Students were moved to tears - this is a must-stay in Datong!

🌿【First Impression: New Chinese Aesthetics Hidden in the Urban Neighborhood】 Just an 8-minute walk from Datong Ancient City Wall, turn into a lively alley full of local atmosphere, and you'll see the wooden sign of Pingshanghe Hotel. Push open the glass door and you're greeted by a wall of blue brick texture under warm yellow lighting. The reception desk displays antique-style pottery vases with dried flowers, while a stone mill tea tray in the corner gives off a subtle tea fragrance. Though the lobby isn't large, it creates a "small but beautiful" Zen atmosphere with screens, bamboo blinds, and blue brick gray tiles, as if the cultural heritage of the ancient city has been quietly woven into the space. During check-in, the receptionist handed me warm sour plum soup and softly said, "There's a hand-drawn map of the ancient city in your room, feel free to call us if you need anything." My first impression was filled with the warmth and attentiveness typical of Northern Chinese hospitality. 🛏️【How's the Stay? Delightful Details and Minor Disappointments】 I booked the "Pingcheng Elegance" king room. Opening the door, I was immediately soothed by the warm orange lighting. The headboard features padded upholstery with paper-cutting patterns, the wardrobe has antique-style wooden sliding doors, and even the toothbrush cups are made of rough pottery - thoughtful designer touches hidden in the details. The mattress has medium firmness, pillows come in two heights (great for neck support), and the bathroom has separate wet and dry areas with powerful shower pressure. The only drawback is that the glass partition doesn't block sound well - you can faintly hear footsteps in the hallway at night. Pleasant surprises included complimentary local sea buckthorn juice and bitter buckwheat tea in the mini bar, plus a copy of "Datong Historical Stories" in the desk drawer. Reading a few pages before sleep felt like getting a preview of the ancient city's past and present. 🤵【Service Warmth: Like Staying with Relatives】 In the morning, I met the cleaning lady in the elevator who politely made way for me and asked with a smile, "Did you sleep well? We have millet porridge and knife-cut noodles for breakfast." When I forgot my umbrella going out, the front desk attendant ran after me with an umbrella bearing the hotel logo that works for both rain and shine. Returning to my room in the evening, I found a plate of seasonal fruit on the bed with a handwritten note: "Noticed you enjoyed the sea buckthorn juice yesterday, so we've placed extra fruit preserves in the refrigerator." This thoughtful, unforced care feels more heartwarming than standardized service. 🍽️【Breakfast Experience: Taste Datong in One Meal】 Breakfast is served in the basement restaurant - not large but exquisitely presented. The freshly cooked millet porridge is thick and creamy, perfect with a side of local pickled vegetables. The knife-cut noodles are made on the spot by the chef, with tomato and egg or minced meat sauce options - the noodles have excellent texture. The most delightful surprise was trying the yellow millet cold cake drizzled with osmanthus honey - soft, sweet but not cloying. While more vegetable salads or Western bread options might cater to more diverse tastes, this breakfast offers a satisfying authentic local flavor experience.