Wutai Shan's best accommodation lies east of the river along Ming Qing Jie and farther south. High season is May through October, but even then hefty discounts are possible Monday through Thursday.
Numerous small, very inexpensive hotels are further north in the center of Taihuai Zhen, but cleanliness and heating is a problem, so they're only for people traveling on a very tight budget. You'll be approached by hotel touts if you get off the long-distance bus in this part of town. If you do want to stay in the center, the Jinjie Shanzhuang (tel. 0350/654-5568), at the base of the Dailou chairlift in the north of town, offers acceptable accommodations for ¥260. If you arrive from Taiyuan after dark, chances are the bus will pull up outside the Chaoyang Binguan, just below Xiantong Si, where the surly staff will offer you rooms for ¥100 to ¥150 depending upon your bargaining prowess. While the shabby rooms at this place can hardly be recommended, if you're tired and just need a bed for the night, it does at least have hot water and heating.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
