kids right next to the resort. You can learn how to whip Song-style tea and carve your name into the base of your own Jian ware cup. Not far away is a historical theme park with a collection of real architecture from the Ming (1368 to 1644 CE) and Qing (1636 to 1912 CE) dynasties. The employees wear period dress and there are performances and activities. Nearby there are hiking trails, historical sites, and lovely villages to visit.
It’s also very close to Wuyi Mountain National Park, so it would be a perfect place to stay if the mountains are your destination. If you ask, they could arrange for you to visit famous sites or take you to breathtaking places that only locals know, whatever you want. They can also arrange transport to and from the train station or airport.
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Price per night from:AU$ 78
Posted on Aug 8, 2026|Family Room
Guest UserThe room had a large bed and a small bed, which was enough for our family of five (2 adults and 3 children). The environment was elegant and the soundproofing was good. There was also a mini-fridge in the room, perfect for storing fruits and drinks. The kids loved the pool downstairs. The only downside was the TV; it wasn't connected to the internet, so we couldn't choose what we wanted to watch. The hotel's location is excellent, with many attractions nearby, making it convenient for shopping and dining!
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Price per night from:AU$ 85
Posted on Jul 11, 2026
DandingdemifanThe moment I stepped into this hotel, a good portion of my travel fatigue just melted away. The front desk staff greeted me with warm, polite smiles, and the check-in process was quick and smooth, without any unnecessary delays. I had only mentioned a preference for floral scents, and a small sprig of fresh jasmine was discreetly added next to the welcome tea and snacks.
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Price per night from:AU$ 106
Posted on Aug 18, 2026|Guestroom - Double Occupancy (King Bed) (No Window)
Guest User
This hotel's location is a lifesaver for anyone visiting Quanzhou's Old City. It's right on the food street, so you just step out and you're surrounded by various Southern Fujianese snacks, ginger duck, and satay noodles – incredibly convenient for meals. Major sights like the Bell Tower, Zhongshan Road Arcade, and Guan Yue Temple are just a 10-15 minute walk away, meaning no long taxi rides when exploring the Old City at night, which is a huge plus when traveling with two small children.
We stayed in a family room, which was spacious enough for two large suitcases and a stroller. The room was clean and tidy, and the bedding was comfortably firm, ensuring a good night's sleep. We requested a high floor away from the street when booking, and the room was very quiet, barely affected by the noise from the food street. The hot water was consistent, and the air conditioning worked well, making for a comfortable stay.
The front desk staff were very responsive and efficient with check-in. Any requests we made by phone were promptly handled. The hotel also has a self-service laundry room, which was extremely useful for families with kids who go through a lot of clothes. In the lobby, you can also grab a map with Quanzhou travel tips, which is very helpful for tourists. We even received four complimentary tickets to the Lijian swimming pool next door.
The breakfast was a Chinese buffet with a wide variety of options, including 'mian xian hu' (vermicelli paste), buns, porridge, milk, and soy milk – plenty for the kids to enjoy. It was perfect for filling up before heading out to explore the sights.
Getting around by taxi was very easy; rides to various attractions were accepted instantly. You can also catch the Old City's 'Xiaobai' (small white) shuttle nearby, making it convenient to get to places like West Street and Kaiyuan Temple.
Overall, the value for money is excellent, and I highly recommend it for families visiting Quanzhou. We would definitely choose to stay here again.
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Price per night from:AU$ 33
Posted on Mar 19, 2026
Yunwan
This hotel truly exceeded my expectations! The location is fantastic; you can see the sea right outside the door, and taking a walk with the sea breeze is so relaxing. The service was exceptionally attentive and thoughtful; the staff were warm and attentive, making me feel very welcome. There are tons of food options nearby, so it's convenient to find whatever you want to eat, and the price-performance ratio is excellent. The rooms were fully equipped, clean, and tidy, providing a comfortable and reassuring stay. Overall, a perfect experience, I'll definitely choose this hotel again next time!
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Price per night from:AU$ 48
Posted on Mar 8, 2026|Superior 2-bed Room
flubberGrand Honor Hotel is definitely the best hotel in Shishi, but it’s not quite the same level as a luxury hotel in a bigger city. Generally the hotel is clean, but it’s the little things that I noticed, ie when I checked in, there were some sweet wrappers next to the bowl of sweets that weren’t cleared away. That said, the sense of space is evident in the hotel lobby, lifts, corridors and most importantly, the hotel rooms.
