Homestays in Gansu, China

Bringing my family to Dunhuang, 🏜️ it felt like a dream stepping into Dunhuang. We stayed in a desert RV, nestled in the golden sands, a dream of constant temperature. The room facilities were complete and comfortable, the bedding was cozy, and we had personalized butler service. Only guests are allowed inside, making it very quiet and spacious. We had a whole section of the desert to ourselves, enjoying the joy of having an entire golden sand sea – it's absolutely a stunning spot for photos. Life experience +1: Camping in the desert. It was an amazing experience! They offered complimentary ATV dune buggy rides, which were thrilling and novel. We could slide down the sand dunes for free, and the kids had a blast! Highly recommend!

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!

The location is inside Tianshui Ancient City, a bit hard to find. Breakfast is a collaboration with the shop next door, only available from 8 AM, which is different from the information provided here. The room's screen mirroring works fine, but there are constant ads… The room doesn't have a key; it has a combination lock, so you don't have to worry about only having one card for two people. The front desk provides many free small items that you can use. The downsides are that if you stay on the first floor, you'll hear noise from outside, and if no one is at the front desk during check-in, you'll have to wait.

This stay was a truly pleasant surprise! From the moment we walked in, the staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful with our luggage. The room was larger than expected, with a cozy layout, and the cleanliness was impeccable – not a speck of dust even in the corners. The mattress was just right, not too soft and not too firm, and the soundproofing was excellent, so I had a wonderful night's sleep. Breakfast offered a wide variety of choices, including some delicious local specialties. They even gave us a thoughtful little gift when we checked out. Fantastic value for money, I've already recommended it to my friends!

One of the biggest highlights of this hotel is the warmth of all the staff. They were always smiling and proactive in offering help, which made me, a solo traveler, feel incredibly welcome. The room's cleanliness was also very satisfying; everything from the bedding to the bathroom was spotless and fresh. The free parking lot had plenty of spaces, which was very convenient. In the evening, I could enjoy a grand yet peaceful desert sunset right from my tent. At night, without any light pollution, the starry sky was exceptionally clear and bright, seemingly within reach. This stay, from the facilities to the service, and from the views to the atmosphere, was absolutely perfect.

I originally chose this place because it's within a 15-minute walk to the middle gate of Mingsha Mountain, and for just over 300 yuan a night, you can see the stars. It exceeded my expectations, so I had to write a proper review! P1-3: The room was very clean, with no unpleasant odors. The skylight for stargazing was as big as the bed, and sunlight streamed in when it was open! The TV was a Xiaomi, and the toilet and shower were all in great condition. I saw the Big Dipper from bed at night—absolutely amazing! P4: The guesthouse is family-run. At noon, I heard the owner's mother calling ”Lunch is ready!” Since I was traveling alone, the hospitable owner invited me to join them. So, we all squeezed together at the table, chatting and laughing, and the moment reminded me of many tranquil and beautiful movies. P5-7: Because it was before the May Day holiday, the guesthouse wasn't busy, and I was invited to try the food and have a barbecue at the Western restaurant near the entrance. The owner took me to the market to have freshly cut Aksai lamb! PS: The Western restaurant was delicious!! You can tell from the pictures! P8: After returning from Mingsha Mountain in the evening, seeing the room door was truly therapeutic! INFP understands! I highly recommend this guesthouse. Firstly, the accommodation is very comfortable, and secondly, it was a long-lost relaxing and warm experience for someone like me who's been working like a dog for so long!

The service was so warm. They even presented us with Hada after we arrived. We were the only family staying in the hotel during the off-season in winter, but the service was not slack at all. The boss turned on the heating in our room in advance and prepared fresh yak yogurt, snacks and many other things. He really cared about us. I originally wanted to eat in the county town, but I ate directly in the hotel, which was also very good. The whole manor is very large. It is recommended that everyone stay here during the peak season. We will come again.

Choosing Nashashan Homestay for my trip to Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain was the luckiest decision I made. The location, living environment, and owner's service all far exceeded my expectations. I genuinely recommend it to all visitors coming to Dunhuang. The homestay is nestled at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, just a 10-minute walk directly to the scenic area's entrance. This means no waking up early to beat traffic, no enduring the scorching sun to go back and forth. You can head out early to catch the desert sunrise and return to the courtyard in the evening to quietly enjoy the sunset's afterglow. With minimal light pollution at night, you just look up to see a sky full of dazzling stars – a truly immersive experience of the desert landscape, far from the city's hustle and bustle, quiet and healing. The courtyard is a rammed earth courtyard with distinct Northwestern characteristics, meticulously kept clean and tidy, with tables, chairs, and greenery artfully arranged. Sitting in the courtyard in the evening, enjoying the breeze and drinking tea, creates an incredibly atmospheric vibe. The guest rooms are spacious and airy, with impeccable cleanliness down to the smallest detail. The bedding is soft and dust-free, and every corner and bathroom is thoroughly cleaned. Considering Dunhuang's dry climate, each room is equipped with a humidifier. The independent bathrooms have separate wet and dry areas, with abundant and stable hot water. The hairdryer is powerful, making it easy to quickly clean off sand after playing. The blackout curtains provide excellent sound insulation, ensuring a solid night's sleep after a day of exploration. The homestay also has a self-service laundry and drying area and free parking, which is very convenient for self-driving guests to store luggage and wash sandy clothes. The facilities are comprehensive and thoughtful. What touched me the most was the owner's warm and genuine service, completely devoid of any commercial detachment. Upon arrival, they proactively helped with luggage and made check-in quick and efficient. They also meticulously explained off-peak routes for visiting the scenic area, recommended lesser-known photo spots, and suggested local restaurants frequented by residents. During my stay, any requests were promptly addressed, whether it was refilling drinking water or borrowing items – they were always on call. They were gentle and patient, and in their free time, they would chat with guests about local customs and traditions, making it feel just like staying at a relative's home. For its location, this homestay offers excellent value for money, combining the charm of the desert with a comfortable living experience, making it suitable for couples, families, and friends traveling together. The thoughtful service and superb location added so much warmth to my Dunhuang trip. The next time I visit Mingsha Mountain, Nashashan Homestay will still be my first choice, and I will definitely recommend this hidden gem to my friends planning trips.

One of my favourite stays in 6 months across China Communication before arrival was smooth via WeChat, and the staff proactively helped me plan a full itinerary for the region, all in English, which as a foreign solo traveller in China I truly appreciated. The hotel arranged a driver who picked me up directly at the train station gate and took me wherever I needed to go. I could adjust my plans at any time, and he was always there waiting or arrived right on schedule. The whole organzation was genuinely flexible and reliable. The location of the hotel is perfect, like less than 10 minutes walking from Danxia Park West Gate, so you can catch the 5:30 AM opening for sunrise at Platform 1 and go for sunset at Platform 3. The staff helped me to go to Binguo, Kangle Grassland, Alien Scenic Park, Pingshan Grand Canyon and Mati Temple. Over 5 days, I saw far more than I ever could have managed on my own, especially as this area is really remote and no didi is available. It is one of my favourite trips and stays from six months in China and I’ve seen quite a bit. Would come back without hesitation.

Conveniently located within walking distance to the labrang monastery (400m) west entrance. They could arrange for transportation around xiahe. Room was clean and spacious , just a little cold as we arrived in end may which makes it difficult to take a shower. Generally, we enjoyed our stay there. As we were staying there for 3 days, we later had to venture out further to try other food varieties. Would prefer if they could arrange for more affordable prices for non native speaking travellers when securing private car hires.