Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao

Tess He made our hen's trip stay special. She was an outstanding representative of five-star-plus service from check-in through checkout. She helped us get takeaway in the middle of the night, connected me with a local fashion designer to have a traditional Chinese dress made, upgraded one of our rooms to a suite, and even gave us a free photoshoot session. Our one-night stay wouldn't have been the same without her. We'll definitely come back.

It was easy to walk to the ancient water town, and the hotel has a nice pool. The staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast was good. I didn't try the other meals or the bar. The lobby and meeting area are in a beautifully restored structure, with high-end furniture and fixtures in the rooms.

The shopkeepers seemed kind, and the traditional Chinese-style architecture gives this little tourist spot a distinctive feel. You can ride small boats through the waterways, with vendors everywhere selling trinkets, street food, and produce. It has a miniature Venice quality and offers a nice glimpse of traditional Chinese culture. On busy days, tour bus arrivals may mean queuing, since the area can only hold so many people.

The boat tour costs a lot for a ride that lasts only a few minutes. The area also feels very touristy, with the same ten kinds of shops seeming to repeat every ten stores. We had booked a tour guide, but one wasn't available, so we may have missed the interesting sights.