5-Star Hotels in Shanxi, China

"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!!!"

"My most delightful surprise when visiting Linfen was staying at the Ancient City Courtyard Museum Hotel. It's not a replica of ancient buildings, but rather three authentic Ming and Qing dynasty courtyards that have been relocated and restored, making it a living museum you can actually stay in. I spent four days and three nights here, truly slowing down to absorb the unique and profound atmosphere of the Pingyang region. The courtyards feature bluestone slabs, old wooden beams, and brick-carved screen walls, with every detail revealing traces of time. Beneath its ancient exterior, the interior is incredibly comfortable, with all modern amenities. The bedding and toiletries are of high quality, and the ancient courtyards offer excellent soundproofing, ensuring a quiet and serene environment, far from the city's hustle and bustle. The butler service is meticulous and thoughtful, and they patiently explain the history behind the courtyards. By day, I explored ancient architectural treasures like Guangcheng Temple, Xiaoxitian, and Fotou Temple, searching for national heritage sites in Southern Shanxi, admiring murals and ancient sculptures, and feeling the awe-inspiring ancient civilization. By night, I returned to this grand courtyard, stepping into a gentle and tranquil past. If you're visiting Linfen to explore historical sites, this hotel is highly recommended. It truly elevates the travel experience, and I would choose to stay here again on my next visit to Linfen."

"My first impression was breathtaking. Built on the former site of the Ming and Qing Imperial Examination Hall, which Yan Xishan later converted into the 'Hall of Self-Reflection', the hotel has been beautifully renovated and rebuilt. The design, featuring grand courtyards, is incredibly stately and well-organized, with glazed tiles on the roofs and dark green and ochre hues dominating the color palette. It immediately won us over. Secondly, the service was exceptional. When checking in, I asked the front desk for an extra quilt and pillow. The young lady at the desk immediately responded, saying there were extra quilts in the room and asking if I was traveling with a child and their age. After confirming, and with my agreement, she promptly called housekeeping to request that the twin beds be combined into a large bed, and to provide a full set of extra toiletries. She also mentioned that our assigned floor offered a beautiful night view and specially highlighted that guests could visit Chunyang Palace for free (highly recommended! A morning stroll there reveals many remarkable sights, and it's also the second branch of the Shanxi Museum). Upon entering the room, several thoughtful details stood out: first, there were USB charging ports and even a wireless charging pad; second, the overall space was compactly and rationally designed. Initially, I thought there was no place to dry clothes, but then I discovered a hidden gem in the bathroom – a simple retractable clothesline installed in the shower area (so it wouldn't get wet or in the way when showering); third, two pairs of plastic slippers and two pairs of disposable slippers were provided; fourth, the TV remote control was disinfected and sealed in a plastic bag; fifth, the bathroom sink was deep, perfect for handwashing small items of clothing; sixth, there was an evening fruit platter and yogurt; and seventh, there was surprisingly a laundry room, and quite a large one at that, complete with sofas for waiting, an antique-style display cabinet, complimentary laundry supplies, clean laundry bags (for washed clothes), three sets of washing machines and dryers, and even small washing machines. Although the hotel was renovated in 2013, the facilities are still very good across the board. In our room, only the bathroom countertop showed a bit of wear, but everything else was excellent. The cleanliness was also top-notch. For a summer holiday, the price of just over 500 RMB felt like great value for money. Furthermore, the location is superb, right in the city center, making it convenient to get anywhere. There are many delicious eateries around the hotel, and it's very close to Zhonglou Street and Causeway Bay Shopping Center, which is incredibly convenient. To support the hotel and experience more, we specifically bought three breakfasts on our last day. The variety was extensive, and surprisingly, they even offered various alcoholic beverages like Fenjiu and rice wine. I was very satisfied. I initially thought the service at an older hotel would be mediocre, but I was delighted by so many thoughtful touches. I'm truly happy and will definitely choose Shanxi Hotel again on my next visit to Taiyuan. I genuinely love it, which is why I've written so much, and I hope they continue to maintain this standard!"

"When I visited Mount Wutai, I was torn between booking the Marriott or a guesthouse. My main concern was the Marriott's distance from the scenic area and potential inconvenience. However, I ultimately chose the Marriott for its reputation for excellent service. After checking in, all my worries disappeared! Every morning, there are three scheduled shuttle buses that go directly to the central scenic area. If you miss one, it's no problem at all; the hotel's electric car will take you to the Route 8 bus stop anytime. When you return, just call the hotel from the designated stop and they'll pick you up immediately. It was incredibly convenient and I was very satisfied. The food at the hotel restaurant was also delicious. All in all, it exceeded my expectations!"

"Pros: 1. The room offers expansive views, overlooking Yingze Park, which is absolutely beautiful. 2. The hotel's front desk staff were incredibly welcoming and provided excellent service. 3. The hotel's interior facilities and amenities are very tasteful, including the toiletries and complimentary fruit. Cons: (Service rated 3 stars, with 2 stars specifically for dining) 1. The dining management on the hotel's 2nd floor needs significant improvement. We ordered five dishes for dinner; we finished the first two, but the rest were nowhere to be found. Three tables next to us, who arrived 5-10 minutes after us, had already finished their meals and some had even left. After we repeatedly urged them, our remaining dishes finally arrived, including dishes like knife-cut noodles. Others who arrived later had finished theirs before we even got ours. I have photos to prove this. Honestly, this aspect completely falls short of the hotel's overall standard."

