Nanjing Gulou District 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.

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.

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 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!

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!

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 in a good location, close to Jiming Temple and Xuanwu Lake. Although the room is relatively small, it is very clean and tidy overall, and the windows can be opened for ventilation, which is very good. There is a little fat brother at the front desk (I didn't see the name tag) who is really excellent. When I checked in, I put forward my room requirements, and he was able to quickly give a check-in plan, which is rare, because many five-star hotel front desks are also easy to give the wrong room after taking up their posts, because it is really not easy to match the room type, floor location and requirements. This brother is definitely a master of business 👍👍👍

The hotel is located near Gulou Square, with good geographical location and convenient transportation. It is close to Zifeng Tower, Shiziqiao Food Street and Wuyue Plaza, which can meet various food needs. Xuanwu Lake Park is also not far away. The only problem is that it is not easy to find. You have to come in from the alley leading to the north campus of Gulou Hospital and have the same front desk as GreenTree Inn. The hotel is newly renovated, and its style is similar to that of a certain season. I booked a 1.5-meter king-size bed room, and the front desk lady helped me upgrade it to a 1.8-meter king-size bed room for free. The room is generally comfortable, of a suitable size, and the bed is also comfortable. The only drawback is that the bathroom door opens right in front of the toilet, which is a bit cramped. The glass door of the shower room does not block water very well, so there is water all over the floor after taking a shower. There is also no marking on the switch panel to control anything, so turning on and off the lights is like opening a blind box every time. Overall, I am quite satisfied!

Amazing hotel with excellent cleanliness and a strategic location. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, especially the front desk agent, 丽姐. She was a lifesaver when we forgot our belongings. She assisted us in arranging delivery to the airport seamlessly. Thank you so much, 丽姐! We will definitely return for our next trip. Highly recommended for anyone looking to stay in this hotel

The room is very quiet and the environment is very good. The laundry room and gym are on the 5th floor. The laundry room has a dryer. It is very convenient for business trips. The front desk staff is also very welcoming.