MANY bed-and-breakfasts have sprung up in Hangzhou in recent years, mostly in scenic areas including Siyanjing, Baile Bridge, Qingzhiwu and Yuhuang Hill.

Locals call these Chinese-style bed-and-breakfasts minsu (ÃñËÞ). There are now 117 minsu in the city, according to the Hangzhou Administration of Industry and Commerce. Minsu often feature distinctive decor. Some are operated by Hangzhou natives and some by out-of-towners who, after visiting Hangzhou, made up their minds to open guesthouses in the beautiful area.

West Lake Scenic Area Administration Committee launched a search for gorgeous minsu in Hangzhou, and 32 guesthouses stood out. Shanghai Daily picks seven stylish, homey minsu for you.

Lan Villa

The owner of Lan Villa once worked at Shangri-La Hotel. She quit her job and picked a secluded location in Manjuelong to build a guesthouse.

It’s a little hard to find because of lush vegetation. But the staff will pick you up if you can’t find it.

Lan Villa features comfy and unusual decor with rooms built of glass, a children’s play room and a chess and poker room. Handmade soap with honey and glutinous rice is safe for pregnant women and kids. Rooms are divided into those overlooking mountains and others facing courtyards.  March to October is the busy season of Lan Villa, so book beforehand.

Address: No. 11, Yangjia Hill, Manjuelong Village

Tel: (0571) 8798-0990

Price: 360-880 yuan

Dining: Free breakfast of traditional Chinese dim sum and Western dishes, and Western lunch and supper at reasonable price.

Special service: Free wifi, free nutritious children’s meals, free Longjing tea and books.

Getting there: Take Bus No. Y3 to Shuiledong Bus Station and walk for two minutes.

Meander Tree Theme Resort

Shanghainese designer Fang Xiaowei rejuvenated a couple of big old villas in Siyanjing into a guesthouse with 58 rooms of different styles in 2008. It has become a popular hangout for backpackers. Every room has a unique theme, from Japanese minimalist and Greek Mediterranean to IKEA simple style and American pastoral.

The guesthouse’s restaurant claims to provide the freshest local organic food. The cafe, situated in a wooden cabin, can accommodate 40 people. It is shaped like a boat and equipped with a small theater. Films are screened on Monday evenings and bands perform every weekend night.

Address: No. 58, Siyanjing

Tel: (0571) 8797-9158

Price: 288-998 yuan

Dining: Free Hangzhou-style breakfast

Special service: Free movies, bands

Getting there: Take Bus No. 4/31/808/315/318/504/197/822 to Hangzhou Zoo, and then ascend along Gujing’er Road.

Manshu Guesthouse

The owner named the guesthouse after the famous poet Su Manshu (1884–1918), who was also a monk. It lies in a valley in west Hangzhou where there are a dozen temples, including the noted Tianzhu Faxi Temple and Tianzhu Fajing Temple.

It attracts many middle-class pilgrims. From the first to the fifth of every lunar month, considered an ideal time to worship Buddha, Manshu is always full of the faithful, so book beforehand.

Rooms are separated into those with balconies with a view of a huge tea garden, and the others with a yard where children can play.

Address: 277 Tianzhu Rd

Tel: (0571) 8798-7277

Price: 380-580 yuan

Dining: Free breakfast

Special service: Free Wi-Fi and bus card

Getting there: Take Bus No. Y4 to Tianzhu Station and walk 150 meters.

Ruo Yin

Manjuelong in southwest West Lake is famous for its 7,000 thriving osmanthus trees. During the bloom, tourists flock there. Ruo Yin is situated in a sea of osmanthus. Its white appearance and high foundation make it look like a castle standing out from the vegetation.

The owner put sunshades and chairs in the front yard, where guests can sip tea while enjoying fresh air. A small pond there has fish swimming to and fro.

People speak highly of Ruo Yin for its four-star quality and comparatively low price. The staff serves breakfast to every guest no matter how late he or she rises and serves free soups that vary by season.

Address: No. 105, Manjuelong

Tel: (0571) 8779-9481

Price: 288-688 yuan

Dining: Free breakfast

Special service: Free wifi, in-room breakfasts, free bicycle rental, free parking lot

Getting there: Take Bus No. Y3 to Shuiledong Station

West Lake Youth Hostel

This guesthouse is a good choice for those who want to be near West Lake. It is located on elegant Nanshan Road and backs onto Yuhuang Hill. In front of the youth hostel is the Chang Bridge and Leifeng Pagoda. The lake is just a few steps away.

Open the hedge gate to enter a yard with a traditional Chinese-style setting. Bonsais, a stone mill and a stone mortar, a swing and trees make the yard tranquil and relaxing.

The lobby includes a bar, where people can dine, drink, play billiards and surf the web. Weekend parties are held.  

Address: 62-3 Nanshan Rd

Tel: (0571) 872-7027

Price: 210-220 yuan

Dining: Italian food with an average charge of 25 yuan per person.

Special service: Free wifi, laundry

Getting there: Take Bus No. Y2/Y3/Y4/Y6/Y9/31/51/504/808/822 to Chang Bridge.

Ferry Inn

For Buddhists, the word ferry evokes people embarking on boats to leave the world of suffering through attaining enlightenment.

Lingyin Ferry Inn is shaded by vegetation on a narrow footpath alongside Lingyin Road. Owner Gu Lin built it as a family inn with simple and plain European-style decor. Gu says she regards the inn as her home and wants guests to feel at home, too.

To help create a relaxed atmosphere, Gu invites guests to share fruit and dine with her and employees if they want. Before going to bed, she rustles up soup and desserts for guests to help them go to sleep in a sunny mood, Gu says.

The front yard is eye-catching and homey. The yard is now full of blooms most of the year.

Address: No. 45, Baileqiao

Tel: (0571) 8806-0468

Price: 158-398 yuan

Special service: Free wifi. During March, April, October and November, barbecue parties are held in the yard.

Getting there: Take Bus No. 7/807/Y1/Y2 to the Lingyin Temple Station.

Country Stroll Inn

Opening the wooden gate and entering the yard, guests may feel as if they have stepped into a pastoral painting. Plants, sunshades and garden furniture create a perfect spot on sunny days for a leisurely tea or coffee.

The lobby is also full of natural elements. A stylish decoration made from bamboo separates common and hand-washing areas, and dried flowers adorn the ceiling.

The inn has 15 rooms in different styles. Some are painted green like the countryside, while others are pink with floral curtains.

During the peak season, usually from April to July, guests must book ahead.

Address: No. 289, BaileqiaoTel: (0571) 8696-8921

Price: 139-239 yuan

Special service: Free wifi

Getting there: Take Bus No. 7/807/Y1/Y2/Y4 and get off at Lingyin Temple Station.