5-Starhotels in Shanxi, China

Communication with the owner was great right from the start of the booking [thumbs up]. The recommended local dishes were excellent value for money, and they even kindly reminded us about discount offers. The directions to attractions were very clear, and the tour guide they arranged was incredibly professional. Learning about the ancient city's history made the trip truly worthwhile! The courtyard was very clean, and you could tell every plant was carefully tended to. The room furnishings were also very tasteful, and the facilities were complete. Overall, my experience was fantastic, highly recommend it! [clapping hands][clapping hands][clapping hands]

On my trip to Datong, I booked a stay at the Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong, located right by the ancient city, through Trip.com. It's rated 5 stars online, and it truly lives up to the hype! As soon as I checked in, I was upgraded for free to a deluxe business suite. It was my first time seeing a suite with a dining table big enough to host over 10 friends and family. After one night, I switched back to my originally booked business king room. The king room was also incredibly comfortable, measuring a spacious 62 square meters. Opening the curtains revealed views of Datong's streets. If you walk to the end of the corridor, you can even see a panoramic view of the ancient city of Datong. What truly stands out is the fantastic Chinese restaurant at this 5-star hotel. I stayed in Datong for three days, and除了one lunch I had in Hunyuan Ancient City, all my other five lunches and dinners were enjoyed at the hotel's Chinese restaurant. Here, a bowl of Shanxi's specialty knife-cut noodles is only 6 RMB, and a bowl of cold noodles, even tastier than those in Hunyuan, is just 3 RMB. You can order half portions of shumai, and during the first dog days of summer, they even had dumplings. I tried the braised deer tendon with scallions, something I'd never had before, and it was superb, as were the husband and wife lung slices and jellyfish salad – perfect with drinks. Dining here is delicious and affordable. If you top up 200 RMB, you even get a complimentary plate of Shanxi's signature 'guoyourou' (fried pork in sauce). A huge shout-out also goes to the restaurant staff. They are warm, thoughtful, and genuinely care for guests, even advising against ordering too much, ensuring just the right amount! In summary, I give a 5-star rating to both the hotel and the F&B department. The last photo is of the hotel's breakfast, which was also excellent. The hotel has two breakfast restaurants, so even with many guests, it never feels crowded!

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!!!

1. The hotel boasts luxurious decor, particularly the four teal-colored pillars in the lobby paired with an icicle-shaped chandelier, which create a unique and charming ambiance. The rooms are well-appointed with solid materials, including many teal stone accents, and are well-maintained. 2. Upon check-in, the front desk offered us a choice of rooms. Although she warned that rooms near the elevator might be noisy, we didn't think much of it, assuming it was just guests coming and going. However, the real issue arrived. Before 5 AM on Sunday morning, a wedding photography team of over a dozen people showed up in the stairwell, complete with a wind machine and other equipment, to take pictures of the bride. They made a ruckus for over an hour. The most outrageous part was them smoking in the elevator area – isn't this supposed to be a non-smoking floor?! A word of caution for weekend guests: avoid rooms facing the elevator lobby, as you might get woken up. 3. As for breakfast, it's incredibly substantial here. They have freshly grilled fish and steak made on the spot early in the morning, along with beef and potatoes, braised pork, and large shrimp. Of course, standard hotel breakfast items like bacon and sausage are also available. The downside is that it gets crowded; even between 7 AM and 8 AM, about 70-80% of the tables are occupied.

The room was spacious and bright, and the bedding was soft and comfortable, ensuring a great night's sleep. The front desk staff were warm and attentive, making both check-in and check-out very efficient. The bathroom had a separate wet and dry area, with plenty of hot water, showing great attention to detail. The breakfast selection was rich and varied, offering both Chinese and Western options, and I was especially pleased with the made-to-order noodle station. The location is convenient, with plenty of dining and shopping options nearby. Overall, the experience exceeded my expectations. I would definitely choose to stay here again and recommend it to my friends.

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 hotel is conveniently located with easy access to transportation and plenty of dining and shopping options nearby. The room was spacious, bright, comfortable, cozy, and clean, seemingly recently renovated. However, I was assigned to a room on the fifth floor next to a swimming pool with a very unpleasant chlorine smell, although the room itself didn't smell. The breakfast was quite varied and plentiful. Check-in at the front desk was a bit cumbersome; a row of busy staff members ignored me for two minutes, which felt rather unfriendly.

The Xinghuacun Hotel boasts an excellent location right in the heart of Pingyao Ancient City, directly across from the county government office. A right turn out of the hotel brings you to the bustling South Street, where all the major attractions are located. The rooms are incredibly spacious and feature double sinks. They're also super cool; we didn't even need to use the AC at night, making for a very comfortable sleep. The abalone millet porridge at breakfast was delicious, and the pour-over latte coffee was just as good as what you'd find in a coffee shop. The mini-fridge was stocked with various complimentary beverages, and all the bottled water was Baishui Mountain brand. What surprised us most was the complimentary fruit delivered every afternoon, and a thoughtful farewell gift upon check-out. The service truly was superb! 👍 Highly recommended!

Location: The location is excellent, right in Datong Ancient City. The hotel is directly across from Huayan Temple and Huayan Temple Square. It's also very close to many famous Datong restaurants like Zini 369, Longjuxiang, Beiwei Jiayan, and Xijindao, all within walking distance, which is incredibly convenient. Service: It's understandable that hotel prices increase during peak tourist season, but the service should also keep up. Before check-in, a hotel staff member called to ask about any special requests. I mentioned I had a child and needed children's amenities prepared in advance. However, upon arriving at the room, I found none were provided. I called the front desk to request them, but waited a very long time without anything being delivered. My family eventually stopped a cleaner in the hallway to get them. On the second day of our stay, the bathroom wasn't even cleaned – the trash was still in the bin, and the tissues hadn't been replaced. There was no staff outside to assist with luggage. On a positive note, my child lost a tooth and got some blood on the duvet, and the cleaning staff promptly replaced it, which was great. Breakfast: The restaurant isn't large, and there weren't many diners, which made for a comfortable experience. They offered freshly cooked items like lamb offal soup and knife-cut noodles. The variety of dishes wasn't extensive, but it was decent. Overall, there's still room for improvement regarding the details.

When I visited Mount Wutai, I was torn between booking the Marriott or a guesthouse. My main concern was the Marriott's distance from the scenic area and potential inconvenience. However, I ultimately chose the Marriott for its reputation for excellent service. After checking in, all my worries disappeared! Every morning, there are three scheduled shuttle buses that go directly to the central scenic area. If you miss one, it's no problem at all; the hotel's electric car will take you to the Route 8 bus stop anytime. When you return, just call the hotel from the designated stop and they'll pick you up immediately. It was incredibly convenient and I was very satisfied. The food at the hotel restaurant was also delicious. All in all, it exceeded my expectations!