Homestays in Shanxi, China

Red lantern Inn gives the best service among all the hotels I’d stayed so far in China. The owner and his wife picked me up from the Train station 20 min away. The location is superb, inside the old city and located just 5 min walk from the North Gate. The Mansion is so beautiful and well kept for hundreds years old building unless you like everything new or modern. The best part is Xiao Lei, the sweet and polite inn keeper who’s extremely helpful although we had to use Google translator to communicate. He goes all out of his ways to do anything to make your stay comfortable and your visit enjoyable. He cannot explain how to but the ticket for the Old city, so he walks with me to the office. He also drives an electric truck to deliver my luggages to the north gate and call the taxi for me to the airport. I’ll definitely come back to stay here if I come visit Pingyaogucheng again. I completely recommend this inn to everyone.

I have to say this is the best accomodation in my entire Shanxi trip in which i stayed in 5 facilities. I truly appreciate the service provided, i got what i needed in a timely manner. As a solo traveller in a foreign country (i can speak simple mandarin, but cannot read chinese), i was glad that the proprieter could pick me up from Pingyaoguzhen station. Although i initiated the request, from then on, about 5 minutes before the train arrived Pingyao, he was proactive to send me a voice message on wechat when he arrived at the station and shared a photo to identify himself. The journey was 15 minutes in the car, followed by a tuk tuk as cars are not allowed to enter the ancient city during the day. The point of entry to the facility is via the north gate, it is a 3 minutes walk to Ma family mansion and about 10 minutes walk to the centre of the ancient city where most of the good restaurants are located. I booked a traditional chinese design room on the ground floor with the dragon-phoenix bed and another day bed. I did not ask, but i guess the facility is an old house that was built more than 100 years ago, there is a sign at the external wall of the homestay that indicate it is a protected building. As it was an old house, i was surprised that the room was clean, just the bathroom was slightly deteriorated (there is no separation of wet vs dry). The blanket in traditional dragon & phoenix design and traditional pillows with seed-like fillings were clean and odourless, i was so glad. Although the mattress was quite thin, it was not hard, i was glad. The proprieter gave me a map and explained the layout of the old city how to get around, where to eat, and help arranged shared car to Qiao family mansion. Upon checking out, i was given a bottle of locally brewed vinegar. The proprieter was not around when i left, he sent me voice message to arrange transport for my trip to the train station. I actually felt sorry when i told him that i booked another place in the more happening area of the ancient city (south gate) after checking out from his place. There are many buggy cars operating in the ancient city, charging ¥10/trip, you can tell the driver your desired destination and he/she will drop you at the door step or the closest drop off point if that area is not accesible.

I really enjoyed my Stay at the Xianya Elswhere Hotel. When I arrived I was greeted warmly by the staff and they immediately helped me to plan my weekend (must sees and restaurants to try). The room was very nice and clean and all the facilities were great! I left early in the morning and the staff helped me to arrange a ride to the train station, really amazing service! Would recommend this place to everyone!

The hotel is perfectly located at the heart of the old city. If, like me, your Chinese reading capabilities are not good, it might be difficult to identify, as none of the pictures here are from the front facade, but the location is correct and the sign has the correct name in Chinese. Rooms are good and clean (ours smelled a little bit of tobacco, but was otherwise fine). Breakfast is varied and includes several options, from noodles to pickled veggies, buns and steamed eggs. We didn't have much interaction with the staff, as we didn't need anything in particular, but they seemed nice and at least one had basic English skills. The courtyard is beautiful and has several adorable feline inhabitants that will make your stay better.

Beautiful historical house with great facilities. Mr and Mrs Li are super friendly and have gone above and beyond with their service. We were offered pick up and drop off service from station and they have given us great advice in terms of how to visit Pingyao. Breakfast was delicious. We had an amazing time here. Thank you so much for your great hospitality.

Excellent and friendly reception when we arrived at the hotel. We only had one and half days to tour pingyao and the hotel staff were very helpful in recommending a half day guided tour with buggy transport to various sites in Pingyao Guchen. They also helped us to link up with a tour agency to book a day tour to Wang Jia Da Yuan and Hukou waterfall. The staff helped us to book tickets to the show，又见平遥， and shuttled us to the venue after the half day tour. Because of their excellent recommendations and service, we managed to enjoy the sights and culture of Pingyao within one and half days. The hotel is in a beautiful traditional courtyard. Newly renovated. The room is very clean with modern amenities. Beds are comfortable. Breakfast is hearty. We also love the free transfer from high speed rail station to hotel and return. Highly recommended!

