A Hotel with Attentive Service
A Hotel with Attentive Service
In Xi'an, a few families were sitting around chatting when someone suggested a spontaneous trip. Where to? A quick search on Baidu suggested heading to the Yunqiu Mountain Ice Cave in Jishan, Shanxi. On the drive there, everyone agreed to book a hotel first. The Yunqiu Mountain scenic area belongs to Xiangning County but is super close to Jishan – perhaps because of the mountain setting. Searching on Ctrip, the only decent place we found was the Hongda Youpin Hotel, which looked like a chain (such hotels always feel safer). The price was reasonable, so we called to reserve a room, just in case we ended up regretting a booking later! When we arrived, we hopped out to see if the room matched the online photos. The front desk gave us a warm welcome, swung open the door, and reminded us to park in a proper spot (truth be told, we were ready to turn around and leave if the room was a letdown). The person who showed us the room was a neat, upright man in his thirties or forties – clearly ex-military, with a white shirt, blue trousers, and a ramrod-straight posture. The Wi-Fi and facilities were even better than the pictures, exactly as I’d hoped. So we checked in, and the male staff member helped cart our six pieces of luggage to the room, then cheerfully shared the Wi-Fi password. It was getting dark, so we freshened up and planned to eat. Down on the first floor, that upright gentleman asked if we were looking for food. Yes, we were just thinking about it! He then led us to a board the boss had prepared, neatly listing where to get stir-fry dishes and how to walk there, the hotpot options with directions, even which traffic lights to turn left or right at – all crystal clear. Yes! It even explained how to enjoy local specialties, where to go, and which places were authentic. Such a small sign done with so much care! After just a few exchanges, we were chatting away with the man and realized – he was actually the hotel owner! Haha! Even after we finished dinner, the owner was still in the lobby, waiting to ask if we liked the recommended places, whether we got a discount, and with a smile wished us a good night's rest. A truly thoughtful boss! To thank this dedicated host, I gave him and the hotel a glowing 5-star review. And oh – as we left, the owner reminded us of the quickest route to the expressway. Goodbye, boss! Until we meet again!
