Andy and the Teddy Bear Hotel: A Rags to Riches Story

Meet Andy. Owner of the Teddy Bear Hotel in Emeishan, China.

Rags to riches stories are almost always nice to hear. But have you heard one involving Teddy Bears? No, it's not about Beanie Babies, but what I will share is a fascinating story, nonetheless. 

The TBH is tucked in an alley. Once you see this sign, you've made it!

Meet Andy. He is the owner and personality behind the Teddy Bear hotel (TBH) at Emeishan, China. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a sucker for unique experiences, so choosing to stay at this kitschy establishment was an easy sell. However, meeting this charming and remarkable man was the bowtie to the Teddy Bear (man, am I trying way too hard with the Teddy Bear theme ha-ha). 

Trust me. You will see PLENTY of teddy bears lol.

First, let's talk about TBH. Should you find yourself in Emeishan, possibly to do the Emeishan trek, consider a stay at this nice, budget accommodation. Pricewise, it's very affordable. A look in booking.com will show you how it differs from other accommodations there. It is located centrally in the small area that caters to tourists in Emeishan. It's a block away from the tourist information center where you can book tickets for busses that go up the mountain, as well as tickets for any of the two cable cars should you choose to use them. 

They weren't kidding when they said it's the Teddy Bear Hotel!!!

The hotel itself is nice. The rooms have an interesting design. Not just because there are Teddy Bears everywhere, but also because it utilizes French and Chinese influenced decor. The spirit of travelers is similarly omnipresent. Pictures of backpackers adorn the walls, scrawling on their wooden posts from adventurers worldwide create an environment that anyone with wanderlust could appreciate. Then, there's Andy.

You can see people adding their autograph amongst the wooden posts of the reception and dining area.

Andy greeted us when we arrived looking like we had no idea where we were. He spoke in English, which wasn't a shock since other blogs mentioned his family spoke the language, which was nice for a change. He checked us in and showed us to our room. When we had a meal there is when we got to learn about him. Andy was a farmer who wanted more for himself. He opened a restaurant in Emeishan, yet found it hard to compete with so many others offering the same thing within the vicinity. He needed to differentiate himself. An English teacher he knew encouraged him to cater to foreign tourists. Though he was still learning English, he took a chance. Andy and a few others would market to foreigners, waiting at the train station to inform them about their new establishment, spreading the word to other hotels and hostels that had foreigners. Soon, backpackers from all over the world began to stay at his newly converted restaurant, the Teddy Bear hotel. The TBH became known within Emeishan as the foreigner hotel, and he enjoyed the steady volume of varied visitors. The TBH was mentioned in blogs, magazines, and travel books. The farmer took risks, and through his hard work, became a successful entrepreneur. I really admire the courage he had to take multiple risks and change his life for the better. 

Need help getting around Emeishan? Andy has a map for you!

While his "bottom-to-the-top" story was engaging, what truly endeared us to Andy, his family, and staff was just how warm, kind, and generous they were. Andy was a wealth of information regarding the Emeishan trek, which was very helpful in us getting our start on that. We stayed with them during the Mid-Autumn festival and were given moon cakes to celebrate! Andy, who still cooks, offered to cook us some of his specialties and catered to our vegetarian diet. Finally, they even offered to take us to the High-Speed Rail when it was time for us to leave. They went way out of their way to ensure that our needs were taken care of, and then some. This is why I'll always remember Andy and the Teddy Bear Hotel. When I come back to complete the Golden Summit Trek, I will stay there once again, hopefully, to hear more stories from the farmer turned Teddy Bear Hotelier.

Mahalo for all the hospitality. We'll be back!

Do you have similar stories? Have any questions about Andy or the Teddy Bear Hotel? Feel free to share them down below. Light and Aloha!