Yide Hotel is a quite typical hotel based on traditional architecture in Pingyao Ancient City. The staff in Yide is very nice, even the boss and his wife. This hotel is also environment friendly. In the room, for example they provide teeth brush of good quality which customers can be taken and use for a long time. The internet service are convenient too.
The only problem is that water for bath is not hot enough and the food in their restaurant is expensive in my opinion.
I can't rave enough about the Yide hotel in Pingyao. It is the only "courtyard style" hotel I stayed in while in China, so I don't know if all courtyard hotels are just as charming, but I do know the staff definitely puts them way above the rest. We came in very early on an overnight train & were willing to pay extra just to get into our room to shower and rest. There was no need to offer more money though-- not only did they let us check-in early, but the owner saw our our disheveled and tired nature and upgraded us to the best room in the hotel.. for free!
The rest of the stay was no different.. the staff helped us book train tickets, suggested places to visit around Pingyao and the owner even ended up driving us in his personal vehicle to the train station when we left. So kind.
The rooms were clean and traditional and perfect. The restaurant was very charming and they had a great breakfast (you do have to pay extra for breakfast, though). I would go back to Yide in a heart beat.
Our stay started perfectly with a warm greeting at the train station and again a few minutes later at the hotel. The receptionist was really friendly and hospitable and the restaurant staff were very attentive, amiable and professional. I have stayed in many hotels in many countries and the staff here rank very highly indeed for their ability to make a guest feel at home. We just loved the hotel, it is unique, quiet, clean and comfortable with a delightful atmosphere. We tried a number of restaurants in the town but found our favourite place to eat was at the hotel because we felt the decor, ambience, friendly service and environment left the other "eateries" far behind. The clean crockery, cutlery, friendly service and lovely food at the hotel restaurant made this an easy choice for us.
We would stay there again and would have no hesitation recommending the Pingyao Yide Hotel to our friends.
A good choice to stay 5min away from the generica of Nandajie (south main street), with subtly restored buildings and rooms, and a truly pleasant restaurant/lounge with internet access and 10RMB Niuroumian (beef noodles). Winter season rather quiet and the hostels.com price well worth the money.
Went with 3 friends to Pingyao in December 2008 and had a great stay at the Yide Hotel after other people we know had recommended it. Hotel staff have limited English, but it wasn't a problem for us and service is great - they arranged for a driver to take us to and from Taiyuan Airport and we also used the driver to the see the famous Wang Family Compound outside the city.
Yide Hotel is perfetcly situated in the old city - on a quiet side street but just a 1-2 minute walk to the main east-west road. Hotel rooms were very clean and warm, despite below-freezing weather outside. They even upgraded one of our rooms since winter is their slow season. And the hotel manager went out of her way to talk to us about our stay and ask how we might be able to make the hotel even better.
We were surprised to find that Yide's restaurant makes great expresso and has a lot of Western and Chinese food. Their Pingyao specialties (different kinds of noodles) were all excellent. Hotel also has cheap Internet service and can burn your digital photos onto CDs. Highly recommended.
Staying at the Yide Hotel was a wonderfull experience.
The location is perfect. The hotel is directly within the old city walls and installed in a beautiful and authentic palace which belongs to the scenic spots of the city. Entering the courtyard of the hotels send you back into the Chinese history. All aspects of the hotel (furniture, decoration etc...)contribute to this fantastic atmosphere.
We were at Yide Hotel in winter (November 2008) and despite of the real cold temperature outside and the age of the building, the room and especially the bathroom were very warm.
The bed, in a typical chinese imperial style, was huge and comfortable.
to complete the picture, a remarkable service: free pick-up service from the railway station, friendly manager, english spoken by the staff.
This is a nice, cosy hotel down a quiet street. Our room was warm and comfortable, the Chinese breakfast was tremendous and I would definitely stay there again.
If you're looking for somewhere with real warmth and charm, this is a great choice. I felt privileged to have the opportunity to stay in such a beautiful courtyard and the vast 'kang' bed in the immaculately clean room was a bonus.
