Tucked away on a narrow hillside road is the charming No. 5 Valley B&B in Yangjiajie, China. The B&B is just 2 km from the breathtaking national park that inspired the movie “Avatar” with its mystical mountains.

No. 5 Valley was constructed in July 2015 and is the B&B for R&R — a rural idyllic getaway for the city-weary traveler. The grounds are surrounded by little farms, a karaoke bar, and a large swimming pool. Guests are welcome to roam and get a peek at residential life. No. 5 Valley welcomes both Chinese and international guests.

The staff at No. 5 Valley couldn’t have been more helpful to us non-Chinese speaking Americans. We showed up pretty clueless and they took care of our every need, from food to transportation to an extra down comforter when the autumn weather turned chillier.

Breakfast is included and dinner is optional. No lunch is served as most guests are out exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park during the day. The hotel is 90 minutes from the Dayong Airport and 75 minutes from Tianmen Mountain National Park. Transport can be arranged via the hotel.

Now let’s talk about the rooms… The entire five buildings are wood and thatch structures with clay tile roofs reminiscent of Bali. Inside the room you feel like you are tucked away in a log cabin. A few of the 50 or so rooms have wrap-around balconies which offer views of the complex and adjacent farms. Sip local tea and watch the fog roll through the mountains or stroll the winding road to get a view or authentic local life.

The owner, Nancy, and her staff made us feel like VIPs and treated us like family. We were even invited to dine with “the boss” with Chinese and Malaysian media persons. A generous serving of homemade rice wine led to good vibes all around. Our nightcap at the Luna Bar, walking distance from the rooms, ended in sipping wine on the deck and watching a few brave souls belt out their favorite Chinese karaoke songs.

 

  

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