Datong Yungang Hotel

I had booked the Yungang Hotel, but upon check-in, the hotel kindly upgraded us to the adjacent Wyndham Grand Hotel. While I initially appreciated this gesture, after checking in, I found that Wyndham's management left much to be desired. Firstly, upon arrival, I noticed uncleaned water stains on the sink faucet and bathroom light switch. Later that evening, when I used the hairdryer, dust and lint flew up from the floor, indicating that it hadn't been properly cleaned during regular housekeeping. The breakfast experience was particularly dreadful. Wyndham and Yungang shared a combined breakfast service, with food stations set up at opposite ends of the dining area. Crucially, one station offered several more dishes than the other, and the two stations were at least 50 meters apart. If you sat at one end, getting food from the other was too far. Moreover, it was incredibly crowded, and the hotel did not implement any crowd control measures. If you went to get more food, your table would often be taken by someone else when you returned, and the hotel appeared unconcerned about this issue. In conclusion, while Wyndham's newly opened facilities (hardware) are indeed excellent, the 'soft management' (service and operational aspects) clearly needs significant improvement.

The hotel is situated in Datong City's new district, right next to the Municipal Government and Government Services Center, making it a prominent local landmark. The hotel's decor and interior facilities can only be described as lavish and grand. From the ubiquitous crystal chandeliers to the jade flooring and the exquisitely adorned Mitsubishi elevators, every detail screams luxury and opulence. Their breakfast selection is one of the most lavish I've ever encountered. Beyond the standard offerings you'd expect at a five-star hotel, they serve a plethora of substantial, signature dishes right from early morning. For instance, there's blanched prawns – incredibly fresh and generously sized – and beef stewed with bean curd sticks, featuring substantial chunks of beef. Plus, local specialties like Datong Guoyourou (fried pork), Gan Zha Wanzi (deep-fried meatballs), and Dusi (shredded pork tripe) are also mainstays, available daily. The hotel also boasts a dedicated spa and bathing center. After a long day of sightseeing, it's truly relaxing to enjoy a soak there before retreating to your room. What's more, they provide a full range of L'Occitane bath products. Conveniently, a branch of the famous Fenglin Court Restaurant is right next door. While the main branch is notorious for long queues, you can usually walk right in and get a table here. The rooms are impeccably clean and feature full smart home automation, allowing you to control everything by voice. Upon arrival, the front desk even provided a complimentary upgrade to a high-floor panoramic room. I'll definitely choose this hotel again if I have the opportunity to visit Datong in the future.