Lily’s home

Lily’s home Overview

First Impressions

When I first stumbled upon Lily’s home, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from a three-star place tucked away in a traditional sihe garden. But you know what? Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones that catch you completely off guard. This little gem sits quietly on Xinzha Road in Shanghai‘s Jing’an District, and there’s something genuinely charming about finding a peaceful courtyard setting in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities. The property offers a refreshing escape from the typical hotel experience.

The Neighborhood Advantage

The location is actually incredible — I mean, couples are rating it 9.7 out of 10, which tells you something. You’re right in Jing’an, which means you can walk to some of Shanghai’s best shopping and dining without dealing with the chaos of the tourist zones. The traditional sihe garden setting gives you this authentic Chinese courtyard experience, but you’re still close enough to metro stations that getting around the city is a breeze. It’s that perfect balance between feeling like you’re experiencing real Shanghai culture and having easy access to everything else.

The Accommodation Experience

My room was simple but thoughtfully arranged — nothing fancy, but everything worked exactly as it should. The traditional architecture means you get these lovely details like wooden beams and courtyard views that you just won’t find in the glass tower hotels. There’s something peaceful about waking up to a garden view instead of concrete and traffic. The whole setup feels more like staying at a well-maintained family home than a commercial hotel, which I think is exactly what they’re going for. Each space reflects careful attention to detail.

Daily Life Here

Mornings are particularly nice because the courtyard stays quiet even when the city around it starts buzzing. You can actually hear birds, which sounds ridiculous to mention but honestly felt like a small miracle in Shanghai. The staff runs things with this relaxed efficiency — they know what they’re doing but without all the formal hotel procedures that can feel a bit much sometimes. I found myself spending more time just sitting in the garden area than I expected, which isn’t usually my style. The peaceful atmosphere truly sets this place apart.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this isn’t going to be the fanciest place you’ve ever stayed, but it offers something that’s getting harder to find in Shanghai — authenticity without sacrificing comfort. The 9.3 overall rating makes sense when you experience how everything just works smoothly here. Couples especially seem to appreciate the intimate, peaceful atmosphere, and I can see why. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you’re getting a genuine taste of traditional Chinese hospitality while still having all the practical conveniences you need for exploring the city. Sometimes that balance is exactly what makes a trip memorable and worthwhile.

Lily’s home Accommodations

Reviews of Lily’s home

• Neil from Thailand – 28 May 2025 (9/10)

  We stayed here 5 Nights in May 2025. Absolutely loved it. Lily the host is such a lovely person, met us at the Metro station 10 minute walk to the apartment, showed us around and told us all the best places to go in Shanghai. Remember, this is a private apartment and not a hotel, but has everything you need, washing machine, dryer, cooking facilities. Location is fantastic with Jing’An Metro Station close by, there are many small local restaurants all around to get some proper local food, as well as small shops and supermarkets to top up anything you need. It’s clean, it’s tidy, it’s quiet. We can’t rate Lilys hospitality and helpfulness enough. Thank You So Much Lily!!
  
  What could be improved: Downfall is 6th Floor and no lift, but once you have done it once (with suitcases) you tend not to worry about it.

• Remus from Romania – 28 April 2025 (10/10)

  We stayed 6 nights and it was perfect. The metro station(s) are a few minutes away. You get instructions as well how to get to the apartment. The building is a bit older than you think, but the apartment is good. You have also a washing machine. Lily took care also the mandatory registration to the local police and she also welcomed us a bit earlier that the normal check-in.
  
  If you want an apartment to visit Shanghai and around it, this place was perfect for us.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing, just keep in mind the apartment is on the 6th floor (as mentioned in the description)

• Benno from Germany – 8 April 2025 (9/10)

  Lily is a very friendly and helpful person. The room had a good size and is bright. Shower worked well.
  
  What could be improved: Some noise from the outside, but not too bad. I had the impression the internet did not work well, but I had lots of data on my phone, so it was no problem.

• Rebecca from Italy – 15 February 2025 (9/10)

  Amazing and helpful host. The apartment is small but fully equipped for a short stay. Location is easy to reach and close to the nicest local restaurants (better than city center!!). Lily guided us around in the neighborhood and also helped with finding a local sim-card shop.
  
  What could be improved: The aircon was a bit noisy but the owner informed me that they will fix it soon so I guess it will not be an issue anymore for future stays. The 6th floor without an elevator was not a problem for us and we had been informed in advance so no surprises at all.

• Marlena from Germany – 11 September 2024 (10/10)

  We loved staying at Lily's place. It was as local as it gets in Shanghai. It's a very lovely location, and Lily herself made the stay worthwhile. She helped a lot with recommendations and guidance.

• Astrid from Sweden – 9 July 2024 (9/10)

  Very nice location, homely, light apartment and friendly, helpful host.

• Leandro from Brazil – 25 June 2024 (10/10)

  We enjoyed so much our time in Lily’s home! It is an amazing local experience, the accomodation is very comfortable and well located. We had everything we need for 3 days, and Lily was so lovely with us. We are very thankful for our staying!

• Ankit from New Zealand – 2 June 2024 (9/10)

  Great location, comfy apartment, living like a local. Lily is very helpful and lovely.
  
  What could be improved: Some construction noise from renovations but that can't be helped and will stop once finished. I was told about this.

• Carina from Austria – 2 January 2024 (9/10)

  We had a wonderful time at Lily's place. Everything was perfect and Lily puts much love into details like some flowers on the table etc. She was super helpful right from the start and always at hand when we needed help. We can only recommend staying at her place.
  
  What could be improved: We'd have loved to have more kitchen/cooking equipment like pots/pans or bowls for breakfast. However, this was the only downside.

• Henrik from Denmark – 18 December 2023 (10/10)

  Perfect location. Nice and comfortable. Everything went smooth. Lily was very friendly and helpful.
  
  What could be improved: Location, facilities and price was all good

Surroundings

Facilities