The staff, especially the manager, are very gracious and helpful. The hotel is set back a block away from the main street - s real advantage to me, since that area is crowded and noisy with tourist groups.
The only (slight) drawback was that the hot water was not as hot as it could have been during those peak times.
Make sure to check out a few rooms if you can, since they are all quite different.
This hotel played a huge part of our experience at Pingyao. Sitting in the courtyard having tea transported me back in time. It's not on the main tourist street which I enjoyed. It's as luxurious as a courtyard hotel can be in Pingyao. It was immaculately clean which enables me to go barefoot inside the room. The staff was awesome and we had them arrange our train ticket to Xian. They charge 40 yuan on top of each ticket (which is the going rate- I checked out other options) but they also take you to the train station. You will find cheaper courtyard hotels in Pingyao. I kept my options open for where to stay on the second night which allowed me to peek into other courtyard choices. We didn't find a better choice.
This was the closest I've come to time travel in China.
The Hotel Yide was a charming and quiet haven in the bustling historic small town of Pingyao. The courtyards were clean and quiet and authentic. The rooms traditional, clean, and well appointed. But definitely not your Holiday Inn experience. The bed we had was a kang, the traditional heated bed in northern China. The service was great and the staff was eager to help. English was excellent. Travel, massage, and other services were easily handled by a competent staff. The restaurant was definitely one of the best in town. It is quiet and located deep within the Inn so it may not be seen along the main streets. As an example of "Little Beijing", this is worth the trip to experience the China of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Very pretty place and Anna the manager is very nice but these are chinese not western facilities - kang bed is very difficult to sleep on, there are paper curtains so there is a lot of light in the morning, facing the courtyard there is a lot of noise, bathroom facilities are clean but at a very basic motel level and food is not good (the majority of the food is microwave reheated and even expensive compared to outside the hotel). An experience but I would recommend visiting the hotel for lunch/dinner but not sleeping there.
MY TRAVEL STYLE: If possible, I try to stay away from business hotels and strongly prefer resorts that resemble the Four Seasons, Aman, and Oberoi but try to find similar properties at lower cost. I seek out the “wow” experiences and I encourage you to view hotels I have stayed at and their respective reviews (by clicking on my name).
LOCATION: Very good. Off on a more quiet street but a 2 minute walk to where the main tourist road with shops/restaurants begins.
BEST WAY TO GET THERE: We had the hotel pick us up at the Taiyuan bus station for 300 RMB plus an additional 50 RMB for a stop at the Qing Residence. Same price for a ride to the airport from the hotel.
TYPE OF ROOM: Deluxe. I am not sure if there really is a difference (or much of one) between a Deluxe and a standard, but that is just an assumption.
BED/SHEETS/PILLOW: Bed is traditional style and huge. They say three people could sleep in one bed and it’s true, much bigger than a King size bed. There is a thin mattress on top that may be traditional, but I found it way to hard and even hurt when laying on my side for long periods. I have probably stayed at 50+ different hotels in Asian in the past 5 months and this is by far the hardest bed in a continent known for hard beds. The sheets are below average in quality. The only pillow options were rice which is ok, but much better for us than a super fat pillow.
LIGHTING: A little more light in bedroom would have been preferred, but fine. Bathroom lighting was very good.
BATHROOM/SHOWER: This was the part we didn’t like. The shower is squeezed between the toilet and the sink and shares the same floor without any walls or other form of separation in between. This means, it’s best to brush your teeth (or other bathroom activities) before taking a shower and making the entire bathroom floor wet. We checked out many hotels and all had the same design (but not as clean) as this except for the Financier’s Club that had a separate glassed in shower. The shower pressure was on the weak side but had consistently hot water for 2 people to take decently long showers before turning cold.
TOILETRIES: Bring your own. They provide price club/Costco sized containers in the bathroom with no counter to put them (so some are on the sink and others are on the floor). Average quality. Hairdryer was presented to us in the orginal box (but not new).
CLEANLINESS: The hotel is incredibly clean throughout and we noticed them cleaning constantly. This is a huge plus as I saw other hotels that were not nearly as clean or as nicely finished as this one.
