Happy caring hosts Beijing

It has been a fantastic experience staying at Lucy's home. Admittedly, I have gotten way more out of this than originally expected from a homestay arrangement - hence my longer than usual review here.

Lucy is a phenomenal host and very experienced - apparently she has been hosting guests for ~20 years now. She is very friendly, and is always willing to go above and beyond to help. She offered to pick me up from the airport at a very nominal rate, which eased my into transition into China. She helped me with small things like booking tickets to major tourist locations whenever I struggled to do so given many such websites are in Mandarin only, or even ordering takeouts via the Meituan app. She also offered a public transportation card (subway+bus) that became my primary way to move around in my ~2 weeks there. The subway is super convenient: subway connectivity is probably one of the best in the world, and maps are clearly detailed at the stations, particularly helpful if you don't read Chinese. Lucy's home is a mere 10 mins stroll from the nearest subway station (Huixin Xijie Nankou). Download the "A Map" app, works so much better than Google Maps in China.

I also feel Lucy makes an excellent 'unofficial ambassador' for Beijing and China - she willingly engages and shares her perspectives on many different things about China. Sometimes, certain things we hear or read from the international media may not truly reflect realities on the ground. She even allowed me to tag along for her daily badminton games at a nearby badminton hall. Quite a delightful experience to have that opportunity and also to mingle with regular Chinese people. Most of my encounters with Chinese people have been friendly and respectful despite the language barrier.

You should definitely consider selecting this if 1) you are keen to learn more about Beijing, China and the Chinese people, by being close to-the-ground & having a lot more interaction with locals, 2) you are willing to slightly trade off the comforts of a luxury hotel to experience how regular Chinese people live in their homes.

Many thanks again Lucy! Will come back to visit again one day.

Lucy is an outstanding host and when she says, "No problem", she means it. She helped us so much, from picking us up from the airport, walking us to various places, taking us to the Great Wall, ordering taxis when needed and introducing us to local foods. She went above and beyond our expectations and I actually feel like she has become a "sister" from another country. She is kind, generous, and very helpful. She even let my husband play badminton with her at the gym facility. If you desire an authentic experience when visiting Beijing, this is where you'll have it! Thanks for everything, Lucy.