Mind your own business and check out the Hyatt Place Nanjing Zhongshan Scenic Area.
This hotel gives off a "don't mess with me" vibe. Taking a taxi in requires scrutiny and registration by the gatekeeper. Similar to the Beijing Sanlitun Hyatt Place, it's located within a heritage conservation area. At first glance, the building's exterior doesn't exactly scream "hotel."
The courtyard houses three Republican-era buildings, each a blend of Chinese and Western styles, featuring a hip-and-gable roof and attached pavilions. These officially designated heritage structures, with their simple and dignified design, are arranged around a central garden in a triangular formation. One building serves as the reception lobby and public area, while the other two have been converted into guest rooms, accessible only with a key card. The Globalist benefits were underwhelming, limited to free breakfast and a one-level room upgrade.
Due to the renovation of these old buildings and the reconfiguration of the interior spaces, the original layout has resulted in more than a dozen different room types, each with only minor variations. However, they are generally compact and cramped, with windowless bathrooms and no bathtubs.
Initially, I was assigned a room in a corner of the second building. The window overlooked a dense canopy of trees, and the bedding was slightly damp. I later switched to a sunny garden-view room on the first floor of the third building. While the view wasn't as impressive, the room was comfortably dry and considerably more spacious. The interior decor followed the typical Hyatt Place aesthetic. However, despite being a double room, there was only one chair and no other seating, which was puzzling.
The next morning brought a drop in temperature and rain. Umbrellas were available in the lobby, but the walk to the first building in the cold rain was still challenging. Perhaps a covered walkway should be considered. The breakfast, unfortunately, didn't quite live up to the elegant interior decor. It was limited in both scale and variety, creating a strange dissonance, like enjoying a crumbly pastry in the Palace of Versailles.
That said, the hotel's prime location, nestled against Zhongshan Mountain, makes it ideal for first-time visitors to Nanjing. The entrance to the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and Meiling Palace is a short walk away, as is the Nanjing Museum. Slightly further afield are the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and Linggu Temple.
Finally, the hotel's public areas and courtyard are undeniably beautiful. If it weren't for the self-service laundry tucked away in a corner, I would have almost forgotten that this is essentially a budget hotel. It perfectly aligns with my personal aesthetic, from its location to its decor, both unique and unconventional. Having just opened at the end of last year, everything is still brand new, making it well worth a try.
Room Details:
Room Number: 3107
Official Name: Superior Garden View King Room
Size: 30 sq m
Mattress: Sealy
Bedding, Linens, and Bathrobes: Canasin
TV: Hisense
Smart System: Xiaodu
Toilet: Electric
Hair Dryer: Dyson
Toiletries: Large bottles of Portico Verbena
Electric Kettle: Tonney
Capsule Coffee Machine: Nespresso
Coffee Capsules: Peet's (2 capsules)
Tea Bags: Tenfu Tea
Bottled Water: Bama Platinum Spring Water (Hyatt Place custom)
Minibar: Complimentary