A/C: I don’t think the room has A/C, but there is a heater in both the bathroom and bedroom which will get the room warm.
CLOSET SPACE: There is no closet in the room and little space for 2 large suitcases to fit even when utilizing the floor.
STYLE OF ROOM: I can appreciate the traditional charm, but don’t expect even a tiny but of luxury here. Long strings hang from the ceiling/wall to turn on the lights. There are no curtain on the wall and the windows are covered with translucent paper. Probably traditional as well, but I many people still may prefer some natural light and something to look out at through the window.
QUIET/MORNING LIGHT: The room was very quiet and the morning sunlight would shine through to make the room more bright than desired if trying to sleep in (we still managed to do that regardless).
FOOD: We ate dinner and breakfast in the hotel and we found the food very good and by far the nicest looking restaurant in town.
TV/INTERNET: TV is of good size for the small room and although many channels are available, not one was in English. Wireless internet is fast and available in room and common areas at no charge. There are 2 computers available for guest use that don’t have their own laptops.
SERVICE: Outstanding. The staff are very attentive to all of your needs. They are truly some of the best people in the hospitality business and will be happy to arrange transportation whether car, train, bus, or plane.
COMMON AREA: Nice. Some of the other courtyards looked redone and very new and I thought they looked more impressive until my roommate mentioned that they looked too new and fake. I agreed and had a much better appreciation for this hotel.
ROOM & CITY TIPS: Not sure really what the difference is between a standard and a deluxe so you may want to find out before spending the extra money. A pickup arranged by the hotel is a must as a taxi driver would unlikely know how to find the hotel. Even if you choose not to stay here, definitely come to the restaurant for a good meal and great ambiance. We checked out many hotels and the Yi De is much nicer than nearly all of the hotels. The only hotel that we saw that was luxurious is the Financier’s Club. It does cost nearly twice the price at about 700 RMB. It is an old courtyard residence like the Yi De but it has been immaculately redone and almost looks a bit fake (but beautiful fake if that makes sense). If you absolutely desire the most luxurious property, the FC would be your best bet, but if you want the feeling of staying in a truly old courtyard that is very clean with outstand staff/service, then the Yi De is definitely you best bet.
This courtyard hotel was one of the highlight of our trip. The rooms inside the courtyard are the most beautifull. The owner of the place has managed to keep the spirit of traditional courtyard place. The heating and hot water were perfect, we did not suffer from the freezing temperatures outside.
The Cafe Restaurant in the Yide hotel is a very warm and beautifully decorated place. And the food is really good and of good quality. Our recommandation: try the lamb with corriander, it was our favorite!
During our visit to Pingyao, and by curiosity we went to visit other courtyard hotels in the city, and could not find any other one that had the charm and quality of Yide.
We have been living in China for 15 years, and so are really appreciative of hte quality of this Hotel. The manager of this hotel has trully understood what westerners are looking for: a taste of China, the dedicated Service level of Asia and the beauty of Chinese style.
This may be one of the best places to stay in China. We did find Pingyao a bit challenging to get to, but it was worth the effort. Unable to get train tickets (no doubt the best way to travel to Pingyao) we flew to Taiyuan and then took a daring taxi ride to Pingyao. We wondered where we were going. Then the driver handed us over to a tuk tuk driver who raced us and our luggage through the streets of Pinyao to the Yide. I held my breath until my husband said "this is fabulous" and then knew I had "done good" with my travel planning after all. We spent two nights at the Yide and enjoyed every minute of the tranquil atmosphere of the courtyards, every piece of the history of the rooms, and every morsel of the delicious food in the restaurant. The staff were very friendly, welcoming and helpful. we felt at home. We could have stayed a week and become more relaxed each day. Only two things would have worn us down - the bathroom which was a bit primitive (but fitting in the ancient setting) and the constant worry as to how we would get back to Taiyuan (not the taxi again). The staff were helpful with our travel arrangements, but had we known we could have organised in advance for them to provide private transportation. That would have been ideal.
