Homestays in Gansu, China

"Had a great stay. It was off-season, so there weren't many tourists in Tianshui. The B&B is located inside the ancient city, with unique decor. Downstairs, you'll find all sorts of food options. The water heating system ensures no cold water, so it's instantly hot even in winter. The heating was excellent, felt like central air conditioning, and it wasn't noisy. The room was spacious and clean. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. Fuxi Temple is not far away. A quick note on parking: there are two underground parking garages nearby. One is the Ancient City parking lot, and the other is the Cuijiaxiang parking lot. Strangely, the location the B&B gave me led me to Cuijiaxiang the first night, but then the same location led me to the Ancient City parking lot when I left. The Ancient City lot seemed a tiny bit closer. Both aren't too far, but it's best to confirm with the owner directly. I was contacted proactively by the host around 7 PM on the night I arrived in Tianshui. If you're visiting for tourism, I highly recommend staying here!"

"The best aspect of this stay was by far the owner. He was incredibly, incredibly helpful and friendly — from the moment I walked in the door he offered me a cup of tea, then provided tea and bread the next morning for breakfast, offered advice on what to see in the area, arranged a car to take me to Dalzong Lake, and finally even found me a spot on a local minibus going to my next destination. I couldn’t have done half the things I did during my stay in Xiahe without his advice and efforts on my behalf, so that alone made staying here fully worthwhile! It’s worth mentioning that the guesthouse’s architecture is also absolutely beautiful, and everything looks quite new. It’s located down a quiet side alley off of one of the main commercial streets in town, which seems like the ideal placement. On the accommodations: I stayed in one of the two tents erected on the second floor of the guesthouse. This was largely quite a good experience! The bed was very comfortable (with a heated pad), water and towels provided, etc. The tents are not in a closed-off area, but rather on the second floor/balcony area that also is used for sitting, serving tea, etc., so privacy is somewhat limited, but the whole guesthouse is relatively quiet anyway so it doesn’t feel like a public space. My only suggestions for improvement would be related to the bathroom: during my stay, the shared bathroom for the tents was a sort of temporary-style booth installed in the corner of the room with a toilet, sink, and showerhead. The bathroom was very clean and everything inside worked well, but its sliding door separated from the wall enough that there was always a substantial enough space on one side or the other that could be seen through (the door also didn’t lock and slid back and forth easily). The booth was also small enough that, realistically, I think it would be a bit of a challenge to actually use it to shower. If possible it might be worth looking into some simple fixes to improve these situations, but otherwise I have no complaints!"

"Staying at Shazhou Wild Luxury Camp in Dunhuang was an amazing experience. Tucked away on the edge of Mingsha Mountain, it offers private access to the vast desert. Unlike the crowded Crescent Lake scenic area, this place is tranquil and relaxing. In the evenings, we played cards in the cool shade of the terrace, watched the sunset, and then the sunrise in the mornings. At night, we could step out anytime to gaze at the starry sky and the Milky Way. It was a truly unique experience, highly recommend! Just a couple of suggestions: 1. It would be great if you could recommend a few spots and paths for sandboarding. Otherwise, kids with sandboards run around everywhere, and some dunes are too hard to slide down, wasting a lot of energy and time. 2. Could you consider installing a rope ladder to the highest dune, similar to Crescent Lake? It would make climbing much easier. Otherwise, the women and children in our group couldn't make it up, which was a shame given the beautiful views."

"Plenty of free charging stations on-site, which saves the hassle of finding a parking spot during peak season. The room facilities are complete, and the laundry room has a drying area, which is super convenient for long-distance road trips. The manager's service was very attentive."

"We were still traveling a few days ago, so I didn't have time to write a review. Now that I'm home, I want to give a proper review of this ******* guesthouse. Out of all the places we stayed during our Gannan road trip, this was by far the most satisfying. The entire guesthouse has a rich ******* ambiance, and the room's hygiene and facilities were impeccable. What's even more noteworthy is the ******* clothing experience – it was truly fantastic! All 8 of us took photos and group pictures in the garden, and the owner even took them for us. The accommodation is also very close to Labrang Monastery, which we walked to. I highly recommend it to everyone!"

"This stay was a truly pleasant surprise! From the moment we walked in, the staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful with our luggage. The room was larger than expected, with a cozy layout, and the cleanliness was impeccable – not a speck of dust even in the corners. The mattress was just right, not too soft and not too firm, and the soundproofing was excellent, so I had a wonderful night's sleep. Breakfast offered a wide variety of choices, including some delicious local specialties. They even gave us a thoughtful little gift when we checked out. Fantastic value for money, I've already recommended it to my friends!"

