5-Star Hotels in Shanxi, China

Stayed at JW Marriott Hotel Taiyuan, which ranks number one in Taiyuan on Trip.com. The doorman was extremely attentive, running over to open the car door and handle our luggage. Check-in was fast, and the deposit was only 500. The room has a great layout, featuring a central island that groups the minibar and vanity area together, with a three-section sliding door separating the wet and dry areas. The minibar is quite generous, and they provide welcome fruit and turn-down service. The breakfast was fantastic—the egg station had live cooking displays, the noodle station offered around six choices, and there was an abundance of Shanxi specialty foods. The local Taiyuan Tounao (mutton soup) was out of this world! There were twelve types of fruit of great quality, six kinds of house-fermented yogurt, and about twelve varieties of freshly squeezed juice. Highly recommended!

I did not want to leave. That is the most honest thing I can say about Xihe Academy. ”Guest house” is a label that does not prepare you for what this place actually is. If you are American and hearing that term for the first time, forget whatever image just came to mind. This is not a MIL suite tucked behind someone's garage. This is a fully realized, deeply considered experience wrapped inside one of the most stunning environments I have ever walked into. The courtyard alone stopped me mid-step. The surrounding area looks like an active film set -- you keep half-expecting to hear ”action” called from somewhere just off camera. And then you step inside and somehow it gets even better. I genuinely lost my words. The room is the kind of space where you realize someone has actually thought of everything. Included minibar. Fresh fruit and snacks. Loose-leaf tea so you can brew a proper cup. Bathrooms fully stocked down to the shower shoes. You can arrive with nothing but your clothes and be completely at ease. They have handled the rest. The staff made all of it feel personal. When a language barrier created a small miscommunication, they were patient and gracious without a flicker of frustration. When I joked that I had gone a little crazy shopping and could not close my suitcase, they immediately offered suggestions to help. That warmth is not a policy -- it lives in the people. They coordinate meals as well, and mine was delivered to my room and genuinely delicious. One thing I will say without hesitation: use their driver. This is a private, gated area and you cannot simply grab a random car or rideshare. Arrange your pickup from the train station or airport in advance -- it is seamless, affordable, and completely worth it. Do not skip this step. This was my first guesthouse experience, and Xihe Academy has set a bar I was not expecting to clear so soon. If you stay here, you will not regret it. Five stars is not enough.

The hotel is located right next to the East Gate of the ancient city, making transportation very convenient. The front desk staff are extremely professional and efficient! The rooms are clean and tidy, with good soundproofing. The pool design is very kid-friendly, and the breakfast quality is great! This hotel offers fantastic value for money and is highly recommended!

I stayed for 4 days. There was almost no service. I arrived at the hotel at 4 PM, and although they helped me arrange a higher floor, I waited for almost an hour, and the room they arranged was still not ready. They then switched me to another room on the same floor. The lobby was very hot, and all the temporary resting spots were directly in the sun. When I got upstairs, I was a bit dumbfounded to find my room directly facing the elevator. Oh well, I checked in. The check-in experience wasn't great. Disposable toiletries weren't replenished promptly; besides toilet paper, you literally only got them once. For a 4-day stay (2 days booked via a group deal, 2 days via other platforms), the bedside power outlet didn't work. I had to unplug the table lamp to charge my phone, and that outlet was just awful. The floor-to-ceiling window blinds were very dirty, covered in dust. For the same pre-sale price, Shangri-La offers much better value for money. Kempinski seemed forced into pre-selling, almost as if they don't want future guests. There are just too many options in Taiyuan for this price point.

The service staff and the cleaning ladies were all very warm and welcoming. Special shoutout to the staff member in charge of the fruit section at the buffet breakfast—a kind gentleman. He offered enthusiastic and warm assistance to special guests in need. Thank you so much, sir. During this trip to Datong, I truly felt the warmth, friendliness, and dedication of the local people. I look forward to visiting this beautiful city again.

Traveling to Taiyuan, I booked the City View Hotel based on recommendations from others. As soon as we entered the room, it felt really comfortable. My son immediately said he loved it. The room was spacious and the layout was pleasing. The desk was quite large, perfect for my son to do his homework and attend online classes. The bedside table had a recessed surface, so things wouldn't easily fall off. Besides USB charging ports, there were also iPhone plugs. Under the TV, there was a long shelf for placing items. The toilet and bathroom were separate, independent rooms. There were two sinks and a large counter space. Upon entering, there was a large area where you could sit and place belongings. The Line 2 subway station is not far downstairs. It's a 15-minute drive from the airport. Getting to Zhonglou Street, Jinci Temple, and the Shanxi Museum all take about 20-some minutes. The only downsides are that the hotel is located near an elevated highway, so the soundproofing isn't great. You can hear cars passing by, which slightly bothered me as I'm a light sleeper. It seems to be in a newer district, so there aren't many places to explore nearby, requiring a bit more travel. This was my first time staying at a City View Hotel, and overall, I was satisfied.

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.

1. The hotel boasts an excellent location, and parking is incredibly convenient with plenty of available spaces. 2. Having stayed in hundreds, if not thousands, of hotels, I can confidently say that the cleanliness here is exceptionally rare. The sheets and floors were completely free of hair, the sink had no stains, and the toilet not only lacked any unpleasant odors but even had a subtle, pleasant aroma. The housekeeping is truly outstanding. They even thoughtfully provided hand cream on the bathroom vanity. 3. On the day of check-in, because I booked late, all the family rooms and suites were fully booked, leaving only twin rooms with 1.2-meter beds. These beds are a bit narrow. It would be even better if the hotel could replace the 1.2-meter twin beds with 1.35-meter or even 1.5-meter twin beds. 4. The hotel only offers a laundry service charged per item, with no self-service washing machines. For guests traveling for extended periods, a self-service washing machine is an essential must-have. It would be great if the hotel could add self-service laundry facilities.

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.