Hotels in West Gate/Wu Village, Tongxiang

My parents and I came for a trip, aiming to truly soak in the ambiance of the ancient town, so we booked a guesthouse in Wuzhen, specifically a riverside room. Wanting to stay close to my parents, the 'blind' room allocation turned out to be a pleasant surprise: I got a riverside single room on the second floor of Guesthouse No. 18, and my parents were right next door on the first floor of Guesthouse No. 19. From my window, the river flowed clear, and traditional sculling boats gently swayed as they passed. I'd occasionally watch tourists across the river capturing moments. The Jiangnan charm was absolutely captivating! The guesthouse host was very friendly and helped us with our luggage. A special shout-out goes to Wuzhen's luggage transfer service; they transported our bags via the waterways, and our suitcases were handled with exceptional care. Staying in Wuzhen, we relished the tranquility after the evening visitors had left and the refreshing peace before 9 AM. We also got a close-up look at the local morning tea culture, visited Wuzhen's morning market, and then returned to enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by the guesthouse right by the water – it was absolutely delightful! We also took a sculling boat ride both in the evening and in the morning. The price was very reasonable, and each ride lasted about 25 leisurely minutes – absolutely worth it! It had been ten years since my last visit, and the changes over this decade truly impressed and delighted me. I'm already looking forward to my third trip to Wuzhen!

The room amenities were excellent, the environment was lovely, and the toiletries were high-quality. The included buffet offered a wide variety of delicious dishes, with the mini wontons and clear noodle soup prepared to a professional standard. Our stay this time was absolutely fantastic, and we'll definitely return! I'd also like to give a special commendation to the young lady at Tong'an Inn's guidance desk. Her introduction was meticulous and professional, and she promptly compiled a travel guide to Wuzhen's attractions and activities into a document and sent it to us. Wuzhen is beautiful, and Tong'an Inn offers truly top-notch accommodation.

Service is impeccable, staff provided very personalised butler service. Location is awesome. Staff provided personalised pick up service, avoided crowds and fast pass check in. Hotel gifted us with two lovely tubs of tea. Buggy service to indoor pool in nearby hotel. Breakfast also in nearby hotel. Tv was too small when watching from bed. Do consider installing a bigger TV.

Overall, the hygiene, facilities, and service were mediocre. **Cons:** 1. The hotel shares electric shuttle carts with the scenic area. This meant guests had to queue, wait, and even undergo ticket checks, just like regular tourists (despite being free for hotel guests). During peak hours, returning to the hotel often involved waiting in line for over 30 minutes. When departing from the hotel, the shuttle wouldn't leave until it was fully packed with other tourists, which was incredibly inconvenient. 2. Breakfast was acceptable, but it fell far short of the standard I'd expect from a five-star hotel. The dining area was also quite small, making it difficult to find a seat, especially during busy times. 3. The hotel itself is a beautiful ancient building with stunning courtyard views. However, there were no clear directions or signs provided by the hotel, so exploring its grounds felt like a hit-or-miss endeavor – you only saw what you stumbled upon. 4. For a five-star hotel, it was surprising that printing cost 2 RMB per page and required a trip to the scenic area's business center. The hotel's own printer wasn't even working. 5. If you wanted to order takeout, you had to take the electric shuttle all the way to the tourist service center to pick it up. It couldn't be delivered to the room, not even by hotel staff, let alone the delivery drivers themselves. 6. Regarding the room, the standard twin room I booked also fell short of five-star expectations. It wasn't particularly spacious, and for a hotel of this supposed caliber, the absence of a smart toilet felt outdated and unusual. **Pros:** 1. The hotel's environment is truly stunning, making it perfect for photography. 2. During breakfast, items were consistently replenished, so nothing ever ran out. 3. Services like accepting courier packages or borrowing marker pens were handled efficiently. However, these items had to be retrieved from a central service center, leading to a waiting period, unlike hotels outside the scenic area where direct front desk delivery is standard. 4. The accompanying photos were all taken within the hotel premises, which are genuinely beautiful!

