chambre d’hôtes de Fujian, Chine

This place makes me wish there was an option for six stars. I study Asian art for a living, and I travelled to Jianyang to visit the home of Jian ware, classic tea bowls of the Song dynasty (960 to 1279 CE), distinguished by their black and brown glazes. Over the last few decades, firing Jian ware in the Song tradition has been revived in the area. I chose Nanping Colourful Village Homestay because it was in Jianyang, affordable, and accepted international guests. What I found was a luxury resort with all the warmth and personal attention of a homestay. I asked the front desk about an excavated Song kiln site in a nearby village, and the receptionist brought me the manager, who arranged for someone to take me the next day. My driver was Ms. Huang, an employee of the resort whose job involves buying and selling contemporary pieces. She knew everything about Jian ware! The kiln site isn’t run as a tourist site, so I was only able to view it because Ms. Huang arranged for it to be opened for me. I had told them I was vegetarian, so for lunch they took me to lunch at a vegetarian buffet. Then we visited the town’s Jian ware museum, where they have exhibits on the history of tea and Jian ware, historical pieces, and the work of contemporary Jianyang potters. To my delight, Mr. Gao, the potter-in-residence at the resort, uses a Song-style wood-fired dragon kiln, built right on the grounds! His pieces that range from beautiful but quite affordable to exquisite and appropriately expensive. They include both iridescent silvery oil spot and orange-to-black hare’s fur pieces. I am still thrilled that I was able to purchase wood-fired pieces on my limited budget. For dinner, the resort’s restaurant prepared vegetarian versions of Fujian cuisine for me. The food was all delicious, featuring classic Fujianese mountain ingredients like local bamboo and mushrooms. Then we visited Mr. Gao’s dragon kiln, and later his studio, where he experiments with different local clays and glaze recipes. The rich colours and iridescence of Jian ware are the result of the iron-rich local material fired at high temperature, and the results are as unpredictable as they are beautiful. The next day, they drove me to Mr. Chen’s family tea plantation in the mountains, where they grow famous northern Fujian teas. These fine teas were all wonderful, smooth and rich with a touch of smoke, and sometimes fruity in flavour. We strolled through mountainsides of tea bushes and visited groves of centuries-old tea trees. This is a perfect place for an immersive experience in China that is also very comfortable and convenient. I often find tourist experiences in China claustrophobic due to the press of people, but the resort was spacious and airy, and they took me to places where there was no one else but us and the occasional local going about their business. Everyone was very patient with my limited Chinese language skills. They were also happy to work with translator apps on our phones, so if you don’t speak any Chinese, you will be fine. This would be a great place to come as a family. There are gardens and rides for kids right next to the resort. You can learn how to whip Song-style tea and carve your name into the base of your own Jian ware cup. Not far away is a historical theme park with a collection of real architecture from the Ming (1368 to 1644 CE) and Qing (1636 to 1912 CE) dynasties. The employees wear period dress and there are performances and activities. Nearby there are hiking trails, historical sites, and lovely villages to visit. It’s also very close to Wuyi Mountain National Park, so it would be a perfect place to stay if the mountains are your destination. If you ask, they could arrange for you to visit famous sites or take you to breathtaking places that only locals know, whatever you want. They can also arrange transport to and from the train station or airport.

La première fois que je me suis rencontré sans fournir de l'eau de boisson! Les fleurs sont aussi brûlées, le bain de cheveux est épais, les amis dorment encore très longtemps, un peu allergique

民宿就在頂街裡邊，去左耳天台、藍字報走路就能到；環境非常漂亮，正對南嶼雙面海，側邊就是風動石景區，景美又私密性，就像住在景區裏，小管家很熱情，小姐姐很耐心幫忙拍照，很好看；在民宿裏可以承包這片日落，不用人擠人，人間值得。唯一不足就是要走段小路進民宿，不過管家都會接送行李，個人覺得美景完全可以抵消這一點點的不便。

乾淨的民宿，裝修很小清新，我們訂的是一樓的大床房，價格實惠，入住體驗好。晚餐是老闆親自下廚，量大新鮮，味道不錯。老闆的父親一直前後忙來忙去，給我們泡茶，提供許多有用的遊覽訊息。是一次很好的住宿經歷。

Je suis venu de nombreuses fois à Xiamen, mais je n'avais jamais séjourné dans la rue Zhongshan. Cette fois, j'ai choisi la rue Zhongshan et l'hôtel Weishang, et quelle surprise ! L'emplacement de l'hôtel est idéal, juste dans les arcades de la rue piétonne, ce qui est super pratique pour manger et se promener. Et le fait qu'il y ait un parking dans cet endroit où le mètre carré est si cher, c'est vraiment un plus pour ceux qui voyagent en voiture ! La responsable de la réception est chaleureuse, belle, attentionnée et généreuse ! En ouvrant la porte de la chambre, on est immédiatement enveloppé par une forte atmosphère d'Asie du Sud-Est. La décoration est élégante, les détails sont soignés et la domotique est également très bien faite. Le soir, s'asseoir sur le balcon et admirer la beauté enivrante des lumières nocturnes de la rue Zhongshan : observer la foule qui va et vient, les rues illuminées de néons, on ressent à la fois une immersion totale dans l'ambiance et une certaine distance, comme si l'on était à part... Merci au Weishang pour tous ces merveilleux souvenirs de voyage !

