Yide Hotel

The staff were so friendly and helpful, and most spoke very good English. They arranged our transfer to the station, kept our luggage, and even offer a full bathroom with a shower for guests leaving later in the day. Our room was clean and warm, the Wi-Fi worked really well, and the location made it easy to reach everything. We also loved the restaurant, with its great food at a good price. From the moment we arrived, the Yide Hotel felt like the China we'd imagined, and it looked as authentic as the photos. We had a fabulous stay and would happily return. Thank you!

My husband says the Yide hotel was a highlight of his travels in China, even after spending two years working there and visiting places including XiNing, LiJiang, Kunming, Dali, Xi'an, LouYang, and Suzhou. He stayed from November 7 through 10, 2018, and found Pingyao, in the center of Shanxi Province, full of history, architecture, commerce, and wonderful people. You can get there on a direct bullet train from Beijing via the provincial capital, Taiyaun, or take bus #108 from the train station to the Ancient City for 1 yuan. The hotel is a superb, quaint traditional place, built in the style of its 200-year-old period and still in great condition. It was clean, sturdy, quiet, and comfortable. The period furnishings were relaxing too. His classic bed was built into the room, about 8' sq, with quality linen and a comforter. It was quite cold during his visit, but he slept comfortably each night. He enjoyed all three meals at the in-house restaurant, which had an extensive menu of Chinese and western food. Everything was delicious and interesting. The staff spoke fluent English, were always present in the office, and went out of their way to make sure he enjoyed both the hotel and Pingyao.

The staff, especially Anna and Julie, were cheerful, helpful, and a pleasure to deal with. Yide has an authentic feel and modern comforts, and it's close to the main street, which made it an ideal base in Pingyao. I traveled alone and had a standard king room that would work for one person or a couple. The bed was firm, as in much of China, but comfortable. The small bathroom was clean and functional. They arranged my transfers from Taiyuan airport on arrival and back to Taiyuan station at checkout. They can also book train tickets, a particularly helpful service given the chaos at Taiyuan station. I don't think I could have managed that myself. They also offer bike hire, luggage storage, and tour advice, and the restaurant is great. Pingyao is easy to explore on foot, though local 'golf carts' are handy when you get tired. Yide is well placed for sightseeing and shopping. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay, and after several days there, I couldn't have been happier with my choice. I highly recommend it.

A lovely traditional place with a beautiful courtyard and interesting rooms. It's easy to get to and to explore on foot. The town is small enough to walk all the way around in half a day, and I'd highly recommend staying here.