Niaodao Garden Homestay (Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street Ferry Terminal Store)

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel on Zhongshan Pedestrian Road in Xiamen. From the very beginning, the staff were incredibly friendly, helpful, and accommodating. They checked us in quickly—even a little earlier than the official time—and provided us with water and a place to sit while we got settled. Seeing that we were traveling with a lot of luggage (as my parents had flown in from South Africa and this wasn’t their final destination), they offered us an upgrade for just 100 yuan to a more spacious room. This was such a thoughtful suggestion and made our stay much more comfortable, as the original room would have been quite tight with all our bags. Throughout our stay, the staff went above and beyond, sending us recommendations for food and activities via WeChat. This was especially helpful for us as visitors navigating in Chinese, and it made exploring the city much easier. The room itself was excellent—spotlessly clean, modern, and stylishly designed. The loft layout was a fun touch, with my parents downstairs and me upstairs. Everything felt new and well maintained, from the bathroom to the furniture and finishings. In fact, it looked even better in real life than in the photos, which is rare for many hotels. The rooftop was another highlight, offering a lovely view and a great spot to enjoy dinner. Overall, the hotel had a fresh, welcoming atmosphere that made our stay very pleasant. The only small downside was the loft ceiling height—I hit my head a few times despite the “mind your head” signs. While this is to be expected with loft-style rooms (and I’m on the taller side), the signage could have been placed in slightly better spots. That said, it didn’t take away from how enjoyable the stay was. In short, this hotel exceeded our expectations in every way: fantastic service, modern and clean rooms, thoughtful touches and a prime location. I would absolutely recommend it and would be happy to stay here again.