Nanjing Gulou District 5-star Hotels

A visit to Nanjing isn’t complete without staying at the legendary Jinling Hotel. Its history and thoughtful service make it worthwhile. Special thanks to Odette, the concierge, who warmly explained the Executive Floor benefits and even greeted me personally. Matthew’s efficient check-in at the Executive Lounge was smooth, and the 56th-floor breakfast with city views was fantastic. The restaurant manager was also very welcoming. A big thanks to my housekeeper, Xiao Yi小艺! I’ll definitely choose Jinling Hotel again.

For my recent business trip to Nanjing, I chose to stay at the InterContinental Nanjing Zifeng, and the entire experience, from check-in to check-out, far exceeded my expectations. The hotel is ideally located in the heart of the Zifeng Tower area, within walking distance of the subway station, making it incredibly convenient for both business travelers and those wanting to explore attractions like Xuanwu Lake, Jiming Temple, and Laomendong. The room was well-appointed and meticulously maintained. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline and the lake, creating a truly atmospheric ambiance when the city lights came alive at night. The bedding was perfectly soft, allowing me to quickly unwind and fall asleep after a busy day. What truly impressed me the most was Alice from the front desk and her thoughtful service during a swift check-out!

Driven by the excellent food and service at the Horizon Club, I switched from Shangri-La Yangzhou to Shangri-La Nanjing, embarking on another culinary adventure. 1. **Location**: The Shangri-La Hotel Nanjing boasts an excellent location. It's just one subway stop from Nanjing Railway Station, and the hotel is right next to the subway exit, making it incredibly convenient for exploring other attractions by metro. 2. **Guest Room**: A huge thank you to Manager Xiao Jiang at the Horizon Club for arranging the only lake-view suite on the 41st floor and for granting me a late check-out until 3 PM. The room was spacious and bright, with a generously sized living room and bedroom, both featuring full floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of Purple Mountain and Xuanwu Lake. However, as the hotel has been open for some time, the room design inevitably had a few drawbacks. Firstly, there was no separate walk-in closet in the suite; I had to go into the washroom to change. Secondly, the luggage counter was rather small and high, which would be inconvenient for guests with a lot of luggage. Thankfully, the housekeeping staff quickly brought a luggage rack, providing a proper spot for my suitcase. Most importantly, the toilet in the bathroom wasn't separated by a door; it was openly situated next to the vanity, which significantly compromised privacy and convenience. While not a smart toilet, the heated seat was a comfortable touch. 3. **Dining**: The Horizon Club's dining options certainly lived up to Shangri-La's standards, with breakfast, afternoon tea, and happy hour all being very lavish. However, perhaps due to the sheer number of guests, the management felt a bit disorganized. Not only did the kitchen's food quality seem to decline—some dishes were bland, making me wonder if salt was forgotten or if they weren't cooked evenly—but the service quality also appeared to struggle. During breakfast, I asked a Horizon Club staff member if they could get me some Laoganma chili sauce from the downstairs restaurant, but they replied they couldn't leave their post. I then asked a chef, who promised to bring it, but perhaps they were too busy or forgot, as it only arrived after I had finished my meal. It felt like Nanjing's approach was different from Yangzhou's; the upstairs and downstairs restaurants seemed strictly segregated, preventing staff from cross-fetching items. What confused me, though, was that the soup dumplings I ordered and the pan-fried dumplings I picked up were clearly from the downstairs restaurant, as they arrived a bit cold. At Shangri-La Yangzhou's Horizon Club, staff would either ask the chefs or personally retrieve items upon request. Nevertheless, I must say, the à la carte duck blood vermicelli soup, seaweed wontons, beef noodles, and Eggs Benedict at the Horizon Club breakfast were quite good. The next day, when I had breakfast on the second floor, I discovered that, just as other reviews mentioned, the downstairs restaurant offered a much more extensive spread. There was a wide variety of Western breads and pastries, including large and fragrant caramelized egg tarts kept warm in a warmer, maintaining their fresh-from-the-oven quality. They also had trendy items like butter mochi, mochi yolk pastries, and kid-friendly treats like marshmallows, popcorn, and mini cupcakes—my eyes were truly overwhelmed by the choices. The Chinese section boasted delicious handmade soup dumplings, beef potstickers, siew mai, large pork buns, and duck blood vermicelli soup. Even the whole grain options like sweet potatoes and corn looked impressively large and generously prepared. However, when I asked the staff if I could order Eggs Benedict, they said they had never heard of it. Honestly, when evaluating a hotel's dining, I often prioritize whether they offer handmade food, especially at breakfast. I particularly dislike places that are filled entirely with reprocessed frozen foods; it just feels very insincere. Finally, I must also thank Sherry from the hotel's pastry shop for the delicious mini cakes and mung bean cakes delivered to our room. They were a wonderful surprise and a comforting treat after being out. 4. **Scenery**: Of course, a visit to Shangri-La Nanjing wouldn't be complete without checking out their rooftop helipad, but unfortunately, the weather wasn't good, so I missed out on the rumored stunning views. However, what I was very pleased with was the short walk—just a few minutes—from the hotel to Xuanwu Lake. It happened to be the lotus season, and strolling by the lake, I was greeted by the sight of 'lotus leaves stretching endlessly green to the sky, and lotus flowers under the sun glowing with a unique red.' As far as the eye could see, vast expanses of lotus leaves, like small umbrellas, swayed in the wind, creating gentle green ripples. Pink and white lotus blossoms bloomed in profusion, dotted amongst the green foliage, appearing exceptionally clear and elegant. Colorful pleasure boats crisscrossing the lake added a vibrant touch to Xuanwu Lake. In summary, I was generally satisfied with this stay. At check-out, I even received some delightful hotel-made palmiers, which was a lovely touch. I will definitely choose Shangri-La again on my next trip to Nanjing.

The service is amazing, client-friendly and client-oriented. Wonderful breakfast and a swimming pool. My room was so specious, full of light, clean and comfortable, I slept like a baby. Will definitely choose this hotel again when come to Nanjing!

As a long-established five-star hotel, the service is absolutely outstanding – warm, attentive, and professional. The location couldn't be more convenient! The subway station is right downstairs, and Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area is directly across the street. Gulou (Drum Tower) is also very close by, making it incredibly easy to get around to all the major attractions. The hotel's buffet breakfast consistently delivers excellent quality, truly living up to its five-star standard. The views from our floor were unparalleled, offering breathtaking panoramas of Xuanwu Lake and the Nanjing cityscape. The only minor quibble is that the main entrance is at the back of the building, which took a little searching for us first-timers, especially since the front desk is located on the 23rd floor. This made our initial check-in a bit confusing! Despite that, the overall experience was fantastic!

The hotel is conveniently located and easy to find. There's direct underground access from Xinmofan Malu Metro Station on Line 1, and it's just a short walk from there to the hotel. Upon check-in, the front desk informed me my room wasn't quite ready, but they kindly upgraded my room type, allowing for a smooth check-in. While the room itself was satisfactory, there was a noticeable sewage smell coming from the bathroom sink. I contacted the front desk, and they immediately dispatched an engineer who promptly resolved the issue. Kudos to their incredibly swift and effective response! Even when I woke up late on the second day, the front desk proactively called to inquire when I'd like housekeeping service. Overall, this was a very pleasant stay, and I'll definitely choose Ascott for my future stays in Nanjing!

The hotel is located on Rehe South Road in Nanjing's Gulou District. Due to ongoing subway construction right outside the entrance, access is currently a bit inconvenient. The parking lot is conveniently located 100 meters away, just across the road. Our deluxe twin room was 30 sq.m., and the 1.35-meter wide beds were a generous size, making it ideal for families with children. The room's overall design incorporates the brand's signature red as a highlight, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Modern amenities like electric curtains and smart room controls are fully equipped. The hotel has rooms facing either a residential compound or the main road. Given the subway construction below, the rooms facing the residential side tend to be quieter. Service was excellent: the staff were warm and efficient during check-in. A robot promptly delivered welcome drinks to our room, and when our car was blocked in the adjacent parking lot, a security guard quickly arrived to help resolve the situation. Staying at a Mövenpick hotel, we naturally couldn't miss out on their famous Swiss ice cream. At ¥39, it was quite a bit cheaper than the ¥58 we paid at the Mövenpick Hefei two days before. We chose strawberry, and it was absolutely delicious and super sweet. Both the ground floor coffee bar and the third-floor fitness center are outsourced. The swimming pool is divided into four lanes (children's, regular, professional, and training) and can get quite busy. Being outsourced, the gym boasts a much wider variety and greater quantity of equipment than your average hotel gym. A quick tip: remember to collect a voucher from the front desk before each gym or pool visit.

We had a wonderful stay at Central Hotel Nanjing! The staff kindly upgraded our room at no extra charge, and the deposit process was easy and smooth. Housekeeping even made a towel rabbit—such a sweet touch! Breakfast was amazing with a wide variety of delicious options: fresh milk, soya, wantons, soup, stir-fried veggies, and more. We couldn’t resist having several bowls of their wantons in just one morning! Special thanks to Ms. ChunHong Dong, the Golden Cedar Bay Manager, who made us feel incredibly welcomed. Knowing we were foreigners, she personally greeted us, checked on our sleep quality, offered late check-out, and even provided a special menu with more familiar options for international guests. Her recommendation of the local Nanjing specialty, Glutinous Rice Ball (resembling YuHuaShi), was so delightful that I ordered it again the next day. The pizza and Nan Jing Duck Fat Puffy Pie was also excellent. The hotel’s central location made it easy to explore the city on foot. If I return to Nanjing, I will definitely stay at Central Hotel again. Highly recommended!

I must give a huge shout-out to Shine! They proactively contacted me even before my arrival, understood my needs, and upgraded me to a river-view room, ensuring all children's amenities were thoughtfully prepared. On the day of check-out, they again reached out, and upon learning my itinerary, arranged a late check-out for me. Their service truly deserves a five-star rating! **Room:** Extremely clean, with all the children's amenities already set up before check-in. The service was incredibly thoughtful! Guest Services were very responsive and professional. **Breakfast:** There was a conference during my stay, so the restaurant was quite busy. However, food items were replenished promptly, and tables were cleared quickly, preventing any chaos despite the crowd. The quality was good overall. While there weren't many Chinese stir-fry dishes, they offered delicious duck blood vermicelli and plain noodles. The breakfast leans more towards Western style. **Transportation:** A taxi ride to Confucius Temple takes less than 30 minutes, traffic permitting. It's very convenient whether you're driving or taking a taxi. Facing the Yangtze River, I much prefer the comfort and tranquility here compared to the hustle and bustle of the city center. **Fitness Facilities:** The swimming pool was clean and came with a sauna. My only minor gripe is that the pool is a bit small, and it can get quite crowded, making it difficult to swim freely. **Suggestions:** Firstly, when searching on Ctrip for '2 adults and 1 child', standard rooms didn't show up, and if family rooms were fully booked, they wouldn't appear either. I only found this hotel through Ctrip's 'family-friendly hotel recommendations'. Secondly, given that this is a family-friendly hotel, I hope they can display the breakfast price for '2 adults and 1 child' during the booking process. Having to pay separately for a child's breakfast each time isn't a great experience.

I stayed at this hotel during my recent trip to Nanjing for a conference hosted by the Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, primarily due to its convenient location. While the hotel appears to have been around for a while, my overall experience was absolutely fantastic! The service and facilities truly went above and beyond typical five-star standards, completely exceeding my expectations. To my surprise, the room even came equipped with a massage chair – a real lifesaver! After a long day of exploring, sinking into it just melted all my fatigue away. And get this: the toiletries were JURLIQUE! Many genuinely five-star hotels don't even offer such a luxurious provision. During turn-down service, they thoughtfully provided fresh, seasonal fruit and mung bean porridge. Each bite of the fruit was wonderfully sweet and refreshing, truly showcasing the hotel's exceptional care and attention. The attention to detail was simply impeccable. They provided everything from mouthwash to dental floss, and even offered two types of slippers – woven bamboo and cotton. In summer, the bamboo ones were naturally cooler, which was such a thoughtful touch! Next time I'm in Nanjing, I'm definitely staying here again! And I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting the city – you absolutely can't go wrong with this choice!