2-Star Hotels in Gansu, China

I stayed in a 4-person room. The room was minimalist and medium-small, with lockers – basic but comfortable. The common area is stylish and inviting, with plenty of seating, cozy corners, plants, kettles, and power outlets, though it’s on a high floor with a glass ceiling – warm when hot, cozy when cold, and the few fans aren’t always enough. The staff at the desk were friendly, laundry facilities available, though no snacks or cold drinks. The area is urban, among regular buildings, so not particularly attractive from the outside, but within walking distance to the museum and the metro station, with a large supermarket and several food options nearby. Overall, a decent place to stay in Lanzhou.

The boss was very enthusiastic. I contacted him one day in advance and waited for us at the station early the next morning. The accommodation was close to the East Gate. We said we were going to Crescent Lake and Mingsha Mountain. The boss took the initiative to drive us to the Middle Gate, saying that we could save 20 yuan on the shuttle bus fare. The next day, we signed up for a tour group to go out and play. The boss also sent us to the boarding point early in the morning. The boss was afraid that it would be inconvenient to go back after the Crescent Lake Music Festival, so he also came to pick us up, making our travel very convenient. The accommodation environment is also very good, and the steamed bun for breakfast is particularly large.

The best aspect of this stay was by far the owner. He was incredibly, incredibly helpful and friendly — from the moment I walked in the door he offered me a cup of tea, then provided tea and bread the next morning for breakfast, offered advice on what to see in the area, arranged a car to take me to Dalzong Lake, and finally even found me a spot on a local minibus going to my next destination. I couldn’t have done half the things I did during my stay in Xiahe without his advice and efforts on my behalf, so that alone made staying here fully worthwhile! It’s worth mentioning that the guesthouse’s architecture is also absolutely beautiful, and everything looks quite new. It’s located down a quiet side alley off of one of the main commercial streets in town, which seems like the ideal placement. On the accommodations: I stayed in one of the two tents erected on the second floor of the guesthouse. This was largely quite a good experience! The bed was very comfortable (with a heated pad), water and towels provided, etc. The tents are not in a closed-off area, but rather on the second floor/balcony area that also is used for sitting, serving tea, etc., so privacy is somewhat limited, but the whole guesthouse is relatively quiet anyway so it doesn’t feel like a public space. My only suggestions for improvement would be related to the bathroom: during my stay, the shared bathroom for the tents was a sort of temporary-style booth installed in the corner of the room with a toilet, sink, and showerhead. The bathroom was very clean and everything inside worked well, but its sliding door separated from the wall enough that there was always a substantial enough space on one side or the other that could be seen through (the door also didn’t lock and slid back and forth easily). The booth was also small enough that, realistically, I think it would be a bit of a challenge to actually use it to shower. If possible it might be worth looking into some simple fixes to improve these situations, but otherwise I have no complaints!

I brought my parents, who are in their 70s, to visit Maiji Mountain. The hostess was incredibly warm and attentive. After arriving at the North Gate 1 of the Maiji Mountain scenic area, we just made a call and she came directly to pick us up and take us to the guesthouse. The room was spotless, not a speck of dust anywhere. For dinner, we had mushroom stew with free-range chicken and stir-fried wild vegetables – truly delicious! 😋 The next day, she dropped us off at the entrance of the Maiji Mountain scenic spot at 7:30 AM, so we were the first ones to go in at 8:30 AM. After our visit, we saw a super long queue had already formed outside. Afterward, we took a taxi to explore Xianren Cliff and Jingtu Temple. Finally, the hostess even drove our luggage to the Line 34 bus stop to drop us off. It was a truly perfect day, so relaxed and easy. We avoided the crowds in the morning and didn't have to wait in long lines, making for a 10/10 visiting experience. Huge thanks to the hostess for the pick-up and drop-off service!

