Zhengjia hostel was a terrific place to stay in Pingyao; centrally located, all the amenities you'd want (wifi, drinking water, pool table, good food, clean room and bathroom) and best of all is the wonderful and friendly staff, headed up by the general manger, Bob. Bob speaks great English and helped make our stay and further travel so easy by helping book bus tickets, and other great knowledge of the town and area. Highly recommended to any traveler looking for a great place for a super low price!

This hostel is really lovely! In the middle of the old town it is perfectly located to explore on a bike. Bob the manager was so helpful and friendly, helped me hire a bike, explained about local customs and even went so far as to change my 12 hour standing train ticket to a hard seat because he didnt want me to stand that long and i couldnt find the ticket myself! I arrived really early in the morning and was taken straight to the room which was great! the rooms are really clean and the staff, although not speaking to much english spent the whole day learning and helping me however they could. The food was also really nice especially the local dishes. I would thoroughly recommend this place and would like to thank Bob for all of his help and from saving me from a really horrible journey!

The value of this guesthouse cannot be beat, it's a true experience. Beautifully converted in to a hostel with a large courtyard in the middle. Rooms are spotless but the bathroom is tiny and a bit awkward (my only major complaint). Giant comfortable bed, TV (no English channels though), heating and A/C. Decent breakfast and food in the restaurant. Comfortable common area with TV, DVDs to watch, free computers. Location is great but is easy to get around entire town by foot (no cars allowed). Manager Bob is very friendly, good English but doesn't seem to be around a lot. He did sit down with us once we arrived though to get to know us and see if he could arrange anything for us while in Pingyao - he did arrange for us a day trip to the Underground Castle which was interesting. Girls at the front desk we found excessively loud, English wasn't good. Bob also paid for our tuk-tuk rides to and from the train station (thank you!) but make sure the driver doesn't try to get you to pay twice the amount before you get into the hostel - the girls will pay, you should not.

As mentioned, the Chinese girls at the front desk speak no English. They also laugh at and imitate customers when they try to speak Mandarin to them. And regarding the famous Chinese Hostel Bathroom Sewer Smell: you don't have to put up with it. You just don't. So don't. If every tourist complains, maybe the management at all hostels will care. Unfortunately, this hostel has sewer smell.

HOWEVER: for 60 kuai I got a private room with en suite, dropped off and picked up from the airport, and this hostel is just beautiful. Utterly stunning. The food here is excellent, and as stated, Bob the manager has very very good English. I would stay here again in a
heartbeat.