The hotel is located fairly centrally in the island of Pingtan in a small village. Its exterior is nicely decorated with lights, and if you arrive late at night like we did, you’ll thank for that, as it shines like a beacon in a otherwise not very well lit street. The service shone from the beginning. One of the staff was ready to help us with our luggage and show us in, and there was no delay with the registration of my passport (something that as any foreigner that has travelled in the Chinese Mainland will be able to tell, is not something to take for granted), and was immediately added to WeChat, where through the entire trip I was kept updated on everything relevant to us as guests, from the time breakfast was ready, to the fact that a guest with a dog was going to stay in a room next to ours (to which they offered to change if we needed in case any of us was scared or allergic to dogs). Breakfast was always kept warm for us, even when we were coming down late and were not expecting it to be there, and in general the staff’s attitude was always what you would expect in a bigger, more established (and more expensive) hotel, but with a home-stay twist. The hotel is not very close to any scenic spot or touristic destination, but they offer a service of e-bike rental that we used through the trip, and that we’d recommend to anybody is staying here as it took transportation off the list of things we had to think about, and allowed us to fully take advantage of the central location of the inn. With 2 people per bike, going very far North, or South to the city (sometimes both in one trip), we never ran too close to empty our batteries. The room was clean, big enough, and as we were staying on the last floor and our door opened to a patio, very well ventilated. The patio also proved to be a nice place to sit and chill or eat, and I was able to make work I had to finish feel less of a sore in the middle of my holidays. The only things I’d add or change to the room experience are a place to hang clothes (there wasn’t any closet or the sort), the toilet paper (they offered tissues but they don’t feel the same when you want to, you know, keep your hands clean), and real towels (they offer disposable towels, but they’re just not the same). In conclusion, not only I would come back but I most certainly will, as I had an amazing trip and this inn played no small part in it. Would 100% recommend if you like less noisy, more home stay-ey atmosphere, and don’t mind to be a few minutes drive from the city.

Un hôtel méconnu à Xiamen ! Un rapport qualité-prix imbattable, une expérience unique ! Deux semaines après mon arrivée à Xiamen, j'ai commencé à chercher un hébergement en ligne. Je suis tombée sur cet endroit et, après avoir lu tous les avis – tous positifs – et vu le prix incroyablement abordable, j'ai été immédiatement séduite et j'ai réservé une chambre. Venant d'arriver en train avec de lourds bagages et ne connaissant pas la région, j'ai rapidement appelé le propriétaire pour obtenir des indications. Je pensais que ce serait un simple coup de fil, mais le propriétaire a été incroyablement accueillant. Après lui avoir indiqué notre adresse, il est venu nous chercher et nous a même aidés avec nos bagages. Ce service attentionné nous a immédiatement mis à l'aise et a dépassé nos attentes ! Le jeune homme qui nous a accueillis était grand, beau et très poli, offrant un excellent service du début à la fin. En entrant dans la chambre, la surprise fut encore plus grande. Contrairement aux pensions ou hôtels bon marché habituels, elle était impeccable, chaque recoin étant d'une propreté méticuleuse. Le lit était exactement de la même taille que le mien, je ne me suis donc pas sentie à l'étroit du tout. Le matelas était particulièrement agréable – parfaitement ferme et moelleux, il épousait à merveille les contours de mon corps et, après un long voyage, la fatigue s'est instantanément dissipée. Les produits de toilette fournis par l'hôtel étaient également incroyablement complets : brosse à dents, peigne, gel douche et shampoing étaient tous inclus, et d'excellente qualité. On sentait clairement le souci du détail du propriétaire ; il ne s'agissait pas d'articles bon marché fournis à la hâte. Les nuits ont été exceptionnellement agréables. L'hôtel était d'un calme absolu et, fenêtres fermées, on était complètement isolé du bruit extérieur, ce qui m'a permis de dormir profondément jusqu'à l'aube – un point si important pour les voyageurs ! Le lendemain matin, je me suis levé tôt et je suis allé à la plage toute proche. J'ai admiré un magnifique coucher de soleil, bercé par une douce brise sur l'eau. La mer scintillante se détachant sur les teintes orangées du soleil couchant transformait chaque photo en chef-d'œuvre, l'atmosphère était tout simplement époustouflante. J'ai également découvert que l'hôtel disposait d'une piscine. J'imaginais déjà le plaisir de s'y rafraîchir après une journée d'activités estivales ! Dommage qu'elle ait été trop froide en hiver, je n'ai donc pas osé l'essayer – un petit regret. Ce qui m'a le plus impressionné, c'est le rapport qualité-prix de l'hôtel. En cette période de vacances, les prix des hébergements à Xiamen sont généralement plus élevés, mais cet hôtel ne m'a coûté qu'un peu plus de 100 yuans pour un service aussi attentionné, un environnement propre et confortable, et un emplacement idéal – un rapport qualité-prix incroyable ! C'est sans conteste le meilleur hôtel où j'ai séjourné lors de mon voyage à Xiamen. Je donnerais volontiers 10 étoiles au propriétaire ! Je le recommande chaleureusement à tous ceux qui prévoient un voyage à Xiamen. Lors de mon prochain séjour à Xiamen, je choisirai à nouveau cet hôtel sans hésiter et je prolongerai mon séjour pour profiter pleinement de la beauté de la ville !

