5-Star Hotels 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.

This was my second time at Xinghuacun Inn, and it was just as thoughtful and welcoming as before. My room was upgraded, so I got to experience a different layout from my last visit. The room decor, cleanliness, and everything else met high standards. The restaurant staff were incredibly accommodating and enthusiastically waited for guests who hadn't arrived yet for their meal. A special thanks to Shi Tao, the hotel manager, who was responsible for our pick-up and meticulously arranged all the details. He also assisted us on our last visit, and coming back this time truly felt like coming home. If any friends are visiting the ancient town, or if I return myself, I'll definitely choose Xinghuacun Inn again.

The hotel's location is superb; it's the perfect choice for exploring the old city, with all the sights and great food nearby. The hotel is very clean, the restaurant food is delicious, and the staff provide excellent service. As I was traveling alone and wanted to try local specialties, the staff kindly reduced the portion sizes, which was great – tasty and no waste! The room facilities are new, but there's a minor issue: the sink and shower are in separate areas, and the bath towels are kept under the sink. This makes it inconvenient to grab a towel after showering. If you take it into the shower beforehand, there's nowhere to hang it. Perhaps a hook could be added?

The hotel boasts an excellent location and offers shuttle services to the tourist service center and nearby stations within the scenic area. There's a convenient morning shuttle to attractions, and booking a time slot is very easy. The staff are warm and attentive. The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of food, and the dinner buffet includes a mini hotpot, which is great for warming up cold seafood and raw vegetables, especially beneficial for those with sensitive stomachs. The guest rooms are spacious with pleasant views, though it's a shame the flexible partition in the bathroom is a bit old and doesn't slide smoothly.

A very cozy and comfortable B&B, located right in the ancient town's pedestrian street, offering a peaceful retreat amidst the bustling area. The courtyard is spacious, the rooms are clean, and all amenities are of high quality. Breakfast is plentiful, and the staff are friendly. The location is excellent, with all of the ancient town's attractions within walking distance, which is great when traveling with kids as it saves a lot of hassle. Plus, many popular restaurants often have long queues, but because this place is so close, you can easily grab takeout and enjoy your meal back at the hotel, saving a lot of waiting time. I'll definitely stay here again next time I visit Datong.