Homestays in Anhui, China

We had to drag our luggages from the main road through the old street to the B&B without any help offered by the staff. And after check out, we had to ask for the staff to use a small trolley to help move our luggages to the main road, which demonstrated a lack of initiative from the staff in providing good service. Did not feel particularly warmly welcomed by the staff. Location-wise, it is good as it is right in the middle of the old street, very near to the river street and Laiyang old street. Breakfast was also so-so only. When I asked for fried egg, I was plainly told head boiled eggs are available.

Was pleasantly surprised to find such an authentic century old cluster of 4 buildings beautifully renovated with modern amenities and yet manage to create a Zen environment that has a historic vibe with a peaceful atmosphere of tree, shrubs, flowers and artifacts. It has a beautiful appointed common areas to relax in with individual rooms for tea ceremony, music, reading and more. The hotel is 40 meters behind the main pedestrian street with all the shops and restaurants but it is all quiet and tranquil in the hotel, like you just step back in time. The breakfast is a little spartan and limited choices. I was ok with coffee, eggs and toast, it has limited Chinese breakfast selection. But 40 meters away on the Main Street you will find Starbucks, Dairy Queen, and KFC in the same corner, that was a bigger surprise. A stay to remember, unique and a great way to relax and appreciate peacefulness after a day of sight seeing. The room is spacious, good bed, clean, has a kettle, mini fridge with high quality Chinese tea leaves to brew your own tea. Highly recommend place to stay in the area.

The accommodation environment was fantastic, offering complimentary afternoon tea and snacks. There's also an outdoor coffee corner perfect for a short break. The butler service was exceptional; they even proactively offered two extra breakfasts since we had two children with us. They also helped with our luggage during pick-up and drop-off. Plus, there's a lovely golden British Shorthair cat you can pet freely, which was adorable. When we left in a hurry, the butler even messaged us later to say they'd mail us some souvenirs. All in all, I'll definitely choose this place again when I visit in the future and will recommend it to my friends.

Before coming to Hongcun, I didn't have high expectations, thinking it would just be another old village to visit and leave. However, my stay at 'Hongcun Yike Homestay' made me feel that every detail of this trip radiated warmth. Upon arriving at Hongcun bus station, I was unfamiliar with the area and was stressing about how to drag my luggage across the stone-paved paths to the homestay while looking at a map. The moment I called, the owner's enthusiastic voice immediately put me at ease: 'Wait there, I'll be right over to pick you up!' In less than ten minutes, the owner appeared on an electric scooter, swiftly tied my luggage to the vehicle, and cheerfully motioned for me to hop on. We weaved through Hongcun's winding alleys and past bustling crowds of tourists. The homestay was tucked away in a quiet lane near Moon Pond, an excellent location. You could see Moon Pond just around the corner, yet it was peaceful and quiet – truly an oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle. Stepping into the courtyard, I was captivated by this homestay, a renovated Huizhou-style building. The exquisitely carved porch, wooden corridors, and rustic private courtyard exuded the unique elegance and serenity characteristic of Huizhou homes. Inside the room, it was bright and clean. The antique-style wooden bed paired with a soft mattress offered both classic charm and comfort. The night was exceptionally quiet, and I slept soundly. Early the next morning, I opened the window to a beautiful view of the Huizhou-style horse-head walls in the morning light, distant mountains draped in lush greenery, and the nearby sounds of birdsong and fragrant flowers. It truly felt like living inside a traditional Chinese ink wash painting. On the day of my departure, the owner drove me to the bus station as usual, reminding me of other places I hadn't visited in Hongcun along the way. Before saying goodbye, the owner pulled out a packet of chrysanthemum tea from the trunk, handed it to me, and smiled, saying, 'This is our local chrysanthemum tea, take it home and try it.' Holding that packet of tea, my heart felt warm. Staying here truly felt like returning to an old friend's home in Huizhou, thoughtful and considerate in every way. 'Yike Homestay' truly lives up to its name – making one feel 'at ease' (逸) and so content that guests (客) forget to leave. Next time I'm in Hongcun, I'll definitely stay here again.

This guesthouse is a must-stay when visiting Hongcun to see the Huizhou-style architecture. Its location is absolutely superb, within walking distance of all the popular photo spots, making it super easy to plan your sightseeing. The courtyard is elegant and spotless, and the guest rooms are even cleaner and tidier. The attention to detail in cleanliness is truly impressive; there's no clutter or stains anywhere. It's an old house conversion that beautifully preserves its ancient charm while maintaining excellent living standards. My stay here was a perfect experience!

The water heater is not convenient enough to take a bath. It is pulled up with a simple curtain. There is no glass door to isolate dry and wet. The curtains in the house are too long to hang on the ground and some dirty. The bedside is a bit loose. The sink faucet needs to be opened with hot water. The valve below, the sofa does not need to be easy to dirty in the house and occupy space. Changed to simple plastic stools is simple and hygienic. After checking out, there is a special aunt to clean up and clean the sheets, but it is recommended to do hot water, drinking water, hygiene and some details. Compared with simple hotels, about fifty or sixty yuan is still very competitive. But for users, it will be more comfortable to add some prices to choose a regular hotel chain.

I was so lucky to book this B&B by South Lake; it's really popular, I saw it was fully booked on the day I checked in. There's no coffee at breakfast, but the self-service coffee machine in the lobby pretty much solved that. The welcome gift included shaobing (sesame flatbread), tremella soup, and black sesame crisps. The housekeeper auntie provided excellent service! She was always responsive, making it feel just like home. There's also a two-month-old Bichon named 'Kaixin' (Happy) at the property, and she's super well-behaved.

The scenery outside the window of the room is very good, and I wake up every morning in a good mood. Everyone at the homestay is very warm and kind, providing pick-up and drop-off service to Chengkan back and forth, and also taking the initiative to borrow our fish lamp to take pictures (50 or 60 to buy in the scenic spot). There is a paid breakfast in the morning, a bowl of noodles and an egg, especially delicious! The aunt at the hotel also gave me a duck leg. Not far from the entrance of Chengkan, about ten minutes walk, very quiet at night. But maybe because in the countryside, I can't order takeaway. If I forget to close the screens, there will be bugs flying in. The problem is not big. I will come next time.

This place is incredibly close to both the Huangshan South Transfer Center and the Zhaixi Transfer Center, just a 200-meter walk. We arrived on a rainy day, and the owner kindly came to pick us up. They even provided raincoats and hiking poles for our Huangshan climb. We booked a duplex room, and aside from the skylight curtain not closing, everything else was perfect. The owner's hand-drawn maps for the up and down mountain routes were super helpful. We left at 6:30 AM, reached the cable car by 7:00 AM, and our entire route was incredibly smooth.

This guesthouse is nestled in a historic alley of Tunxi Old Street. It boasts convenient transportation and is surrounded by various restaurants and shops. They offer airport pick-up service, and the butler even comes out to help with luggage, showcasing their incredibly thoughtful service. The guesthouse is a renovated century-old building. The front hall and main entrance exude an antique charm with exquisite wood carvings and vintage furniture, all steeped in history. Staying here feels like a journey back in time to ancient Huizhou. The guest room area is spacious, bright, and impeccably clean with fresh air. The room's interior is very new, featuring modern facilities. The bathroom fixtures are Kohler, and the hairdryer is Dyson, ensuring a convenient and comfortable stay. This is a guesthouse run with genuine passion, and the owner clearly has a great appreciation for culture. It's a perfect blend of historical heritage and modern comfort. It exceeded all my expectations and I highly recommend it.