Hôtel formidable avec une belle vue sur Gulangyu. Idéalement situé à deux pas de Bashi (environ 2 minutes à pied) et de la rue Zhongshan (environ 8-10 minutes à pied). J'y retournerai sans hésiter. Le service était excellent et une machine à laver et un sèche-linge sont mis gratuitement à la disposition des clients.

We stayed in Floral Luxury.1949 Guesthouse for 1 night. We booked Mufan room located on the ground floor as i am travelling with my elderly mom and carrying heavy luggage bags. The guesthouse butler will contact you the night before your arrival to add them to Wechat for easy communication. They will share their hotel location and offer pick-up service at the train station if required. Access to Yunshuiyao town is RMB90 perpax and free for those aged above 65 years old. Yunshuiyao is a scenic town area with 3 km long (2 - 3 hours walk). We hired a chinese speaking guide to accompany us to explain the history of Huaiyan building (square tulou), Hegui building (round tulou), and the town area. It cost RMB100. The guesthouse is located inside Yunshuiyao town, behind the shop houses, in-between waterwheel and 2 trees (named as husband and wife) aged above 670 years old. When we reached there at 2.30 pm, it was raining. The hotel staff immediately came out with an umbrella to pick us up and assist with the luggage. The check-in is fast, and the access to the room is by password, which they will share in Wechat. Checkout is also very easy. The hotel offered free fruits twice a day, afternoon and evening. The basic bathroom essentials are complete, and they also provide bathrobes. The bed and pillows are very comfortable for a good night sleep. Luckily the aircond can change to warm mode as it was very cold on raining day. There's a mini kids playground for children's. The staff were friendly and helpful. The breakfast set come with porridge and soya drink. Can topup if needed more. The in-house restaurant provides lunch & dinner with a la carte chinese foods menu. The sky brightens at 5 am, while the sun rises high at 6.45am. If you are able to wake up early, this is the best time for you to revisit the town and tulou surrounding area for nice photos and cool breeze as only local people around. There's a roadside stall selling super long youtiao (equal to size of 2 youtiao) located near the stone bridge not far from guesthouse. The whole Yunshuiyao town is covered with natural peebles pathway. Wear suitable shoes as it will be very slippery during the rainy day.

I rarely say this on my reviews, but I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this Minsu. When I come back to Quanzhou for another family holiday, I will book this place again. Firstly, the location: It is unbeatable. It is near enough to be in the midst of the action in Quanzhou (near the walking street, eateries, restaurants, shopping etc etc), yet very quiet for us to enjoy a good night’s rest, or a good conversation at night over tea. Second, the nice balance between an authentic cultural home and modernism. We had the entire Minsu to ourselves, 6 rooms in total. Renovated about 3-4 years ago, the Minsu gave us the experience of living in an authentic Chinese inn, yet the amenities were modern….comfortable beds, modern toilets, refrigerators available etc….The courtyards were also beautiful. The entire Minsu was tastefully done…..plus it was spotlessly clean. Thirdly, the owners. They were so friendly and helpful. They met us at the drop off point, and brought us to the Minsu when we checked in, helping to move some of our luggages (and they did the same thing when we checked out). They went out of their way to help purchase traditional puppet show (木偶) tickets (at a small discount somemore). After we checked out, my son left his hoodie in the room. The owners assisted to courier the jacket to the next city we were heading to (we were already in the train at that time). And lastly, every morning and every night, either Mr Du, his son or his daughter in law would invite us to join them for tea. They would then proceed to serve tea the traditional way, while having a conversation with us. They also taught us certain traditions, protocols and rules when serving tea. They have a cat called TangYuan (汤圆), in which the kids in the family enjoyed playing with. The only thing to note is that public transport (via taxis and buses) only can drop you off at a spot about 5min walk away. Also, they provide disposable towels, not the regular towels given at hotels. If it is an issue, just bring your own towels. Otherwise, this place deserves 5 out of 5 stars.