I highly recommend Renyi Inn because of its location and friendly owners! Its located within the ancient city walls, just opposite Huayan Monastery. You can also climb up the city wall nearby. If you walk out via the gate there is KFC & a shopping mall just across the road. If you take Didi from Datong South train station, it takes only about 20mins to get to the inn. Other attractions like drum tower, nine dragon wall are within walking distance. We received help from the owners to book a great driver for the day to bring us to Yungang Grottoes & Xuankong temple. Owners also recommended a really nice restaurant nearby known for their local dao xiao mian. There’s also a nice local bakery & convenience stall just a few steps away from the inn. Room was comfortable and spacious. Overall, we wished we had more time in Datong as we had a really good experience!

Nice hotel in the city center, good position to see the local attractions and to take a taxi for going out of the city. Staff speaks a good English and we could pack a little breakfast before going out early in the morning. The room was clear, the hot water for the shower was a little difficult to set up.

This hotel is the best place to stay in Pingyao! It is located in the ancient city, close to the north gate, which is convenient to stay far from the crowd and take a Didi to visit some places outside the walls. The rooms are small but super nice, facing the internal traditional courtyard. The cherry on the cake is the hotel manager, Alice. She is super helpful and speaks a good English, which is so rare in China but very appreciated as well!

Nice place, Nice location; you can walk to the Ancient town, I took along time to catch nice scene along the city wall, park and canal. To get the hotel from Datong South Railway Station by bus no.31 from the bus station side(the area is connected), take around 30 minutes to get there (Yungang Jianguo hotel, the hotel is opposite, only 2 CNY, many food and minimart around there. There is Muslim food there if need(next to the entrance of C(behind the building). Nice service, self check-in, clean room and relaxing. the owner, you should to contact the owner before arrive, she so friendly and always help you, she suggested us about the famous local food and restaurants(Thank you so much). If you need to buy some necessary item and cannot buy at the around minimart, you can walk to the Yonghui Superstore by East side (the next junction) turn right to Yuhe West rd. (At the corner). From the hotel tobget Yungang Grottoes, you can take bus no. 31 (Yungang Jianguo side), get off at Shi Li Dian Cun Xi ( West Shilidian village), cross to another side and catch bus no.12 to the terminal stop(is Yungang Grottoes. Take 1 hour or 1.30 to get there.

Red lantern Inn gives the best service among all the hotels I’d stayed so far in China. The owner and his wife picked me up from the Train station 20 min away. The location is superb, inside the old city and located just 5 min walk from the North Gate. The Mansion is so beautiful and well kept for hundreds years old building unless you like everything new or modern. The best part is Xiao Lei, the sweet and polite inn keeper who’s extremely helpful although we had to use Google translator to communicate. He goes all out of his ways to do anything to make your stay comfortable and your visit enjoyable. He cannot explain how to but the ticket for the Old city, so he walks with me to the office. He also drives an electric truck to deliver my luggages to the north gate and call the taxi for me to the airport. I’ll definitely come back to stay here if I come visit Pingyaogucheng again. I completely recommend this inn to everyone.