As the hotel is situated within the Xizha Scenic Area, we booked a package deal. It included two adult admission tickets, complimentary rides on the scenic shuttle bus, boat tickets, and breakfast. The check-in process required us to first go to the Xizha Tourist Center, then take the scenic shuttle bus to the hotel's front desk for facial recognition. This was quite frustrating, especially given the sweltering heat and the long wait for both the elderly and children. Fortunately, the gentleman at the lobby front desk was very kind. Noticing we were a family, he upgraded us to a suite, which he described as the hotel's best view room. It featured a living room and two separate bedrooms, offering panoramic views of the entire scenic area and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Once we settled in, the room truly exceeded our expectations. This positive review is definitely well-deserved! The breakfast spread was incredibly varied and delicious; everyone ate until they were stuffed!

It was our wedding anniversary so we wanted to have a cozy trip to a town we had not been to. Did some research and found Wuzhen and decided on Wuzhen Clubhouse.  We knew the pricing would be higher to be inside the visitor zone so it was mainly to take advantage of the location of the hotel. For the price, it is basic and aged. The room is exactly as you see in photos for the listing. Because the hotel  is in a historical building, there is no lift if you stay in a second floor unit.  With a stay inside the visitor area, you can normally have unlimited access to go in and out of the area, whereas if you stay outside then you are limited to the number of access. You can also remember to call and buggy to take you longer distances from the hotel and from certain spots; they just ask you to show proof of stay like your hotel key card. Otherwise you pay per ride at 10 RMB which is not cost efficient.  It’s quite humid and rainy for most of the year so since it’s stone and wood construction, it is vulnerable to be run down easily.  Since we visited in October, it was cool and slightly rainy but the temperature in the room was pleasant with the windows open or with the air conditioning on.  I imagine it could get quite hot in summer so this is something to keep in mind.  Breakfast is either in the hotel or you receive a voucher to a breakfast spot in the town. It’s a very full breakfast either Chinese style or western.  The staff are friendly and patient. This is the highlight of the hotel.  When you arrive in the visitor center, you can confirm your check in and your luggage is transported directly to your hotel. And when you depart, the same process in reverse is arranged for you.  We then called a Didi car to leave and the driver picked us up outside of the visitor Centre. You can take a regular yellow taxi in the line in the same area. The price is only slightly higher when you call a car but the car can be much nicer so I think it’s worth the 20 RMB extra to go to the high speed rail station (to go back to Shanghai).  As I said, the price is high for what you get at this location so do some homework and make sure you know what you are looking for.

We had excellent stay at Hengyitang Health Centre. Love the holistic approach to wellness and health care, their attentive to all the details, healthy and sumptuous breakfast. Special mentioned to our personal butler 景天 who took excellent care of us during our stay, proactively provided us with all the essential travel information inside Wuzhen and answered to all our questions instantaneously.

