Hotels met bar in Fujian, China

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.

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.

Good room and services. Location was excellent, making it easy to explore the surrounding area. I especially appreciated the attention to detail and the front desk staffs are so helpful that made me feel welcome throughout my stay.

1949 truly feels like an idyllic retreat, far from the city's hustle and bustle, yet brimming with local charm. It's conveniently located very close to the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (Four Dishes and One Soup). The front desk and service staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. We booked a family suite with a slide, which was an absolute hit with the kids! They played all evening, and there was constant laughter – it was truly delightful and excellent value for money. We had dinner at the hotel, and it was also fantastic – the chef truly puts thought into every dish. Breakfast by the stream, listening to the gentle babbling water and enjoying the crisp morning air, offered a truly unique and wonderful experience. Simply wonderful! 👍

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.

I had an amazing stay at this hostel! My private room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable. But what really made the experience special was the great atmosphere. The staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly, making it easy to connect with other travelers. The common area downstairs is spacious, with a playful dog and cat roaming around, as well as games to enjoy. We ended up playing mahjong almost every night. The hostel also has a great location in the 1916 arts district, just a 15-minute walk from the old town. Highly recommended!

The front desk staff were incredibly friendly; check-in and check-out were both handled efficiently and quickly. They patiently answered all our questions about local dining options, and their recommendations for restaurants were spot-on – the food was fantastic! The complimentary buffet breakfast offered a great variety of dishes, and the quality was excellent. It was incredibly satisfying to start each day with such a rich and delicious meal. The accommodation itself was very comfortable and offered excellent value for money. I would definitely choose Fengdalin Hotel again on my next visit to Putian, and I highly recommend it to anyone!

The room was absolutely stunning! The moment I opened the door, I knew the ocean view was worth every penny. You can definitely get some amazing photos right from your room. It's clear the owner has a great eye for design. The amenities in the room were also very comprehensive – even a Dyson hairdryer and facial tissues in the bathroom, which shows real attention to detail. We drove here, and parking was super convenient and free. The butler's service attitude was excellent too. And breakfast was quite tasty. I'll definitely book this place again next time I'm in Pingtan!

I stayed in a room on the second floor with a balcony, and I absolutely loved it. The bedding was comfortable, the room was elegant, and the mirror was fantastic. It was so relaxing and perfectly matched the experience I was looking for on this trip. This hotel is truly thoughtful.

To the Management and Team, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional hospitality I experienced during my stay at your hotel. From January 9th to 10th, I was warmly accommodated in Room 315 of the Lingbo Building, and I was truly impressed by the outstanding service provided by your staff. In particular, I wish to commend your front desk team for their professionalism, kindness, and efficiency. Their attentive and courteous approach made me feel genuinely welcomed and well cared for throughout my stay. I would also like to give special thanks to Mr. Zheng Ziheng from your Marketing Department. His genuine warmth, thoughtful assistance, and attentive hospitality went above and beyond my expectations. In him, I see the future of tourism in China—a future built on passionate, dedicated, and truly guest-centered professionals who not only meet but exceed the expectations of those they serve. It is clear that your hotel cultivates a culture of excellence, and I look forward to the opportunity to stay with you again. I am confident that with such a committed team, your establishment will continue to earn the trust and admiration of guests from near and far. With warm regards, Emily Tan emilyemery@hotmail.com 尊敬的管理团队及全体同仁： 您好！首先，请允许我以最诚挚的心情，向贵宾馆表示衷心的感谢。在1月9日至10日入住凌波楼315房期间，我深深感受到了贵馆无微不至的服务与温暖备至的关怀。 特别要赞扬的是每一位前台员工——他们始终以亲切的笑容、专业的态度和高效的协助，让我在入住期间倍感舒心与便利。他们不仅展现了卓越的职业素养，更以细腻周到的服务，诠释了“宾至如归”的真正含义。 此外，我必须特别提及营销部的郑梓恒先生。他以极大的热情与真诚给予了我超越期待的关怀与协助，其细心体贴的款待令人如沐春风。在他身上，我看到了中国旅游业未来发展的美好缩影——正是这样一批充满热忱、尽心尽责的专业人才，用实际行动传递着 hospitality 的温度，也为行业树立了熠熠生辉的标杆。 在此，谨以最美好的祝愿，感谢贵馆培养出如此优秀的团队，也期待未来能有更多机会再次感受这份令人难忘的款待。相信凭借这样的服务精神，贵宾馆必将赢得更多宾客的赞誉与信赖！ 顺祝商祺， Emily Tan 敬上 微信号：EmilyTan(Emery)