I have to say this is the best accomodation in my entire Shanxi trip in which i stayed in 5 facilities. I truly appreciate the service provided, i got what i needed in a timely manner. As a solo traveller in a foreign country (i can speak simple mandarin, but cannot read chinese), i was glad that the proprieter could pick me up from Pingyaoguzhen station. Although i initiated the request, from then on, about 5 minutes before the train arrived Pingyao, he was proactive to send me a voice message on wechat when he arrived at the station and shared a photo to identify himself. The journey was 15 minutes in the car, followed by a tuk tuk as cars are not allowed to enter the ancient city during the day. The point of entry to the facility is via the north gate, it is a 3 minutes walk to Ma family mansion and about 10 minutes walk to the centre of the ancient city where most of the good restaurants are located. I booked a traditional chinese design room on the ground floor with the dragon-phoenix bed and another day bed. I did not ask, but i guess the facility is an old house that was built more than 100 years ago, there is a sign at the external wall of the homestay that indicate it is a protected building. As it was an old house, i was surprised that the room was clean, just the bathroom was slightly deteriorated (there is no separation of wet vs dry). The blanket in traditional dragon & phoenix design and traditional pillows with seed-like fillings were clean and odourless, i was so glad. Although the mattress was quite thin, it was not hard, i was glad. The proprieter gave me a map and explained the layout of the old city how to get around, where to eat, and help arranged shared car to Qiao family mansion. Upon checking out, i was given a bottle of locally brewed vinegar. The proprieter was not around when i left, he sent me voice message to arrange transport for my trip to the train station. I actually felt sorry when i told him that i booked another place in the more happening area of the ancient city (south gate) after checking out from his place. There are many buggy cars operating in the ancient city, charging ¥10/trip, you can tell the driver your desired destination and he/she will drop you at the door step or the closest drop off point if that area is not accesible.

I really enjoyed my Stay at the Xianya Elswhere Hotel. When I arrived I was greeted warmly by the staff and they immediately helped me to plan my weekend (must sees and restaurants to try). The room was very nice and clean and all the facilities were great! I left early in the morning and the staff helped me to arrange a ride to the train station, really amazing service! Would recommend this place to everyone!

The hotel is perfectly located at the heart of the old city. If, like me, your Chinese reading capabilities are not good, it might be difficult to identify, as none of the pictures here are from the front facade, but the location is correct and the sign has the correct name in Chinese. Rooms are good and clean (ours smelled a little bit of tobacco, but was otherwise fine). Breakfast is varied and includes several options, from noodles to pickled veggies, buns and steamed eggs. We didn't have much interaction with the staff, as we didn't need anything in particular, but they seemed nice and at least one had basic English skills. The courtyard is beautiful and has several adorable feline inhabitants that will make your stay better.

Excellent and friendly reception when we arrived at the hotel. We only had one and half days to tour pingyao and the hotel staff were very helpful in recommending a half day guided tour with buggy transport to various sites in Pingyao Guchen. They also helped us to link up with a tour agency to book a day tour to Wang Jia Da Yuan and Hukou waterfall. The staff helped us to book tickets to the show，又见平遥， and shuttled us to the venue after the half day tour. Because of their excellent recommendations and service, we managed to enjoy the sights and culture of Pingyao within one and half days. The hotel is in a beautiful traditional courtyard. Newly renovated. The room is very clean with modern amenities. Beds are comfortable. Breakfast is hearty. We also love the free transfer from high speed rail station to hotel and return. Highly recommended!

This hotel is the best place to stay in Pingyao! It is located in the ancient city, close to the north gate, which is convenient to stay far from the crowd and take a Didi to visit some places outside the walls. The rooms are small but super nice, facing the internal traditional courtyard. The cherry on the cake is the hotel manager, Alice. She is super helpful and speaks a good English, which is so rare in China but very appreciated as well!

The mansion is antique and very beautiful. It is one of the best buildings in the ancient city, even as good as the scenic spots. As soon as you enter the door, you will feel the strong Chinese atmosphere. The room is clean and tidy, and it is also very simple and elegant👍🏻 The boss is super nice! Very handsome and nice! You can book cars to other nearby attractions and tickets to See Pingyao from the boss. The boss will help us with the strategy. Very nice and responsible! When we left, because the high-speed rail time was late, the boss also left his lounge for us to rest. It was really nice👍🏻 There is a pick-up service at the north gate of the ancient city. It is very convenient. When we left, the boss also gave us a bottle of Shanxi vinegar! Let us feel the enthusiasm and generosity of northerners! I directly recommend three links! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

The room was as described, the interior of the looked relatively new. I arrived early and they let me do an early check in. Even though they don't speak English, communication was not a problem because the owners are kind and helpful. I loved the ancient city, people is easy going and there is a lot of trust among people, as a solo traveler woman felt very safe and comfortable. Also this place has a good location near many attractions, I like walking so I did everything by foot. Definitely recommend staying at this place.

