Holiday Inn Express Changbaishan

This is one of the more value-for-money hotels within the entire Wanda Resort. The hotel's laundry and drying facilities are quite convenient. Its location at the mini-train's departure station is also very handy, with trains running every 20 minutes. Unfortunately, on the day we booked, all slopes (North, West, and South) of Changbai Mountain were closed, so we ended up making the most of the hotel's amenities.

The accommodation was great, and the environment was lovely. There were plenty of dining options right downstairs. The hot spring water park and all the water activities were excellent, and unlimited rides on the cable car and mini-train were a fantastic perk. While the overall cost isn't low, the complimentary benefits were quite good. For the water activities, you had to queue, but there was a system where you could scan a QR code to join the virtual queue, go enjoy other attractions, and then monitor your progress.

As a solo traveler just passing through to see Tianchi Lake, I wasn't too picky about accommodation. Holiday Inn Express was quite polite; they even called a day ahead to confirm my preferences. I just mentioned I'd like a room with a decent view, and they promised to arrange a mountain view room for me. However, during check-in, they seemed to use someone else's phone number. And upon reaching the room, it turned out to be a 'non-typical' mountain view – literally just a dirt slope right outside the window. I could glance over and see that the rooms next door likely had what I'd consider a proper mountain view. Honestly, that pre-arrival call felt utterly pointless. The room itself was typical Holiday Inn Express business-traveler style. While expected, I genuinely couldn't give it a good review. While Wanda's benefits should have been accessible, my enthusiasm quickly waned when asking the front desk about the shuttle bus – the only answer was consistently 'wait on the main road.' For those willing to do their own research, this place might offer good value for money. But for a lazy weekend warrior like me, a resort like Huamei, which provides all the necessary information upfront, is far more suitable.

On our recent trip to the West Slope of Changbai Mountain, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Wanda Resort. It cost just over 600 RMB per night. The hotel provides a free shuttle service around Wanda Resort and also a separate shuttle to the West Slope. The complimentary amenities were excellent, including evening movie screenings. The kids absolutely loved it!

The rooms were well-appointed and clean. The buffet breakfast offered a great variety, and the overall surroundings were pleasant. The kids especially loved the children's playground in the back garden. Service was top-notch, and the front desk staff were incredibly warm and helpful. While there's no dedicated hotel parking, street parking was always available. Our stay also included complimentary passes to a water park and a sightseeing cable car. Very satisfied!