"Just checked out and I have to give a huge shout-out to this hotel in Taiyuan! 🌞 Taiyuan in summer is truly a hidden gem in the North; the days are breezy and pleasant, and you even need a light jacket in the evenings. It was the perfect escape from the heat. This trip, we took the kids to visit Jinci Temple and the Shanxi Museum – the ancient architecture was stunning and the artifacts exquisite. But surprisingly, the most heartwarming memories were made at the hotel! From the moment we got out of the car, the service was incredibly impressive. As we approached the entrance with all our luggage, Ethan, the bellhop, jogged right over. Without a word, he grabbed our heaviest suitcase and escorted us all the way to the elevator, not letting us lift a finger. During check-in, Ms. Aria immediately noticed our child. She smiled, crouched down, and, like magic, pulled out a selection of lollipops – strawberry, grape, and orange flavors lined up for our little one to choose from 🍭. After much deliberation, the little one picked purple and was absolutely thrilled. Even more delightful, Andy specifically brought up a complete set of children's toiletries for us and even gave us recommendations for breakfast. The service was impeccable, and there's even a play area for children on the second floor. Every single staff member we encountered was friendly and smiling. When we asked for directions to attractions, they were patient and even told us which local noodle shops were suitable for children. The parrot in the lobby was also a cheerful sight, and Laura even gave us a small farewell gift at checkout. Taiyuan has beautiful scenery and great weather, but it's the genuine warmth and hospitality of this hotel that makes me want to visit Taiyuan again!"

"The entire hotel boasts great design, but the service doesn't quite live up to it. Firstly, upon arriving at the lobby, there was no one at the entrance to guide us or any bell staff to help with luggage. I even wondered if the hotel had no bellhops at all. Once in the room, I tried to charge my camera for later use. After plugging it in for over ten minutes, I realized it wasn't charging. I even suspected my camera was faulty, not the outlet. So, I messaged the front desk, and a technician came to fix it. After moving the cabinet, they told us it would take an unknown amount of time to repair, so they moved us to another room. When we switched rooms, I also mentioned that the room felt a bit cold. The staff explained that since the hotel uses central air conditioning, only AC was available during this season. They offered to turn off the AC and send two heaters to the new room, which I agreed to. However, the heaters never arrived, even by checkout. When I brought it up during checkout, the hotel probably felt they were in the wrong, so they waived our 208 RMB dining bill. The resolution was decent, but considering this is the priciest hotel room in Datong, these basic issues shouldn't occur. I hope next time they can inspect room facilities in advance to ensure everything is in order before selling them. Switching rooms back and forth was also quite time-consuming."

"暑期帶着家人一起來大同遊玩，歪打正着選了一個寶藏民宿，晚上步行到東南邑的古城區逛逛很熱鬧，繞古城一圈步行就可以回酒店。兩個院子各有一處水景，很雅緻。房間裝修走輕奢質感路線，硬件設施嶄新，房間也打掃得一塵不染。連住了兩天，和客房阿姨説沙棘汁很好喝，第二天還特意多放了兩瓶，很貼心。 前台服務很細緻，也很熱情，小姑娘都笑嘻嘻的。早餐主打精緻本地風味，現煮刀削麪一定要嚐嚐，黃米涼糕也有。整體住得舒心安逸！"

"The duty manager, Miss Xinhuan, was kind and patient, and the front desk staff was also very helpful and proactive. The room was clean with no strange odors, and the soundproofing was excellent, ensuring an undisturbed rest. The room had great natural light, was meticulously cleaned, and the bathroom had a wet/dry separation with a full set of toiletries. Breakfast offered a variety of options from congee and buns to stir-fries and fruits, all with a home-style and satisfying taste. All staff members were friendly throughout our stay, and requests were promptly attended to. The location is convenient. Overall, the stay was very comfortable and highly recommended!"

"My stay at the InterContinental Taiyuan was decent overall, offering good value for money among Taiyuan's high-end hotels. The location is absolutely unbeatable, right in the Changfeng Business District, next to Mixc City. It's incredibly convenient for shopping, dining, and retail therapy, and also very close to the convention center, so getting around is no problem at all. Across the street are the Taiyuan Museum and the Bronze Museum. The room's view exceeded my expectations. From the high-floor, floor-to-ceiling windows, I could directly see the Fen River's night view, which really set a fantastic ambiance. The bedding was very comfortable, neither too soft nor too hard, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep. The bathroom had plenty of hot water, making for a great washing experience. Breakfast offered a rich variety, including authentic freshly-made *Daoxiao Mian* (knife-sliced noodles), catering to local tastes with fresh ingredients, perfectly satisfying daily dining needs. However, there were quite a few downsides. The room's storage space was a bit small, making it feel cramped when trying to place belongings. Even stranger, the TV's audio channel was in the bathroom, so if someone was showering, you couldn't really hear anything. On the first day of my stay, it even broke down, but thankfully, repairs were prompt."