The owner and her husband are super lovely, kind and helpful people. They drove me to the train station and helped me book a bus ticket as well. She even went back to the train station to bring some food that another traveller had left behind! The hotel is really well located right next to the old city and train. The room was lovely and cozy and made me feel like a princess. It was one of my favourite places to stay so far!

They provide pickup service from the train station. For the return trip, it is chargeable at RMB30. For the room rate I paid, it is inclusive of 2 costumes. Makeup and photoshoot are separate, and I paid RMB198 for both (with 10 edited photos provided).

Red lantern Inn gives the best service among all the hotels I’d stayed so far in China. The owner and his wife picked me up from the Train station 20 min away. The location is superb, inside the old city and located just 5 min walk from the North Gate. The Mansion is so beautiful and well kept for hundreds years old building unless you like everything new or modern. The best part is Xiao Lei, the sweet and polite inn keeper who’s extremely helpful although we had to use Google translator to communicate. He goes all out of his ways to do anything to make your stay comfortable and your visit enjoyable. He cannot explain how to but the ticket for the Old city, so he walks with me to the office. He also drives an electric truck to deliver my luggages to the north gate and call the taxi for me to the airport. I’ll definitely come back to stay here if I come visit Pingyaogucheng again. I completely recommend this inn to everyone.

I have to say this is the best accomodation in my entire Shanxi trip in which i stayed in 5 facilities. I truly appreciate the service provided, i got what i needed in a timely manner. As a solo traveller in a foreign country (i can speak simple mandarin, but cannot read chinese), i was glad that the proprieter could pick me up from Pingyaoguzhen station. Although i initiated the request, from then on, about 5 minutes before the train arrived Pingyao, he was proactive to send me a voice message on wechat when he arrived at the station and shared a photo to identify himself. The journey was 15 minutes in the car, followed by a tuk tuk as cars are not allowed to enter the ancient city during the day. The point of entry to the facility is via the north gate, it is a 3 minutes walk to Ma family mansion and about 10 minutes walk to the centre of the ancient city where most of the good restaurants are located. I booked a traditional chinese design room on the ground floor with the dragon-phoenix bed and another day bed. I did not ask, but i guess the facility is an old house that was built more than 100 years ago, there is a sign at the external wall of the homestay that indicate it is a protected building. As it was an old house, i was surprised that the room was clean, just the bathroom was slightly deteriorated (there is no separation of wet vs dry). The blanket in traditional dragon & phoenix design and traditional pillows with seed-like fillings were clean and odourless, i was so glad. Although the mattress was quite thin, it was not hard, i was glad. The proprieter gave me a map and explained the layout of the old city how to get around, where to eat, and help arranged shared car to Qiao family mansion. Upon checking out, i was given a bottle of locally brewed vinegar. The proprieter was not around when i left, he sent me voice message to arrange transport for my trip to the train station. I actually felt sorry when i told him that i booked another place in the more happening area of the ancient city (south gate) after checking out from his place. There are many buggy cars operating in the ancient city, charging ¥10/trip, you can tell the driver your desired destination and he/she will drop you at the door step or the closest drop off point if that area is not accesible.

I really enjoyed my Stay at the Xianya Elswhere Hotel. When I arrived I was greeted warmly by the staff and they immediately helped me to plan my weekend (must sees and restaurants to try). The room was very nice and clean and all the facilities were great! I left early in the morning and the staff helped me to arrange a ride to the train station, really amazing service! Would recommend this place to everyone!

The hotel is perfectly located at the heart of the old city. If, like me, your Chinese reading capabilities are not good, it might be difficult to identify, as none of the pictures here are from the front facade, but the location is correct and the sign has the correct name in Chinese. Rooms are good and clean (ours smelled a little bit of tobacco, but was otherwise fine). Breakfast is varied and includes several options, from noodles to pickled veggies, buns and steamed eggs. We didn't have much interaction with the staff, as we didn't need anything in particular, but they seemed nice and at least one had basic English skills. The courtyard is beautiful and has several adorable feline inhabitants that will make your stay better.