If life is a never-ending journey, then the camping trip at the Desert Star Hotel is undoubtedly a highlight of my journey. When I arrived at the campsite, the first thing that attracted me was the unique tent house. Unlike regular tents, the top of the tent is made of special transparent materials, like a huge viewing platform, which builds a bridge of communication between me and the vast galaxy. As night fell, I couldn't wait to lie on the soft bed, and when I looked up, the bright starry sky was presented to me without reservation. The stars twinkled, like gems inlaid on the black sky, beautiful as a dream. At that moment, the world seemed to press the mute button, and the impetuousness and noise in my heart were instantly soothed. The unique beauty of this quietness made me intoxicated. It is worth mentioning that the hotel staff is very considerate. After placing the order, the customer service guy at the front desk added our contact information and gave us some local travel tips, which saved us a lot of time. From the warm reception at check-in, to the careful guidance during the activities, to the warm greetings at night, every detail made people feel cared for. They not only provided me with thoughtful service, but also made me feel the simplicity and enthusiasm of the desert people. This desert camping trip not only allowed me to appreciate the magnificent scenery of the desert, but also experienced exciting and interesting activities, which became an eternal and beautiful memory in my heart.

I stayed in this hostel for a total of 5 nights, with two breaks when I went on tours outside of Lanzhou. I have put in reviews earlier, so this is my final for the hostel that had begun to feel like Home. The hostel itself is very comfortable a stay: clean, comfortable wide bed with sliding door for privacy, nice seating areas... It is run by a family who take turns staying over so that there is 24 hour reception. All are friendly and kind, especially the father. The parents don't speak English but you can easily use a translation app; other guests will probably interact with you. The location: it is situated about a 5 minute walk to the Yellow River Tower, and a further 10 minute walk to the Lanzhou Old Street area where there is an amazing array of food options. Just outside the hostel is a Halal (Muslim-run) restaurant called (Ruhua 如华）which the hostel owners say have been in operation for 20 or 30 years. The hand-pulled (手抓) mutton that I had there was fantastic, even though I am typically not a mutton eater --- the taste is a delicate and balanced mix of light spices (I could taste a hint of ginger, for example) and saltiness. And the 八宝茶 is also excellent. A 7 minute walk to the right after exiting the hostel (past the above -mentioned restaurant) to the main road where many buses ply, you will find another good mix of local food options, especially in the morning. The hostel is conveniently located near the Lanzhou West railway station. There is a bus 136 that runs just outside the hostel and gets you to the railway station in 20 minutes. Hope this helps someone deciding on where to stay in Lanzhou, since there doesn't seem such a good range of hostels. Some photos of the yummy food nearby : ) Thank you for such a comfortable stay, hosts!

The hotel is in a great location, with a similar distance to the city center and Maiji Mountain, making travel very convenient! The room is clean and the shower water is huge! The front desk service attitude is also good, it is worth recommending!

The service attitude is very good, the room is clean and sanitary.

We stayed one night when we arrived from zoige and booked the tent first. But before booking you should know that the bathroom is one floor underneath and there are NO showers. So if you only stay one night and dont need the shower its fine, but if you can spend 20 Yuan more you get a really big room with two beds and an own bathroom WITH a shower! We departed the next morning to Diebu to go from there to Zhagana. The bus departs at the traffic light at the main street and should normally stop there at 9.00 am but on our day it was more like 9.30 am. While waiting on the bus we had breakfast at the food stands next to the traffic light and asked around for the bus

This guesthouse is truly unique! Each room is named after one of the twelve zodiac signs, with designs that blend local flair and astrological elements. In the evenings, you can go stargazing, with options for an indoor lecture and actual observation from the rooftop. The instructor mentioned that summer is the best season for stargazing, and if you want to spot your own zodiac constellation, it's best to visit around two months before or after its designated month. They even gave us wishing bottles for our own zodiac signs, which we filled with sand from Mingsha Mountain the next day to take home! The host is incredibly warm and helpful; you can ask her about local tourism, car rentals, and more – she's very considerate. Breakfast is different every day, with a thoughtful and nutritious selection. There's also an adorable cat who loves to 'accompany' you during meals, often sitting on a chair. She gets so happy if you share half an egg yolk with her every morning! She also recently had three tiny, adorable kittens! The guesthouse features a classroom and a spacious, bright lobby, making it feel especially suitable for study tour groups. We initially planned to stay two nights but loved it so much we extended for another night. The village atmosphere is quiet and comfortable, and it's about a 15-minute taxi ride to Shazhou Night Market and around 20 minutes to the train station, so transportation is very convenient. Highly recommend for family trips and educational tours!