spent 2 nights here after 1 night at the regent hotel in beijing, the hotel 's service was excellent, efficient arrangements of transport, easy check in/out, very friendly and endearing staff
the hotel itself is a 280 year old courtyard house, I wasn't expecting much so was pretty happy when I got upgraded to a bigger room and also pleasantly surprised by how modern the bathroom was (while everything else maintained the ancient 280 year old charm) and how well heated the room was (it was -6 celsius when I arrived and 12 midnight), had 3 meals here and all were pretty decent (except for breakfast which was very average)
for anyone that has seen raise the red lantern, this is what the hotel looks like/feels like, the fact that it's not directly located on the 2 most popular streets in Pingyao but instead tucked away in an alley made it more so
in terms of the excursions there 's a wang residence and a qiao residence, also the town itself is also very charming and filled with friendly locals... december is a time where there aren't too many tourists so at some of the sights the complete lack of other homo sapiens definitely added to the atmosphere of this place
I’ve spent a lot of time traveling in China, and this truly is one of the most charming guest houses in China. The inn is a family business run by a very professional women who understands tourism and customer service. Her family’s courtyard home has been beautifully restored and not over-painted like most renovated homes in Pingyao. The guestrooms are nicely decorated and spotlessly clean! We arranged a driver through the inn-keeper to visit the Wang family courtyard home (worth the visit - Qiu courtyard was too crowded!) and he was very professional and skilled. You may pay a little more than at other inns in Pingyao but it is worth every penny.
This was one of the most memorable parts of my trip. It was like walking back in time. My room was quaint and historic but with a good bathroom (toilet, shower head and sink). The staff was great and everyone one of the girls that work at the hotel/restaurant were always courteous and willing to help. It was also nice to be off the main road so that the noise of the streets didn't come into the hotel. The food was very good also.
This is what I could have only hoped and imagined my trip to a small, historic town could be like in China or really anywhere else. Nice people, good lodgins and memories to last a lifetime.
I would recommend this hotel to anyone coming to this beautiful town.
Everything the previous reviewers have said about the Yide Hotel is true. I've lived in China 4 years, and this is one of the most charming little hotels I've ever been in. The owners are most obliging, and the lady manager speaks reasonable English. Unlike some places, she knows how to make foreign guests comfortably at home. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the food's very good.
One thing that's missing from the listing here is Yide's web and email addresses, as well as phone numbers. Their website offers numerous photos of the rooms, courtyards, and restaurant.
Web address: [--]
Email: [--]
Telephone: From outside China [--]; inside China [--].
Mobile phone: Outside China [--]; inside China omit [--].
This turned out to be our favorite place in China. The city is really very interesting and full of things to do. There are a rapidly expanding number of shops and places to eat, but they are all done in renovated buildings that date back to the 1700's.
The Yide Guesthouse could not have been a better choice for us t o stay. Its just off the busy road, its setting in a 1700's merchant house is just amazing and the staff are terrific. Bedrooms are basic with simple furnishings and very comfortable beds. The restaurant is very good and you can even get a good cappuccino in the morning. The owner and staff will go out of their way to help you with train tickets maps or any advice you may need.
Just as an example, we had connecting train tickets to Beijing but the train schedule changed forcing us to take a train to another city and then make a connection. The Yide arranged for someone to travel with us to ensure we made the connection at the right station. It was very much appreciated.
We would certainly stay there again.
A word of warning. There are NO banks or ATMs in Pingyao. There is nowhere to change money. So bring some cash when you come. Things are cheap and most of the shops and hotels will take US dollars- but if you need Chinese money, you better have it with you.
They have their own website, but it is hard to find because it shows up in Chinese characters.
A marvelous trip back in time. With big ''authentic'' chinese rooms, a very nice and quiet outspace (dressed with the red lanterns) where birds are singing and you can sit for hours, enjoying a cup of thea, reading, relaxing. And a very nice bar/ cafe for good meals, Wonderfull place in China, in a very charming town as well. A gem!
