This is a rough guide of our favourite hotels from our
travels around China.
Firstly I should start with we are not that picky. We like
hotels that are cheap, clean, well located, and have easy internet access. Anything
else is a bonus.
We have only included hotels we liked. If we thought they
were okay, we left them out, thinking you would be better off trying a random
one on CTRIP or ELONG.
Take our advice as trying to help, but at your own risk.
Beijing
Home Inn Dongzhimen
Location, location, location. Right next to major subway
station, bus terminals (to the Great Wall etc). Sanlitun and some tasty restaurants
(our Sanlitun food guide) are just a walk away.
Chengde, Hebei
Bifeng Hotel
Short walk to the glorious Chengde Mountain Resort, our room
had mirrors on the ceilings. Tip: Don’t be late with your time of arrival. We
were 30 mins late and the receptionist seriously considered cancelling our
booking! Note: the entrance is around the side/back from where you would
expect.
Chengdu, Sichuan
Home Inn People’s Park
Next to the charming People’s Park that is lovely for a
sit-down for a pot of Sichuanese tea. The café in the hotel does a good beef noodles.
Dongsheng, Inner Mongolia
Hongye Hotel
A great stop-off point for viewing the wonders of Ordos. The hotel has close bus connections to Ordos,
and if you walk east, you can find the heart of the city, with charming restaurants
and a big public square.
Guangzhou, Guangdong
Guang Dong Bai Yun City Hotel
A little noisy next to the train station, but near the
wonderful Yuexiu Park,
which I can walk around for days.
Hong Kong
Silka West Kowloon
If you want a step up from Chungking Mansions, this is the
place. Cheap (for HK), close to the subway, and a moderate walk to sites
including the Temple Street Night Markets. Great breakfast.
Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan
Youu Hotel
This quirky hotel/hostel is pretty, with interesting
furnishings, friendly English speaking staff. Short taxi ride to Jiuzhaigou.
Kashgar, Xinjiang
Seman Hotel
This oddly named hotel has some great qualities. Nicely
located, a wonderful restaurant with healthy safe-to-eat food, and they organise
trips to the Himalayas and bordering countries.
HOWEVER, nearby is a Pakistani restaurant that is
recommended in some guidebooks. As seasoned Chinese travellers, we went there,
had the meat dish and were VIOLENTLY ill
for 2-3 days, and remained sick for a week.
Qingdao, Shandong
Starway Hotel
Qingdao Beer
Museum
Well located for the Beer
Museum, an extensive street market
and vendors who will happily sell you beer in a bag, this hotel is cheap and
has great service.
Sanya, Hainan
Huaxin Hotel
5 minute walk to beach, fresh fruit in the room each day.
Yum! Note: Staff very inexperienced about registering foreigners to stay.
Shanghai
Starway Jiaxin Hotel
This isn’t a hotel for someone who wants to be in the centre
of Shanghai. It is about 15 minutes
from the centre, right next to two train lines. What I particularly like about
this hotel is its surroundings. Walking around nearby will take you to a wide
variety of restaurants. (Fast food close by, Chinese different cuisine if you
go further) Avoid hotel breakfast.
Turpan, Xinjiang
Name unknown
Go to the Turpan bus station, and on Lao Cheng Xi Lu go west
100 metres. The hotel is on the north side of the street, roughly opposite the
market entrance.
Good air conditioning (a must for Turpan’s 45C summer), cheap
(RMB150/night for 2 rooms shared by 5 people), and well located opposite the
main markets.
Xiamen, Fujian
Gulang Villa Hotel
Relatively expensive yes, but Gulang Villa Hotel is located
on an island with a lovely European village-feel. Surrounded by fish restaurants,
it is a great place to get away from people (in winter at least, it’s probably
packed in summer!)
Yangshuo, Guangxi
Yangshuo Regency Holiday Hotel
Well located, stunning views out your window and a solid breakfast.
