Lovely Pingyao now lies on the high speed train line (300kph) linking Beijing and Xian, and so is very easy to visit by very comfortable trains. We had seen other excellent reviews of Jings Residence and were not disappointed. It is situated in the ‘pedestrian area’ with access with your luggage almost to the door using electric vehicles from just outside the city walls. The last few metres luggage needs to be wheeled. Reception and the restaurant area are just inside the entrance and then you enter a series of open courtyards off which the ground floor rooms are located. Some of the furniture shows a few signs of wear, but the rooms are still lovely – in ours the bed was the biggest we have ever slept in and stretched wall to wall. As others have said the staff were really nice and helpful. The food here was of a good standard. Knowing of my recent birthday, we returned one night to find a slice of chocolate cake and a good wishes card. They had also scattered rose petals on the bed. On our departure we were given some Puer tea and good luck emblems and this just added to a really memorable and enjoyable two night stay in Pingyao.