地址： No.16 Shangxiang Street
点评
Yide Hotel is a quite typical hotel based on traditional architecture in Pingyao Ancient City. The staff in Yide is very nice, even the boss and his wife. This hotel is also environment friendly. In the room, for example they provide teeth brush of good quality which customers can be taken and use for a long time. The internet service are convenient too.
The only problem is that water for bath is not hot enough and the food in their restaurant is expensive in my opinion.
Anyway, it's a nice experience to me!
I can't rave enough about the Yide hotel in Pingyao. It is the only "courtyard style" hotel I stayed in while in China, so I don't know if all courtyard hotels are just as charming, but I do know the staff definitely puts them way above the rest. We came in very early on an overnight train & were willing to pay extra just to get into our room to shower and rest. There was no need to offer more money though-- not only did they let us check-in early, but the owner saw our our disheveled and tired nature and upgraded us to the best room in the hotel.. for free!
The rest of the stay was no different.. the staff helped us book train tickets, suggested places to visit around Pingyao and the owner even ended up driving us in his personal vehicle to the train station when we left. So kind.
The rooms were clean and traditional and perfect. The restaurant was very charming and they had a great breakfast (you do have to pay extra for breakfast, though). I would go back to Yide in a heart beat.
Our stay started perfectly with a warm greeting at the train station and again a few minutes later at the hotel. The receptionist was really friendly and hospitable and the restaurant staff were very attentive, amiable and professional. I have stayed in many hotels in many countries and the staff here rank very highly indeed for their ability to make a guest feel at home. We just loved the hotel, it is unique, quiet, clean and comfortable with a delightful atmosphere. We tried a number of restaurants in the town but found our favourite place to eat was at the hotel because we felt the decor, ambience, friendly service and environment left the other "eateries" far behind. The clean crockery, cutlery, friendly service and lovely food at the hotel restaurant made this an easy choice for us.
We would stay there again and would have no hesitation recommending the Pingyao Yide Hotel to our friends.
A good choice to stay 5min away from the generica of Nandajie (south main street), with subtly restored buildings and rooms, and a truly pleasant restaurant/lounge with internet access and 10RMB Niuroumian (beef noodles). Winter season rather quiet and the hostels.com price well worth the money.
Went with 3 friends to Pingyao in December 2008 and had a great stay at the Yide Hotel after other people we know had recommended it. Hotel staff have limited English, but it wasn't a problem for us and service is great - they arranged for a driver to take us to and from Taiyuan Airport and we also used the driver to the see the famous Wang Family Compound outside the city.
Yide Hotel is perfetcly situated in the old city - on a quiet side street but just a 1-2 minute walk to the main east-west road. Hotel rooms were very clean and warm, despite below-freezing weather outside. They even upgraded one of our rooms since winter is their slow season. And the hotel manager went out of her way to talk to us about our stay and ask how we might be able to make the hotel even better.
We were surprised to find that Yide's restaurant makes great expresso and has a lot of Western and Chinese food. Their Pingyao specialties (different kinds of noodles) were all excellent. Hotel also has cheap Internet service and can burn your digital photos onto CDs. Highly recommended.
Staying at the Yide Hotel was a wonderfull experience.
The location is perfect. The hotel is directly within the old city walls and installed in a beautiful and authentic palace which belongs to the scenic spots of the city. Entering the courtyard of the hotels send you back into the Chinese history. All aspects of the hotel (furniture, decoration etc...)contribute to this fantastic atmosphere.
We were at Yide Hotel in winter (November 2008) and despite of the real cold temperature outside and the age of the building, the room and especially the bathroom were very warm.
The bed, in a typical chinese imperial style, was huge and comfortable.
to complete the picture, a remarkable service: free pick-up service from the railway station, friendly manager, english spoken by the staff.
One of the best hotels in China I stayed in.
This is a nice, cosy hotel down a quiet street. Our room was warm and comfortable, the Chinese breakfast was tremendous and I would definitely stay there again.
If you're looking for somewhere with real warmth and charm, this is a great choice. I felt privileged to have the opportunity to stay in such a beautiful courtyard and the vast 'kang' bed in the immaculately clean room was a bonus.