Rooms are very spacious and well-designed, although the closet area can definitely do with brighter lights. Most amenities are provided but what put me off is that many items that would have been free in other hotels at this price-range aren’t free at Grand Honor. There is a Chinese tea set on the table and usually the loose leaf tea is provided for free but it cost ¥15 per packet. Honestly it’s not a lot of money for us, but on the flip side, surely the hotel can provide a bag of tea leaves for their guests. There are the standard free single-use packet tea in the drawer so at least there’s that.
In-room slippers are not to be taken out; they’d charge you if you do - and that’s fine, but the slippers are actually really uncomfortable to wear.
The small plate of fruits (banana, plum and mandarin) given at 5pm every day is a nice touch.
The hotel breakfast is probably the highlight. Set on the 22nd floor with panoramic views of the city, breakfast is very enjoyable. The food quality is pretty good, but a real surprise here is the sheer diversity of food. The bread selection alone has 5-6 choices (pastries, brioche, baguette, square toast, etc), the cooked food section is almost endless (and there’s cooked Chinese vegetables! 👏🏾) and then there’s the fruit selection at the end too. My only gripe is that the coffee machine is a bit slow, and there’s only one machine so there can be a wait for coffee.
Location of the hotel is a little odd; good restaurants and the main mall is about 15 mins’ walk away. There aren’t many good shops to wander around nearby.
Generally, this is a solid hotel for this price point. Excellent service with very fast food delivery (using the ubiquitous delivery robots) and friendly front desk staff.
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Price per night from:AU$ 82
Posted on Jun 25, 2026
Guest UserInitially, I thought it was just an average hotel, nothing spectacular. However, the service truly stood out and made me feel right at home. Check-in was fast and efficient. When they heard we were tourists, they proactively offered recommendations for nearby attractions. After completing the check-in process, the front desk manager personally escorted us to the guest room elevators, which made us feel incredibly welcome. Upon entering the room, there was a plate of welcome fruit on the table. Taking a bite, it was sweet to the taste and warmed my heart.
When I requested a few extra bottles of water, a robot promptly delivered them. Throughout the hallways, lobby, and restaurant, the staff consistently greeted us with smiles. Before check-out, Ms. He at the front desk kindly asked if our stay was satisfactory and offered us several bottles of mineral water, suggesting we take them for our journey due to the hot weather. You could truly feel their genuine care.
From check-in to check-out, I consistently experienced the warmth of the staff. Although I hadn't heard of this hotel before, after staying here, I genuinely felt that staying at a Junlan Hotel gives you a wonderful sense of home!
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Price per night from:AU$ 70
Posted on Oct 28, 2025
Guest User
This is a very good hotel. It is right next to the shopping mall, so restaurants and coffee shops are everywhere. We really appreciated the friendly front desk staff getting us an upgraded room. It is spacious, cleaned, comfortable, and fully stocked with everything we need. We love their long and cleaned pool. It’s perfect for lap swimmers. Definitely we will recommend this hotel to our friends and family.
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Price per night from:AU$ 64
Posted on Apr 7, 2026
Anonymous User
The hotel environment is impeccable, with spacious public areas and beautiful birdsong and flowers. Perched on a hill, I was woken up every morning around 5 or 6 by the chirping of various birds. It's about a 15-minute walk to Xiamen University and Putuo Temple, though it's uphill and a bit tiring, but taxis are quite convenient. The room was also very large, with a bedroom offering a distant view of the rooftops of Xiamen University. All in-room facilities were well-equipped. While I wouldn't delve too deeply into the cleanliness details, it was acceptable, but the sound of water running from the rooms above or next door was particularly noisy. The service was excellent, with prompt responses to all requests! Overall, I was satisfied, with one exception: the breakfast was too basic. It felt like it cost less than five yuan to make, truly the most perfunctory breakfast I've ever had in decades of staying at hotels. We ended up ordering takeout for the kids for both days, so I don't think it's worth booking a rate that includes breakfast. I'd like to offer a suggestion to the hotel: with such a great location and environment, it should strive for perfection by putting more thought into improving the breakfast. For tourists, a hearty breakfast is truly important. If a buffet isn't feasible due to cost-cutting, at least the set menu could be more varied, instead of just offering a bowl of congee and one or two pre-made buns every day, which is quite unappetizing.
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Price per night from:AU$ 47
Posted on Jun 23, 2026
Guest UserThe environment is excellent, and the service is very attentive. Afternoon tea and breakfast are both provided. Every day, when you open the curtains, you're greeted by the clear blue sea, which is incredibly satisfying.
**Facilities**: Very complete. There's even a charging point for the electric scooter we rented.
**Cleanliness**: Clean and tidy. They even provide face towels, and the toilet is sterilized.
**Environment**: Facing the sea, with a warm and vibrant floral view.
**Service**: Everyone is enthusiastic, and shuttle service is available.
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Price per night from:AU$ 117