"This stay was absolutely delightful! I was initially worried about the location being a bit out of the way, so I only booked one night. To my surprise, getting a taxi on the first night was super easy, so we extended our stay. While there aren't other guesthouses right around ours, we noticed a whole street full of guesthouses nearby, which seemed crowded and noisy. At night, lying in bed, you can hear the wind brushing against the walls, but it's not loud; it actually feels like being in harmony with nature. My husband and I also went gold panning – if you find gold coins, you can exchange them for prizes. We went enthusiastically, expecting a small sandbox like in a park, but it was a massive area! **Mingsha Mountain View Afternoon Tea:** The chilled apricot peel tea was delicious. **Fengmingsha Desert Restaurant - 30% off coupon for set meals:** After we landed, the butler collected our luggage and told us hotpot was ready, just waiting for us to freshen up and eat. The lamb wasn't ***** at all, and the dipping sauce was really tasty."

"The room is bigger than the photo, four people live very spacious, clean, well decorated, exceeding expectations The service is really very very thoughtful, the boss is also very nice, meets any needs of us, breakfast is a little late and waiting for us, very warmly recommend the follow-up route In short, I will choose here if I have the opportunity to come to Dunhuang again. It is within ten minutes' walk from Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area. It is highly recommended!"

"After comparing several accommodations for my trip to Zhangye Danxia, I chose Kaoshan Daying (Back Mountain Camp). The Starry Sky Yurt was what truly captivated me, and my entire stay exceeded expectations – highly recommended! Location-wise, the camp is right next to the West Gate of the Danxia scenic area, making travel incredibly convenient. No need for roundabout detours; I could step out early in the morning to catch the Danxia sunrise. This fantastic location also saved me a lot of effort when it came to stargazing at night. Now, let's talk about the Starry Sky Yurt. Before I arrived, I was a bit worried about roughing it in a tent out in the wilderness, but my stay completely changed my mind. The yurt was spotlessly clean and tidy, well-ventilated with no strange odors. The bed was soft and comfortable, and despite the large temperature swings in the Gobi Desert between day and night, the interior was well-insulated and never felt cold or damp. The en-suite bathroom was excellent, with 24-hour hot water and a full range of toiletries. It truly offered a luxurious wilderness experience that blended comfort with ambiance, without compromising on daily conveniences. However, the panoramic skylight at the top of the yurt was the real highlight and the biggest surprise of my trip. The camp is far from the city, meaning almost no light pollution. As night fell, the entire sky was unblocked and spread out above me. I didn't even have to step outside into the wind; I could lie in bed and gaze up at the countless stars. The Milky Way stretched clearly across the mountains, with stars so bright and dense – a magnificent night sky rarely seen in the city. Lying there quietly, watching the celestial river flow and listening to the distant Gobi breeze, all my travel fatigue slowly melted away. It was incredibly romantic and healing. The camp's amenities were also very thoughtful. In the evening, you can enjoy a starlit BBQ and hotpot. After dinner, there's a bonfire party. Then, after a stroll, you return to your yurt to continue enjoying the tranquil starry sky. The self-driving parking area is spacious, and RV resupply facilities are comprehensive. The staff were warm and meticulous in their service; they thoughtfully informed me of the best stargazing times and were always on hand to help with any issues. The unique Danxia mountain light show at night, coupled with the vast starry sky, created a multi-layered and stunning view. The special clear-broth suoyang hotpot was authentic and generously portioned, perfect for a hot meal after a day of exploring. Whether you're traveling as a couple or with friends, the Starry Sky Yurt is an exceptionally suitable choice. You can admire the Danxia landforms up close and immerse yourself in lying under the Milky Way – it perfectly combines natural beauty with comfortable accommodation. This is an unmissable gem when visiting Danxia, and I will definitely choose the Starry Sky Yurt again on my next trip to Zhangye."

"The room was huge, and the three windows were gorgeous; staying there felt like being surrounded by scenery. I could even wake up in the morning and watch the marmots outside from my bed, haha. The breakfast was delicious too 😋, except it was a bit pricey. The view was absolutely stunning. Someone helped with my luggage, but the check-in process, which required handwritten registration, was so slow, haha."