Excellent and friendly reception when we arrived at the hotel. We only had one and half days to tour pingyao and the hotel staff were very helpful in recommending a half day guided tour with buggy transport to various sites in Pingyao Guchen. They also helped us to link up with a tour agency to book a day tour to Wang Jia Da Yuan and Hukou waterfall. The staff helped us to book tickets to the show，又见平遥， and shuttled us to the venue after the half day tour. Because of their excellent recommendations and service, we managed to enjoy the sights and culture of Pingyao within one and half days. The hotel is in a beautiful traditional courtyard. Newly renovated. The room is very clean with modern amenities. Beds are comfortable. Breakfast is hearty. We also love the free transfer from high speed rail station to hotel and return. Highly recommended!

This hotel is the best place to stay in Pingyao! It is located in the ancient city, close to the north gate, which is convenient to stay far from the crowd and take a Didi to visit some places outside the walls. The rooms are small but super nice, facing the internal traditional courtyard. The cherry on the cake is the hotel manager, Alice. She is super helpful and speaks a good English, which is so rare in China but very appreciated as well!

The mansion is antique and very beautiful. It is one of the best buildings in the ancient city, even as good as the scenic spots. As soon as you enter the door, you will feel the strong Chinese atmosphere. The room is clean and tidy, and it is also very simple and elegant👍🏻 The boss is super nice! Very handsome and nice! You can book cars to other nearby attractions and tickets to See Pingyao from the boss. The boss will help us with the strategy. Very nice and responsible! When we left, because the high-speed rail time was late, the boss also left his lounge for us to rest. It was really nice👍🏻 There is a pick-up service at the north gate of the ancient city. It is very convenient. When we left, the boss also gave us a bottle of Shanxi vinegar! Let us feel the enthusiasm and generosity of northerners! I directly recommend three links! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

The room was as described, the interior of the looked relatively new. I arrived early and they let me do an early check in. Even though they don't speak English, communication was not a problem because the owners are kind and helpful. I loved the ancient city, people is easy going and there is a lot of trust among people, as a solo traveler woman felt very safe and comfortable. Also this place has a good location near many attractions, I like walking so I did everything by foot. Definitely recommend staying at this place.

The owner and her husband are super lovely, kind and helpful people. They drove me to the train station and helped me book a bus ticket as well. She even went back to the train station to bring some food that another traveller had left behind! The hotel is really well located right next to the old city and train. The room was lovely and cozy and made me feel like a princess. It was one of my favourite places to stay so far!

They provide pickup service from the train station. For the return trip, it is chargeable at RMB30. For the room rate I paid, it is inclusive of 2 costumes. Makeup and photoshoot are separate, and I paid RMB198 for both (with 10 edited photos provided).

Beautiful historical house with great facilities. Mr and Mrs Li are super friendly and have gone above and beyond with their service. We were offered pick up and drop off service from station and they have given us great advice in terms of how to visit Pingyao. Breakfast was delicious. We had an amazing time here. Thank you so much for your great hospitality.

I highly recommend Renyi Inn because of its location and friendly owners! Its located within the ancient city walls, just opposite Huayan Monastery. You can also climb up the city wall nearby. If you walk out via the gate there is KFC & a shopping mall just across the road. If you take Didi from Datong South train station, it takes only about 20mins to get to the inn. Other attractions like drum tower, nine dragon wall are within walking distance. We received help from the owners to book a great driver for the day to bring us to Yungang Grottoes & Xuankong temple. Owners also recommended a really nice restaurant nearby known for their local dao xiao mian. There’s also a nice local bakery & convenience stall just a few steps away from the inn. Room was comfortable and spacious. Overall, we wished we had more time in Datong as we had a really good experience!

Nice hotel in the city center, good position to see the local attractions and to take a taxi for going out of the city. Staff speaks a good English and we could pack a little breakfast before going out early in the morning. The room was clear, the hot water for the shower was a little difficult to set up.

Nice place, Nice location; you can walk to the Ancient town, I took along time to catch nice scene along the city wall, park and canal. To get the hotel from Datong South Railway Station by bus no.31 from the bus station side(the area is connected), take around 30 minutes to get there (Yungang Jianguo hotel, the hotel is opposite, only 2 CNY, many food and minimart around there. There is Muslim food there if need(next to the entrance of C(behind the building). Nice service, self check-in, clean room and relaxing. the owner, you should to contact the owner before arrive, she so friendly and always help you, she suggested us about the famous local food and restaurants(Thank you so much). If you need to buy some necessary item and cannot buy at the around minimart, you can walk to the Yonghui Superstore by East side (the next junction) turn right to Yuhe West rd. (At the corner). From the hotel tobget Yungang Grottoes, you can take bus no. 31 (Yungang Jianguo side), get off at Shi Li Dian Cun Xi ( West Shilidian village), cross to another side and catch bus no.12 to the terminal stop(is Yungang Grottoes. Take 1 hour or 1.30 to get there.