Let's start with the hotel. **What We Loved:** 1. The hotel offers an unlimited complimentary shuttle service to Xizha Scenic Area. We only realized upon returning that this is a perk for hotel guests; regular visitors who buy a ticket (150 RMB/person) would have to pay 10 RMB for the shuttle and cannot re-enter once they leave the scenic area. We went in to dine/drink three times, so we felt we got excellent value from this. 2. Upon entering the lobby, we were greeted with homemade welcome fruit tea that was perfectly chilled and incredibly refreshing! 3. The coffee lounge on the first floor put significant effort into its coffee cup selection, perhaps to encourage eco-friendly practices. Coffee lovers can find their favorite cup from a vast array of styles displayed on walls and tables. 4. If you're visiting with children, there are plenty of activities just at the hotel, such as lacquer fan painting, among others. Some activities require checking opening times and making reservations. Moms with young kids could easily spend their entire stay enjoying the hotel's amenities. 5. While the breakfast selection wasn't overwhelming, the quality was very high. On the first day, they even offered hot lattes with beautiful latte art ready for self-service – absolutely fantastic! (However, this positive experience significantly declined on Sunday after the peak arrival of Saturday's group guests). 6. The hotel management is quite generous; unlike many other hotels, they allow breakfast takeaway. If a family member couldn't make it down for breakfast, they readily provided takeaway containers. (I absolutely loved the lamb noodles at breakfast! While not quite matching the famous one in the scenic area, it was still of very high quality! See photo.) 7. The hotel's 7:30 PM pool party is geared towards children. Lots of kids had a blast, and the staff were very dedicated and attentive in entertaining them. **Now, for the areas that disappointed us:** 1. On our first night, we returned late. The only dining options available were Zhiqing (offering simple main dishes) and Drama Commune (serving BBQ and lobster). We opted for Drama Commune, and even though there weren't many guests that night, the service staff seemed inflexible, slow to respond, and generally inefficient. We waited for an incredibly long time. I dread to think how they would handle the influx of group guests on the second night. 2. When it comes to the hotel hosting summer camps and group events, if they have the capacity to accept such large numbers, they should also have the corresponding service capacity. It was evident the hotel lacked the ability to cope, and the breakfast queue on the second day was incredibly long! 3. I won't nitpick about room cleanliness or actively look for issues that would make me uncomfortable, but the duvet – whether it was due to the humid climate or insufficient hygiene – felt damp to the touch, and if you pressed down, you could even detect a slight stickiness. This was a significant drawback. In conclusion, it seems that staff training in some areas is insufficient, or perhaps the salaries are too low, leading to a team with lower adaptability. This is tolerable when there aren't many guests, but as I mentioned, service breakdowns occur when guest traffic surges. We extended our stay because our first night's experience was quite good, but I truly didn't expect the experience to deteriorate so much with a large influx of guests. Therefore, I recommend visiting during off-peak periods. Finally, a word about the hotel's thoughtful parting gift – it was very impressive. This season, they gave out freshly harvested rapeseed oil. From the hotel balcony, we could even see people farming, and I wondered if they were growing produce for the hotel kitchen. It was only at check-out that I discovered these were seasonal farewell gifts! I suggest that this kind of thoughtfulness should also be extended more to the hardworking hotel staff, enabling them to better cope with large guest numbers. Whether the bed sheets were changed, the damp duvet, and whether the duvet covers were always fresh... this aspect was truly a bit unsettling. Otherwise, everything else felt quite good! Also, a big thank you to my butler, No. 05, who replied promptly to messages and was incredibly accommodating to all requests. Truly grateful!

Returning to Wuzhen, I can't help but marvel at how unchanged it is from 13 years ago. The Hangzhou government has done an excellent job preserving it! This time, I booked Zhaoming Academy, drawn by its No. 1 ranking for scenic views, and it truly delivered. **Environment:** Zhaoming Academy is located in the West Scenic Zone, relatively close to the exit. Downstairs, there's Shusheng Lamb Noodles (the price, 38 yuan a bowl, is the same as 13 years ago!), with generous portions of flavorful meat. Thumbs up!👍🏻 It's a very short walk to the Muxin Art Museum, just 5-10 minutes. Since Wuzhen has very few tourists in the mornings, giving it an ancient, secluded feel, we spontaneously decided to extend our stay for another day. However, we were a bit disappointed that Zhaoming Academy was fully booked. **Service:** The front desk staff were very helpful and answered all our questions. Breakfast is available downstairs, though it was a bit basic. The wontons had thick skins and sparse meat filling. (We later found out that the breakfast at Zhensui Hotel was similar, so it seems to be a standard for Wuzhen.) **Hygiene:** Spotlessly clean! Our family of four stayed in two separate rooms, which allowed for privacy. Each room had a TV, so the kids could watch cartoons while the adults enjoyed documentaries – it was very comfortable! **Facilities:** Compared to Shuixiangyi Inn where we stayed the next day, Zhaoming Academy definitely surpassed it (at the same price point). Not only does it have a comfortable tea area downstairs, but also a scenic waterfront area. Its proximity to the entrance makes it convenient for getting anywhere.

Staying at Wuzhen Water Alley Inn was incredibly worthwhile! The service was superb. The front desk staff noticed we were traveling as a family and gave us a complimentary upgrade to a king-size room. As soon as we stepped into the lobby, a lovely fragrance filled the air, and delicious iced sour plum drink, incredibly refreshing in the heat, was on offer. Opening the window revealed the serene canal right outside, with traditional Wupeng boats gliding past, their gentle oars lulling us to sleep. Our room, with its antique wooden structure, exuded a timeless charm, every detail reflecting the quintessential elegance of Jiangnan. It's only a three-minute walk to the Xizha Scenic Area, yet the inn felt perfectly secluded from its hustle and bustle. A special commendation must go to one particular male staff member. He communicated clearly and logically, helped us with our luggage, and recommended fantastic Wuzhen-style breakfast options. His service was truly five-star outstanding! We truly experienced the gentle charm and serenity of riverside living here.