Inns in Jiangsu, China

This was my second stay, and it was just as great as the first. The hotel is right in the Old East Gate scenic area, surrounded by delicious food, and getting around is super convenient. The service attitude is consistently attentive and thoughtful; they're always ready to answer any questions. Since it was late autumn, they even gave me a beautiful autumn leaf artwork when I checked out, which I absolutely loved!

The location is fantastic, directly opposite Lion Grove Garden and just a 5-minute walk to Humble Administrator's Garden. The design is very thoughtful, and the owner is incredibly friendly. It's very quiet at night, and the room's air conditioning works wonderfully. There's also a long table, perfect for placing many items. They even provide a drying rack! I washed some small items of clothing, put them under the AC vent overnight, and even my cotton socks were dry. Nice~

This is a great Republic of China-era hotel, tucked away in a quiet spot yet still central. The courtyard is very unique, and the hotel's location is excellent. It's about 800 meters from popular attractions like Geyuan Garden, Heyuan Garden, Dongguan Street, Pishi Street, Dongguan Ancient Ferry, and Xing Street – all within easy reach. There are also plenty of dining options; the famous Erchun Fried Rice is right next door, and old brands like Fuchun Teahouse, Maopailou, and Gonghechun are all nearby. It's incredibly convenient for an after-dinner stroll. The service is excellent, and the rooms are clean and hygienic. Located at the entrance of a small alley, it's wonderfully peaceful and beautiful. If time permits, brewing a pot of tea and sitting in the courtyard to soak in the 'slow Yangzhou' vibe would be truly delightful!

This was my second visit to Suzhou, and my friend recommended the Wanhe River View Inn. It truly turned out to be the best choice for this trip! As soon as I reached the alley entrance, I was captivated by the white walls and black-tiled facade. Stepping inside, I was even more pleasantly surprised. The Chinese Zen-inspired decor was perfectly executed, with wooden window lattices, bamboo lanterns, and a dry landscape garden. Every detail showed thoughtfulness, and every photo I took captured the essence of Jiangnan, no need to even try to find the perfect angle. The owner was incredibly welcoming. They asked for our arrival time in advance and thoughtfully sent detailed directions. Concerned we might not plan our itinerary well, they even provided a guide to exploring the ancient town after we checked in, clearly explaining which alleys were less crowded for photos and which snack shops were the most authentic. This saved us so much time on research. We booked the Menglan River View Room, and the view was absolutely fantastic. Opening the window, we could see the authentic Suzhou waterside riverbanks and steps. In the evening, sitting on the rattan chairs on the third-floor terrace, enjoying the breeze and the scenery, I felt completely relaxed. The room amenities were also very thoughtful; toiletries were disposable, and the bedding was super soft, making for a wonderfully comfortable sleep. The complimentary fruit platter was genuinely generous and so heartwarming. Next time I visit Suzhou, I will definitely choose Wanhe River View Inn again. It's truly rare to find a guesthouse that feels so much like home!

What an unique experience! Nothing could be more authentic than that! Our room is on the first floor right by the water. We saw many women rowing the gondola boats and serenading beautiful songs to their passengers. We came in a low season, so there wasn’t that much crowd. We could stroll around leisurely to take in all the beautiful sights that this place offers to us. The home stay is operated by a couples. They are so friendly, kind, and always eager to help out, especially the wife (Ms. Chan). The day when we left, she helped us getting a didi ride which is more cheaper than the one we hailed ourselves. The room we stayed in is very unique, it is not super big, but it is very clean and it has everything we needed for the night. All and all, I would highly recommend this place to my friends and family.

Fantastic location with parking available. Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple) is just a short walk away, and the area is packed with great food options. Plus, there's a well-stocked convenience store right downstairs for anything you might need. I'd definitely choose this place again on my next visit to Nanjing.

Word of advice for people who didnt know, the hotel is right smack in the middle of non-car access area. After alighting, you should use trip app call function to call the hotel so that they bring a old trolley to pull your luggage for you. It is in a tourism spot so super convenient to eat and shop. But it is a door that is at a side lane, and also that is kept closed at all times, see pic 4. At night, if you are lucky, there are 2 lantern lights lit for you, see pic 5. However, the girls at the lobby are super helpful. They operate the dining area across, so they sometimes disappear from counter. But they are helpful when you ask them things. They even ordered a late night noodles for me when i told them i do not have a ******* app. Lovely stay.

Every year, I make it a habit to visit Ling Mountain for prayers and then head to Nianhua Bay, staying at one of the guesthouses within the scenic area. My honest feeling is that it's getting worse each year. The commercial street and shops within the area have received numerous complaints on Xiaohongshu, so I won't go into detail there. This review will focus mainly on the hotel's hardware and service. First, the hardware. The facilities are outdated. The TV has a severe response delay; if you want to watch live TV or on-demand, you have to patiently wait several minutes after pressing the remote before it responds. Yesterday, during check-in, I overheard a lady checking out who was complaining about a toilet issue in her room – the toilet seat had hit her child. She recorded a video of the incident and mentioned she comes to Nianhua Bay every year for New Year's Eve. It seems the old facilities aren't just my personal impression. Regarding service, while guesthouse staff always call or message via WeChat in advance to inform us of routes and activity schedules, the actual check-in experience has lost that initial 'warm welcome' feeling. For example, during my first stay at Nianhua Guesthouse in 2022, also in winter, the housekeeper had thoughtfully turned on the air conditioning before I even entered the room, making it warm and cozy. However, in subsequent years, I haven't encountered such attentive service again. After a tiring day of shopping, I returned to the guesthouse and wanted a cup of floral tea at the front desk. I casually asked if the cups were clean, and the young man told me there's a sink nearby where I could wash them, or I could use the cups in my room. So, I have to ask, are the floral tea and cups placed at the front desk just for decoration? Then there's the breakfast variety, which also declines year by year. Initially, guests were uniformly directed to a central restaurant. I suppose to address complaints from some guests about the long walk, the scenic area moved breakfast to individual guesthouses. But this arrangement led to a significant reduction in food variety. For instance, freshly made noodles, coffee, or vegetables – common basic offerings elsewhere – are unavailable here. This last stay at Songfeng Shili Guesthouse cost over 900 yuan, and honestly, I didn't find any significant advantages compared to the Nianhua Guesthouse, which costs around 600 yuan. The room was small and far from the main street. Perhaps this room type is designed for seclusion and its proximity to the 'Nianhua Yixiao' performance venue. But for me, based on the room descriptions on Ctrip, I couldn't discern any difference between the two room types. My first year, I stayed at Nianhua Guesthouse on the main street, followed by Wumenguan, Qinghua, and this time was the most disappointing check-in experience. Choosing this room was truly a mistake! I'm not blaming the housekeepers here; it's just that two consecutive years of stays and scenic area visits have made me feel this is a systemic issue. It's time for a complete overhaul!

The room was clean and comfortable. We particularly liked the unique layout of the courtyard, which the kids absolutely adored. They also kindly helped us with our luggage. The service was excellent, and the host was incredibly thoughtful – they even turned on the air conditioning in advance, so the room was perfectly cool when we arrived on a hot summer day.

It is located within Tongli Ancient Town. You need to pay an entrance fee to enter Tongli Ancient Town, but if you contact the owner, she can introduce you to tickets that are (probably) cheaper than usual. The owner is fluent in English, which was very helpful. The atmosphere inside the building is very nice, and you can get the feeling that you are staying in an old Chinese mansion (although we're not sure what era it is from). There are plenty of restaurants nearby, so you'll never be stranded without a place to find dinner. You can enjoy the ancient town at night.