The staff, especially the manager, are very gracious and helpful. The hotel is set back a block away from the main street - s real advantage to me, since that area is crowded and noisy with tourist groups.
The only (slight) drawback was that the hot water was not as hot as it could have been during those peak times.
Make sure to check out a few rooms if you can, since they are all quite different.
A very memorable stay.
This hotel played a huge part of our experience at Pingyao. Sitting in the courtyard having tea transported me back in time. It's not on the main tourist street which I enjoyed. It's as luxurious as a courtyard hotel can be in Pingyao. It was immaculately clean which enables me to go barefoot inside the room. The staff was awesome and we had them arrange our train ticket to Xian. They charge 40 yuan on top of each ticket (which is the going rate- I checked out other options) but they also take you to the train station. You will find cheaper courtyard hotels in Pingyao. I kept my options open for where to stay on the second night which allowed me to peek into other courtyard choices. We didn't find a better choice.
This was the closest I've come to time travel in China.
The Hotel Yide was a charming and quiet haven in the bustling historic small town of Pingyao. The courtyards were clean and quiet and authentic. The rooms traditional, clean, and well appointed. But definitely not your Holiday Inn experience. The bed we had was a kang, the traditional heated bed in northern China. The service was great and the staff was eager to help. English was excellent. Travel, massage, and other services were easily handled by a competent staff. The restaurant was definitely one of the best in town. It is quiet and located deep within the Inn so it may not be seen along the main streets. As an example of "Little Beijing", this is worth the trip to experience the China of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Very pretty place and Anna the manager is very nice but these are chinese not western facilities - kang bed is very difficult to sleep on, there are paper curtains so there is a lot of light in the morning, facing the courtyard there is a lot of noise, bathroom facilities are clean but at a very basic motel level and food is not good (the majority of the food is microwave reheated and even expensive compared to outside the hotel). An experience but I would recommend visiting the hotel for lunch/dinner but not sleeping there.
MY TRAVEL STYLE: If possible, I try to stay away from business hotels and strongly prefer resorts that resemble the Four Seasons, Aman, and Oberoi but try to find similar properties at lower cost. I seek out the “wow” experiences and I encourage you to view hotels I have stayed at and their respective reviews (by clicking on my name).
LOCATION: Very good. Off on a more quiet street but a 2 minute walk to where the main tourist road with shops/restaurants begins.
BEST WAY TO GET THERE: We had the hotel pick us up at the Taiyuan bus station for 300 RMB plus an additional 50 RMB for a stop at the Qing Residence. Same price for a ride to the airport from the hotel.
TYPE OF ROOM: Deluxe. I am not sure if there really is a difference (or much of one) between a Deluxe and a standard, but that is just an assumption.
BED/SHEETS/PILLOW: Bed is traditional style and huge. They say three people could sleep in one bed and it’s true, much bigger than a King size bed. There is a thin mattress on top that may be traditional, but I found it way to hard and even hurt when laying on my side for long periods. I have probably stayed at 50+ different hotels in Asian in the past 5 months and this is by far the hardest bed in a continent known for hard beds. The sheets are below average in quality. The only pillow options were rice which is ok, but much better for us than a super fat pillow.
LIGHTING: A little more light in bedroom would have been preferred, but fine. Bathroom lighting was very good.
BATHROOM/SHOWER: This was the part we didn’t like. The shower is squeezed between the toilet and the sink and shares the same floor without any walls or other form of separation in between. This means, it’s best to brush your teeth (or other bathroom activities) before taking a shower and making the entire bathroom floor wet. We checked out many hotels and all had the same design (but not as clean) as this except for the Financier’s Club that had a separate glassed in shower. The shower pressure was on the weak side but had consistently hot water for 2 people to take decently long showers before turning cold.
TOILETRIES: Bring your own. They provide price club/Costco sized containers in the bathroom with no counter to put them (so some are on the sink and others are on the floor). Average quality. Hairdryer was presented to us in the orginal box (but not new).
CLEANLINESS: The hotel is incredibly clean throughout and we noticed them cleaning constantly. This is a huge plus as I saw other hotels that were not nearly as clean or as nicely finished as this one.
