Hotels met Gym 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.

Had a fantastic stay! The location is super convenient for getting around, and there are plenty of places to eat, drink, and shop nearby. The room was spotless, spacious, and didn't feel cramped at all. The bedding was really comfortable, and the soundproofing was great – it was very quiet. The front desk staff were lovely and very responsive to any requests, paying attention to all the little details. Overall, it's excellent value for money. I felt comfortable and at ease during my stay. I'll definitely choose this place again next time I'm in Fuzhou!

The room was very clean, and the front desk upgraded my room, which had a fantastic city view with a wide vista and large windows. The night view was absolutely stunning. The location is excellent, right on Zhongshan Road and Zhenhai Road, making it very convenient to get to all the attractions. The service attitude was great. I happened to be there during Xiamen's rainy season, so the room's floor was a bit damp and slippery, so you had to be careful. Overall, the service was good, and the room was very clean.

The most unbearable thing about this hotel for me was the temperature. From the moment I stepped into the lobby, it felt stuffy and hot. When we checked in at the front desk, I even asked the staff about the hotel's temperature setting, and she said it was set at a constant 26 degrees Celsius. Sure enough, when we got to the room, the thermostat displayed 26 degrees. Even after lowering the temperature, there was no change at all. It was unbearable trying to sleep at night, so I called down. They sent an engineer who fiddled with the thermostat, bringing the display down to around 23 degrees, but honestly, it didn't feel much cooler; it still felt hot. Especially with the thick duvet, I couldn't get any sleep, so I had to call again and ask for a fan. The next day, I visited a client in the office building right next to the hotel. The moment I entered the office lobby, it immediately felt cool and comfortable. Just a single door separated us, and the difference in temperature settings between the hotel and the office building was noticeable. My client's office also felt comfortably cool. So, with it being summer now, having the hotel set at a constant 26 degrees is really unacceptable. If I hadn't had something important to do the next day and needed to check out properly, I honestly would have checked out and left right then and there.

The stay was good overall. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff were helpful. A few small things could be improved, but it was still a pleasant experience

This is a really nice hotel, located right on a food street with tons of dining options and a lively atmosphere. They have a few parking spots, but you need to inform the front desk when you're heading out. A nice perk is that guests get free tickets to the adjacent swimming pool – just remember to bring your swimming cap! The lounge area on the first floor is a thoughtful touch, offering complimentary coffee, tea, and ice. The rooms are quite spacious, featuring a huge TV and comfortable bedding, ensuring a good night's sleep. The bathroom has a separate wet and dry area, though the water pressure for showering was a bit low, possibly due to peak usage. Breakfast was decent, but they didn't offer any made-to-order items. It seems the hotel has a partnership with an electric scooter rental shop, but I didn't quite figure out the details or inquire further. The hotel's proximity to various attractions is great; you can easily walk, bike, or take a taxi. Definitely recommended!

First off, the hotel's location is super convenient, right in the city center near Xiamen Station. The room facilities are pretty smart and modern; the voice control is genuinely good and very handy. However, they really need to keep up with maintenance and regular checks. When I arrived, my key card initially wouldn't work and the Wi-Fi wouldn't connect. But I really want to thank the front desk staff for patiently helping me solve these issues. As for cleanliness, it was spotless, and the breakfast was quite good too. Though, it was a bit odd that there were so few people eating breakfast that day.

The environment here is clean, tidy, and has a comfortable atmosphere. The staff are enthusiastic and attentive; someone greeted and guided me as soon as I entered, and they were very prompt in responding to all my requests. Overall, it was a great experience, better than I expected.

The location is convenient, and the hotel has a great design aesthetic. They offer a free shuttle service to the train station, and the driver was really nice. The popular beef offal noodle shop next door is delicious and affordable. Just a small heads-up: the water pressure in the shower is really strong; I'd suggest either changing the showerhead or adjusting the pressure.

I usually do not choose homestay when other modes are available. However in Yunshuiyao homestay is the only choice. Given that 1949 has to preserve the local architecture do not expect 5 star hotel facilities. For all the constraints of a ”min su” the staff do go the distance to ensure they meet the demands of guests. I checked out a happy guest and will recommend 1949 to other travelers.