Trip.com Group Country Retreats (Zhang Jiajie Manson Joint Resort）

Manxin was the third boutique hotel I chose for my trip to Hunan. It's located in a village nestled in the mountains. The owner leased nearly a hundred acres of land to create the idyllic farm he envisioned. Several two-story buildings are artfully scattered amidst rice paddies and lotus ponds. An infinity pool offers unparalleled views of the distant mountains. The rice seedlings have just been planted, and in a few months, one can truly experience the scene described by Xin Qiji: 'A bountiful harvest is spoken of amidst the fragrance of rice flowers, as the croaking of frogs fills the air.' **Environment:** The hotel's environment is exceptional. Surrounded by distant mountains, perched on a gentle slope, every room offers expansive views of lush greenery. The rice fields are close by, and at night, the sound of frogs fills the air. Each room boasts a large balcony. Sitting there, breathing in the fresh mountain air, sipping a cup of tea or coffee, time seems to slow down. **Hygiene:** The hotel's hygiene is top-notch. Despite being surrounded by farmland, there are surprisingly no mosquitoes or other insects in the rooms, which is quite rare. **Facilities:** As a meticulously crafted guesthouse, it offers all the amenities of a high-end hotel, especially the infinity pool with its unbeatable mountain views – truly an inspired touch. Of course, as a 'wild luxury' (my own definition) hotel, to encourage guests to truly reconnect with nature, the rooms intentionally lack televisions. This thoughtful decision is commendable! **Service:** Being far from the city, service is particularly important for guests. The hotel provides dedicated butlers who promptly address guests' questions and requests. Their efficiency is high, usually responding to guests almost immediately. The hotel offers complimentary airport/train station transfers, as well as unlimited complimentary transfers to the Zimu Pass (middle gate) of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is incredibly helpful for guests. **In summary:** This is a uniquely positioned hotel. For travelers who love nature, appreciate peace and a slower pace, and have high standards for hotel quality, this hotel is definitely worth a short stay. **Final Suggestion:** Given its rural location, its own farmland, and the fact that it raises poultry and bees, the hotel should further leverage its unique advantages in terms of ingredients and cuisine. It could also appropriately guide local farmers to cultivate organic vegetables, fruits, and various eco-friendly produce, making a beneficial contribution to rural revitalization. I believe some guests would appreciate this.

Despite the great service and beautiful scenery, I'm still giving a five-star rating. However, during a perfectly relaxing afternoon, I was playing games in your room and lost two matches because the Wi-Fi was so slow. Also, due to the hotel's somewhat remote location (which isn't a downside), I chose to dine at the hotel restaurant in the evening. What followed was the worst Western meal I've ever had in my life. The 198 tomahawk steak was barely 1mm thick – I regret even ordering it medium-rare. The meat was so tough it made me question everything; it was impossible to cut and like chewing on wax. For 168, you can get a delicious tomahawk in a fourth-tier city; for 268, a fantastic one in a second or third-tier city; and for 368, an unbeatable one in a first-tier city. Yet, I paid 470 at a 1500-a-night resort for a Western meal that was trash compared to street food. That being said, if I ever come back to Zhangjiajie, I'd probably still choose to stay here. It's truly perfect for a relaxing vacation. But I will *never* eat at that restaurant again.

This hotel is quite close to the Zhangjiajie Middle Gate, making it ideal for a relaxing stay if you don't plan on venturing out much. It's very quiet at night, and the bedding is super comfortable. The farm's own restaurant is also pretty good, and enjoying a drink at the farm bar or by the pool in the evening is a lovely experience.

For my May Day holiday, I wanted a place that was both away from the city's hustle and bustle, and where I could enjoy the tranquility of nature in a beautiful setting. After browsing countless hotels online, I finally chose Ctrip's Holiday Farmstay in Zhangjiajie. After my three-day break, I couldn't help but feel that I had truly picked the perfect spot! The hotel is situated atop a valley, very close to the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. They offer a dedicated shuttle service to the high-speed train station, and ride-sharing apps are also available for getting around, which is incredibly convenient! The hotel's environment is truly wonderful; greenery abounds everywhere. Breathing in the natural air, you can even smell the fragrance of the soil – it truly lives up to its reputation as a natural oxygen bar! The hotel boasts large public areas, including rice paddies, a pond, and a swimming pool. Sitting by the pond on a early summer afternoon, relaxing and reading, was truly delightful! The rooms are spacious, and each comes with a large terrace. Sitting on the terrace, chatting and enjoying some snacks, was incredibly comfortable! The bathroom amenities are excellent, all L'Occitane, and very pleasant to use! The hotel's dining is fantastic. The rice noodles for breakfast were delicious and I highly recommend them! Additionally, the hotel's special medicinal cuisine is definitely worth trying; the soup is authentic, and the dishes are incredibly diverse. The chef's creations are truly top-notch! The soft services at the hotel are excellent. Every staff member proactively greets you and asks if you need any assistance. They also organize various special activities for children, creating a fantastic holiday atmosphere! Overall, it's truly a great hotel that I would recommend to my friends. I hope the hotel continues to improve, and I'll definitely be staying here again!

Amenities: The toiletries are all L'Occitane, and the hand soap is handmade by the hotel, leaving hands feeling moisturized. The hairdryer is a Dyson. The bedding is high-thread-count. The tea set has a beautiful floral pattern. The mini-bar is well-stocked daily... so much so that we couldn't finish everything... completely couldn't finish. The only downsides were that the room was a bit dim, there was no small trash can on the vanity, and no shelf in the shower. Also, there's an awkward protrusion from the bathroom to the bed. Hygiene: The room was meticulously cleaned by the housekeepers every day. They even provided 75% alcohol disinfectant wipes. The outdoor chair cushions on the patio showed no signs of mildew, and there were no stains on the sofa. No dusty spots anywhere – the housekeepers must be very diligent. As for the outdoors, it's natural to find various insects, which is understandable in a natural setting. Inside the room, there were no bugs. I noticed they placed mosquito coils at each entrance, and I wasn't bitten by mosquitoes during my stay. Environment: The environment is exactly as pictured – enchanting after the rain and beautiful on a sunny day. It's a bit of a shame that the view from the room is somewhat obstructed by trees (due to no-cutting regulations), but you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea by the restaurant pool. Service: The butler was always responsive on WeChat, and the staff were all very enthusiastic, offering to show us around. On our last day, our flight was late, so the butler helped us pass the time – we visited their small garden to pick cucumbers, catch tadpoles, pick peaches, see little rabbits, and even herd ducks!

The room was great, and the hotel views were beautiful, but the service was incredibly, incredibly poor. They advertised butler service, but it was practically non-existent. They promised to help with itinerary planning when I called, but then completely forgot. I had to proactively ask about check-in procedures and request the welcome fruit myself. They didn't mention that the room included afternoon tea until right before I left, so I never got to use it. There was absolutely no service experience to speak of. Perhaps I shouldn't compare a B&B at 1700 a night with a hotel; the experience gap is huge. Compared to similarly priced places like Banyan Tree or Han Yue Lou, the service experience here was vastly different and quite disappointing.