BBIGyuanyuanyuanyuanyuanRoom: Very spacious, consisting of a dining area, living room, bedroom, two bathrooms, and a terrace. It was comfortable for three adults (though the extra bed in the living room was not very comfortable and not recommended for those with back problems).
Decor: As a historic hotel, it's generally well-maintained. Although half of the rooms are currently undergoing renovation, my room was not affected – I neither saw nor heard any construction (I had specified my room preferences when booking on Ctrip and also emailed the hotel in advance).
Room View: My room was on the 4th floor, which didn't have as good a view as the same room type on the 2nd or 3rd floors (the eaves above obstructed part of the view), and nearby pillars also blocked some of the scenery. It wasn't as good as the standard sea-view rooms at Tanjung Wing, but overall it was still very open with both sea and tree views. For watching the sunset, we'd go to Coco, so it didn't really matter.
Room Location: The Tanjung Wing is quite a distance from the jetty/front desk/Shang Palace (Chinese restaurant). Although buggy bus service is available (by calling room service), during peak hours (12 PM / 3-4 PM), there are fewer buggies, leading to long waits, which is quite inconvenient. Once, I waited half an hour for a buggy from the jetty back to my room.
Restaurants: The breakfast restaurant offered a good variety, but it didn't change much. After eating there four times, there were basically no variations, so it could get repetitive if staying for a long time. It was also very crowded during peak hours. We tried Shang Palace once; the food was delicious, but the air conditioning was very cold, so an extra layer of clothing is recommended. Coco offered afternoon tea as part of the executive lounge benefits; the food was decent, and the location was excellent for watching the sunset.
Service: Overall, the service was quite good, with a few highlights. Firstly, executive rooms included a complimentary airport drop-off. Secondly, the hotel's jetty was very convenient for trips to nearby and distant islands, and they provided comprehensive gear (life jackets/snorkeling equipment/towels, etc.), which was a great experience. Thirdly, the lounge was excellent, available for use both before check-in and after check-out, which is very convenient for red-eye flights.
Overall, I'd give the hotel an 85-90 out of 100. There's room for improvement, but in Kota Kinabalu, I don't think there are any better options.
Chinese Service: When booking, I assumed many hotel staff would speak Chinese, but in reality, very few could communicate fluently in Chinese. So, if you don't speak any English, your stay experience will definitely be affected (e.g., when participating in water sports).
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