A/C: I don’t think the room has A/C, but there is a heater in both the bathroom and bedroom which will get the room warm.
CLOSET SPACE: There is no closet in the room and little space for 2 large suitcases to fit even when utilizing the floor.
STYLE OF ROOM: I can appreciate the traditional charm, but don’t expect even a tiny but of luxury here. Long strings hang from the ceiling/wall to turn on the lights. There are no curtain on the wall and the windows are covered with translucent paper. Probably traditional as well, but I many people still may prefer some natural light and something to look out at through the window.
QUIET/MORNING LIGHT: The room was very quiet and the morning sunlight would shine through to make the room more bright than desired if trying to sleep in (we still managed to do that regardless).
FOOD: We ate dinner and breakfast in the hotel and we found the food very good and by far the nicest looking restaurant in town.
TV/INTERNET: TV is of good size for the small room and although many channels are available, not one was in English. Wireless internet is fast and available in room and common areas at no charge. There are 2 computers available for guest use that don’t have their own laptops.
SERVICE: Outstanding. The staff are very attentive to all of your needs. They are truly some of the best people in the hospitality business and will be happy to arrange transportation whether car, train, bus, or plane.
COMMON AREA: Nice. Some of the other courtyards looked redone and very new and I thought they looked more impressive until my roommate mentioned that they looked too new and fake. I agreed and had a much better appreciation for this hotel.
ROOM & CITY TIPS: Not sure really what the difference is between a standard and a deluxe so you may want to find out before spending the extra money. A pickup arranged by the hotel is a must as a taxi driver would unlikely know how to find the hotel. Even if you choose not to stay here, definitely come to the restaurant for a good meal and great ambiance. We checked out many hotels and the Yi De is much nicer than nearly all of the hotels. The only hotel that we saw that was luxurious is the Financier’s Club. It does cost nearly twice the price at about 700 RMB. It is an old courtyard residence like the Yi De but it has been immaculately redone and almost looks a bit fake (but beautiful fake if that makes sense). If you absolutely desire the most luxurious property, the FC would be your best bet, but if you want the feeling of staying in a truly old courtyard that is very clean with outstand staff/service, then the Yi De is definitely you best bet.
This courtyard hotel was one of the highlight of our trip. The rooms inside the courtyard are the most beautifull. The owner of the place has managed to keep the spirit of traditional courtyard place. The heating and hot water were perfect, we did not suffer from the freezing temperatures outside.
The Cafe Restaurant in the Yide hotel is a very warm and beautifully decorated place. And the food is really good and of good quality. Our recommandation: try the lamb with corriander, it was our favorite!
During our visit to Pingyao, and by curiosity we went to visit other courtyard hotels in the city, and could not find any other one that had the charm and quality of Yide.
We have been living in China for 15 years, and so are really appreciative of hte quality of this Hotel. The manager of this hotel has trully understood what westerners are looking for: a taste of China, the dedicated Service level of Asia and the beauty of Chinese style.
This may be one of the best places to stay in China. We did find Pingyao a bit challenging to get to, but it was worth the effort. Unable to get train tickets (no doubt the best way to travel to Pingyao) we flew to Taiyuan and then took a daring taxi ride to Pingyao. We wondered where we were going. Then the driver handed us over to a tuk tuk driver who raced us and our luggage through the streets of Pinyao to the Yide. I held my breath until my husband said "this is fabulous" and then knew I had "done good" with my travel planning after all. We spent two nights at the Yide and enjoyed every minute of the tranquil atmosphere of the courtyards, every piece of the history of the rooms, and every morsel of the delicious food in the restaurant. The staff were very friendly, welcoming and helpful. we felt at home. We could have stayed a week and become more relaxed each day. Only two things would have worn us down - the bathroom which was a bit primitive (but fitting in the ancient setting) and the constant worry as to how we would get back to Taiyuan (not the taxi again). The staff were helpful with our travel arrangements, but had we known we could have organised in advance for them to provide private transportation. That would have been ideal.
