Nanjing's BEST Hotel? Hanting Hotel (Shanghai Rd Metro!) - Reviews Inside!
Hanting Hotel (Shanghai Rd Metro, Nanjing): My Surprisingly Okay-ish Stay (Let's Be Real, It Wasn't Perfection)
Alright, folks, strap in. You’re getting the real lowdown on the Hanting Hotel near Shanghai Road Metro in Nanjing. Forget the glossy brochures; I'm here to tell you what it's actually like. And let me tell you, it was… an experience. Honestly, I went in expecting nothing, and I’m leaving with… well, a slightly elevated opinion, I guess? Let’s get into it!
First Impressions (The Good, the Bad, and the Questionable)
First off, the location is gold. Shanghai Road Metro is practically at your doorstep. Perfect for zipping around Nanjing. Accessibility-wise (one of the many hotel facets, I checked), it seemed okay at first glance. There was an elevator (a HUGE plus), but I didn't have a chance to fully test its accessibility for wheelchairs. From the outside looks to me, it seemed like a mostly there kind of effort. I'm not an expert, so bear with me here. My own mobility is mostly okay, so I'm looking at it from my perspective… which is probably a problem.
The initial impression was… clean. I mean, in a very utilitarian, aggressively sanitized kind of way. They're serious about cleanliness, which, in this day and age, I appreciated. The front desk folks were… well, they spoke English, which was a miracle! (or at least, basic tourist-level English). They were clearly trained in safety protocols, so the staff was very serious about the hotel environment.
The Room: Sterile, But… Functional?
My room… okay, let's be honest. It wasn't exactly romantic. There’s no "room decorations", not even a lonely flower. It was all about functionality. Everything was clean (again, can't stress this enough), and the (free!) Wi-Fi worked without a hitch. I’d say it’s a non-smoking room, which is amazing from a health perspective. The air conditioning blasted, and the blackout curtains actually blacked out the light. I slept like a log, which is a win in my book. There's even a desk and laptop workspace situation. But… it just felt sterile. Like a hospital room, maybe. Clean, crisp sheets (thankfully), and a functional bathroom with a separate shower/bathtub. Basic toiletries, but hey, gratis! The bathroom phone? A relic of a bygone era, probably. I could’ve called down to reception from my bathroom. I did not.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The Food Adventures Begin!)
Let's talk food. There was a (small) buffet breakfast. It was… well, a buffet. I could grab a bite to eat. There was an Asian breakfast, which I was slightly afraid to try but had to as that's what was available. I took some soup. I was not the biggest fan of the Asian breakfast. There was some bread, which was nice. I wouldn't drive miles to eat this breakfast, as it was okay at best. There was a coffee shop near here. I was very grateful. I also saw a snack bar on location.
There were restaurants in the area. I found that a la carte was available. I am not the biggest fan of this, but I had to do it. I would have preferred room service. A lot of restaurants were closed during my stay. I was very sad.
Things to Do (Or Not Do, Depending on Your Vibe)
Okay, so… "things to do" within the hotel? Not much. No pool with a view. No spa. No sauna. No steam room. No fancy fitness center. This ain’t the place for a luxury getaway. There's a gym/fitness center, but I did not use it. This is not something I'm really interested in. I'm not sure if it's open. The hotel focuses on practicality and is the place for business.
Cleanliness and Safety: Kudos (Mostly)
They take cleanliness seriously. Disinfection everywhere. Hand sanitizer stations galore. Staff wearing masks (which I appreciated). Room sanitization opt-out? Didn’t see it. Rooms sanitized between stays? Absolutely. Daily disinfection in common areas? You bet. Individually-wrapped food options? Checked. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Mostly observed. They seem like they're trying.
Services and Conveniences (The Bare Essentials)
You get the essentials. Daily housekeeping (thank you, sweet lady!), a safe deposit box, and a luggage storage area. There's a convenience store if you need snacks (or a toothbrush because you forgot yours, like I did). Internet? Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Hallelujah!). Business facilities are basic – a business center with a Xerox/fax machine. The elevator? A godsend.
Getting Around (Smooth Sailing, Mostly)
The metro is your best friend here. Airport transfer is available (for a fee, of course). Car park? Well, it's there, and it's free. I'm a big walker, so I walked everywhere. Taxi service also works.
The Little Annoyances (Because No Hotel is Perfect)
Okay, here's the truth. It's a budget hotel. It’s not fancy. There might be some noise from the hallways. I was in a high floor. The hallways were not the quietest. The elevator was not the quickest. The TV had a million channels, but most were in Mandarin, so I watched Netflix on my laptop. And sometimes, you could hear the traffic from outside, even with the soundproofing.
Final Verdict: Would I Stay Again?
Honestly? Maybe. For a short trip, especially if you're primarily out and about exploring Nanjing, this place is perfectly serviceable. It's clean, the location is fantastic, and the price is right. If you’re looking for a luxurious getaway or a romantic escape, look elsewhere. But if you want a clean, functional base of operations for your Nanjing adventures? The Hanting Hotel near Shanghai Road Metro isn't the worst choice you could make. Just don’t expect any miracles… or a rose on your pillow.
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- Meta Description: Honest review of Hanting Hotel (Shanghai Rd Metro) in Nanjing. Clean, convenient, and surprisingly alright. Find out if this budget hotel is right for your trip! Location, amenities, and food insights, plus a dash of my own hilarious experiences.
- Title: Hanting Hotel (Shanghai Rd Metro, Nanjing): Honest Review - Clean, Convenient…But Is It Worth It?
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-manicured itinerary. This is real travel, Hanting Hotel Nanjing Shanghai Road Metro Station edition. And let me tell you, the "Metro Station" part is KEY. Anyway, here's a glimpse into my gloriously chaotic trip… probably a few things will go wrong.
Day 1: Nanjing - Arrival, