Garden Hotel SUZHOU

Nanyuan Hotel My trip to Suzhou and my stay at Nanyuan Hotel had a bit of a bumpy start. I had originally booked a package through Ctrip for the Xiangqu Tower at Nanyuan Hotel, but something unexpected came up at home. I submitted an explanation through the backend and called the hotel. They immediately helped me cancel the reservation and even told me that I could rebook anytime before the end of the year if there was availability, welcoming me to visit Suzhou. I was so grateful! Even though I couldn't go then, it warmed my heart. Plans often change, and the situation at home quickly improved, allowing me to travel as originally planned. I hurried to rebook, and this time I chose the newly renovated building at Nanyuan Hotel, the Yingjie Tower. After checking in, I knew I made the right choice – it was fantastic. Everything was perfect. Location: I'm not sure if it's considered convenient. It's a bit of a distance from the subway station. However, the hotel has a bus stop right outside (Wangshi Garden Bus Stop), with buses that go directly to the museum. It's also very close to Wangshi Garden; you just cross the road from the hotel and walk about 50 meters. For dining, the hotel has its own restaurant, and there's also the Black Pearl restaurant, Kimpton Bamboo Grove Restaurant at Kimpton Bamboo Grove Hotel, within walking distance. I went to this restaurant twice during my stay, haha. Ambiance: It's a garden-style hotel, with the buildings nestled within the garden. Currently, there are three buildings available for guests: Xiangqu Tower, Yuejie Tower, and the Lixi Pavilion, which was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's villa (I plan to book this one next time). I booked a king-size room this time, located on the first floor with a garden. Although the weather was a bit hot and I didn't go out, the view from inside the room was quite nice. Biggest advantage: Quiet, extremely quiet. I'm a very light sleeper, and I slept exceptionally well during my days at Nanyuan. The air conditioning was on at night, but there was no noise, which was truly excellent. This is the main reason why I will always choose Nanyuan for future visits to Suzhou! Secondly: The room was well-equipped: a small steam iron (this iron was quite good, with strong steam and quick ironing), and the hairdryer seemed to be a Laifen (comparable to Dyson in terms of airflow, powerful enough). There were also various types of hangers, which was very thoughtful. Needless to say, daily necessities like a refrigerator and kettle were also provided. The toiletries were also brand-name, so I won't need to bring my own shampoo next time. Breakfast: The breakfast was quite good. Regardless of which room type you stay in, breakfast is served together on the first floor of the building. The noodles are a must-try; each serving is a small bowl, not too much. You can customize it with various toppings. I had a bowl every day, adding braised pork, seaweed, and a few drops of chili oil, haha. A beautiful day starts with this bowl of noodles. Also, the fruit at this hotel is excellent. Kudos to the staff in the catering department who select the fruit. The honeydew melon was soft and sweet, and the cantaloupe and watermelon were both incredibly sweet and fresh. There were also desserts, sushi, and douhua (tofu pudding), which looked good but I didn't try them so I can't comment. There were also several types of yogurt and Yakult at the restaurant entrance, which were very popular. Service: The service was very professional. The hotel also offers a simple guided tour of its internal attractions for guests, with the latest tour starting at 4:30 PM daily. I booked the 4:00 PM tour, and when I gathered in the lobby, I saw that the staff member was a young lady. I casually took a picture, and her name was Song Shanshan. There were four guests in our group at that time. Ms. Song walked us through, explaining about Chiang's former residence, the 571 underground project, and He Yanong's former residence, Mingxuan, which is also the location of the first Garden Night Banquet of Wuzhong style. Her explanation was overall very good, and I'd like to give her a thumbs up too. After the tour, I asked if the hotel made its own mooncakes and was recommended to buy some at the front desk. I bought a box of Nanyuan Hotel's mooncakes, which are Southern-style with several flavors. They tasted good and were very good value for money. The only minor drawback: the bathroom didn't have an exhaust fan. But that's a small issue compared to the many advantages; it's negligible, haha. Anyway, I'm definitely staying here every time I visit Suzhou from now on.

First off, a big thank you to Lü Yaru for her patient and meticulous hospitality. She answered all our questions. My child is a senior in college, and the last time I dropped them off was freshman year. Thinking there might not be another chance, our whole family decided to come this time. We booked the Xiangqu Family Room, which included 3 breakfasts – and the breakfast is definitely worth a special mention. Overall, we were quite satisfied with our stay. We'd previously stayed at Nanlin Hotel, and compared to that, Nanyuan Hotel feels more refined. It also has a good number of historical and cultural relics. Of course, the happiest moment was riding on the back of a scooter through Shiquan Street with my son, and then heading to Fengmen Market. We bought a bunch of food before heading back. I wish everyone a bright future.

Our stay at Suzhou Nanyuan Hotel was fantastic! The room was spacious and comfortable, and the front desk even gave us a complimentary upgrade to a better room type. A special thanks to our guide, Guo Qingna, who made the history of Nanyuan Hotel come alive with her engaging and interesting narration – we were captivated. When we accidentally left something behind, the staff not only found it but also arranged for it to be couriered back to us. Such heartwarming service!

Booking a room during the National Day holiday is an art, and I'm glad I chose the Nanyuan Hotel for its location and reputation – it didn't disappoint. I'd anticipated the rooms might be a bit old-fashioned, but they were actually quite charmingly antique and spotlessly clean. All the amenities, like towels, were meticulously sealed in bags. The hotel's buildings themselves have a rich history, though I was in a rush and didn't get to explore them properly. I hope to have the chance to visit again.

Every staff member was incredibly welcoming and helpful, even holding an umbrella for us when it rained and providing shuttle services. The environment is absolutely stunning; it's clear why many historical figures favored this place. We stayed in Building No. 8, which had been recently renovated. The family room had a sofa bed, but when unfolded, the armrests on both sides were a bit of a hazard as they were easy to bump into. I hope the hotel addresses this, as safety is paramount. Overall, I would still highly recommend staying here!

The front desk service was excellent; the staff were all very proper, even a bit refined. The gentleman who showed us to our room was very elegant, giving off a vibe of a classic five-star hotel. It wasn't crowded during the National Day holiday, and the hygiene was superb. It's the first time I've seen various disinfection and hygiene measures openly displayed, which was very tasteful. The location is also great. Upon checkout, they even proactively informed us that parking was free until the evening.

I was torn between staying at a new hotel in the industrial park and two other excellent hotels downtown. However, after booking, I realized it was a fantastic choice. The hotel itself is a significant historical landmark and a beautiful garden. Our hotel guide, Zhang Ranting, was particularly excellent, explaining the Chiang family villa, the Wuzhong Friendship Palace, and Project 571, filling in many historical details of modern and contemporary history for us. After Ms. Zhang's tour, my family wanted to move directly to the Chiang family villa or Wuzhong Friendship Palace, but there were no rooms available. Oh well, a little disappointment is fine. I'll definitely stay here again on my next visit.

Pros: 1. The environment is excellent, and the location is ideal, perfect for family travel. The hotel's food quality also lives up to expectations. The red soup noodles for breakfast were outstanding. 2. The front desk staff and shuttle drivers were professional and friendly. Cons: 1. The room only had one chair, which is not fitting for a five-star hotel room. There was absolutely no place for two people to sit and relax. During our stay, we asked the concierge to bring our luggage and bags up to the room, and they were placed on the bed? Takeaway bags? Don't they think that's unhygienic? Later, we called housekeeping to have them removed. Maybe she was unhappy about working overtime, but her attitude was lacking throughout. When we then asked her to remove the extra pillows, she said: "If we remove them, our inventory will be messed up." ?? My room only had one chair, and with the extra pillows, there was no space to sit. I was practically kneeling to use my phone... Only after we insisted were they finally removed. These were the only unpleasant incidents during our two-night stay. We hope the hotel continues to improve.

The hotel boasts an elegant environment with a rich cultural heritage. The breakfast spread was delicious, and the dining area was beautiful and perfectly suited my taste. The Suzhou-style noodles were also quite good! My family and I look forward to returning to Suzhou Nanyuan!