spent 2 nights here after 1 night at the regent hotel in beijing, the hotel 's service was excellent, efficient arrangements of transport, easy check in/out, very friendly and endearing staff
the hotel itself is a 280 year old courtyard house, I wasn't expecting much so was pretty happy when I got upgraded to a bigger room and also pleasantly surprised by how modern the bathroom was (while everything else maintained the ancient 280 year old charm) and how well heated the room was (it was -6 celsius when I arrived and 12 midnight), had 3 meals here and all were pretty decent (except for breakfast which was very average)
for anyone that has seen raise the red lantern, this is what the hotel looks like/feels like, the fact that it's not directly located on the 2 most popular streets in Pingyao but instead tucked away in an alley made it more so
in terms of the excursions there 's a wang residence and a qiao residence, also the town itself is also very charming and filled with friendly locals... december is a time where there aren't too many tourists so at some of the sights the complete lack of other homo sapiens definitely added to the atmosphere of this place
definitely a town to visit and spend 1 day in
I’ve spent a lot of time traveling in China, and this truly is one of the most charming guest houses in China. The inn is a family business run by a very professional women who understands tourism and customer service. Her family’s courtyard home has been beautifully restored and not over-painted like most renovated homes in Pingyao. The guestrooms are nicely decorated and spotlessly clean! We arranged a driver through the inn-keeper to visit the Wang family courtyard home (worth the visit - Qiu courtyard was too crowded!) and he was very professional and skilled. You may pay a little more than at other inns in Pingyao but it is worth every penny.
This was one of the most memorable parts of my trip. It was like walking back in time. My room was quaint and historic but with a good bathroom (toilet, shower head and sink). The staff was great and everyone one of the girls that work at the hotel/restaurant were always courteous and willing to help. It was also nice to be off the main road so that the noise of the streets didn't come into the hotel. The food was very good also.
This is what I could have only hoped and imagined my trip to a small, historic town could be like in China or really anywhere else. Nice people, good lodgins and memories to last a lifetime.
I would recommend this hotel to anyone coming to this beautiful town.
Everything the previous reviewers have said about the Yide Hotel is true. I've lived in China 4 years, and this is one of the most charming little hotels I've ever been in. The owners are most obliging, and the lady manager speaks reasonable English. Unlike some places, she knows how to make foreign guests comfortably at home. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the food's very good.
One thing that's missing from the listing here is Yide's web and email addresses, as well as phone numbers. Their website offers numerous photos of the rooms, courtyards, and restaurant.
Web address: [--]
Email: [--]
Telephone: From outside China [--]; inside China [--].
Mobile phone: Outside China [--]; inside China omit [--].
Fax: Outside China [--]; inside China [--].
This turned out to be our favorite place in China. The city is really very interesting and full of things to do. There are a rapidly expanding number of shops and places to eat, but they are all done in renovated buildings that date back to the 1700's.
The Yide Guesthouse could not have been a better choice for us t o stay. Its just off the busy road, its setting in a 1700's merchant house is just amazing and the staff are terrific. Bedrooms are basic with simple furnishings and very comfortable beds. The restaurant is very good and you can even get a good cappuccino in the morning. The owner and staff will go out of their way to help you with train tickets maps or any advice you may need.
Just as an example, we had connecting train tickets to Beijing but the train schedule changed forcing us to take a train to another city and then make a connection. The Yide arranged for someone to travel with us to ensure we made the connection at the right station. It was very much appreciated.
We would certainly stay there again.
A word of warning. There are NO banks or ATMs in Pingyao. There is nowhere to change money. So bring some cash when you come. Things are cheap and most of the shops and hotels will take US dollars- but if you need Chinese money, you better have it with you.
They have their own website, but it is hard to find because it shows up in Chinese characters.
A marvelous trip back in time. With big ''authentic'' chinese rooms, a very nice and quiet outspace (dressed with the red lanterns) where birds are singing and you can sit for hours, enjoying a cup of thea, reading, relaxing. And a very nice bar/ cafe for good meals, Wonderfull place in China, in a very charming town as well. A gem!