Nanshe is a brand new hotel located in the downtown area. The building itself is brand new, modeled in chinese traditional courtyard style. The area is quiet but close to attractions and shopping streets 大同不夜城. It is located next to the datong ancient city walls north gate, within walking distance to nine dragons wall, huayan temple, shanhua temple and the Southeast Yi Historical and Cultural Block. There is also a bus stop outside that goes round the area.Cab fare is less than 30 rmb to Yungang Grottoes and Datong south highspeed train station. Friendly and attentive staff checking for allergy if any. The owner was kind enough to meet me at the train station. Breakfast is simple fare consists of millet congee with side dishes, tasty noodles in warm broth, toasts and local pastries etc. Freshly made coffee from a semi auto coffee maker. Hotel serves light sweet soup to guests before dinner. Free fruits and cookies in the lobby. Washing machine and dryer are avail for use. My room has an overhead projector with wide selection of movies. Clean and comfortable. Room has many wall sockets for charging. Bathroom is huge. Deposit 200 rmb as all the facilities are brand new. Enjoyable stay. Datong is delightful a comination of the old and new.

Traditional hotel located in Datong's hutong district, about a 5-minute walk from the Drum Tower. It's on a pedestrian street, so taxis don't reach the door (a 5-minute walk). The hotel has several courtyards and lounges (which are the bedrooms). Comfortable mattress, spacious bathroom, and quiet room. Breakfast is traditional Chinese, served from 8 to 10 (although they provide a takeaway if you need it sooner). They don't speak any English.

My family (2 adults and 2 teenagers) stayed at 陆合景客栈 for 2 nights when we visited Datong. The hotel was very beautiful, and the family room was excellent. The beds we comfortable, and the room was very well equipped with all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. The hotel was very nicely decorated to match the atmosphere of the ancient city. I would like to especially give commendations to Ms 任红霞 and Mr 付强. Both of them provided exceptionally good service during our stay and made sure that all our questions and needs were fulfilled. They are exceptional staff of the hotel and I hope the hotel management rewards them for their hard work. Highly recommend this hotel to anybody who is looking for accommodation in Datong ancient city.

The hotel is located in the ancient city, with a beautiful and quiet environment, where you can have a good rest. The boss and his wife and the employees are also warm and thoughtful, and it feels like staying at a friend's house. The boss is a local and can provide good travel planning. The vehicle service provided is also great! There are so many places to visit in Datong, but due to limited time I only visited the most famous ones. I will come back to visit again when I have the chance.

The guest house was in a convenient location in the old town and the room was comfortable and clean. The breakfast was good with lock foods. The service was amazing. We were picked up from the trains station and given a lot of advice and help in visiting locations outside of Datong. 民宿非常舒服干净，是一排很有山西特色的建筑。就在古城里面。管家小姐姐非常nice,来回都有接送，每天晚上给我们送来花茶水果零食，每天的早餐都吃得特别好。以后来大同一定再选择这里！

Two adults and two children traveled to Datong. They wanted to live together and find a place with convenient transportation. Finally, they chose the big kang room of Gujia Inn. Although the room is not big, the kang is really big. The four of us can sleep comfortably. I was worried about whether it would be cold before, but this worry was really unnecessary. There is a parking lot in front of the door. The Drum Tower is not far from the hotel. You can go shopping on the southeast side of the Drum Tower. There are many restaurants and snacks around. Huayan Temple, Dai Wangfu, and Nine Dragon Wall are also nearby. If you want to walk around the ancient city, the location of this hotel is really convenient. It's my first time here. The boss has prepared a map, and you can get one at the front desk. When I left the hotel, I was given Shanxi specialty old vinegar. I really think that the cost-effectiveness of tourism in Datong is really high👍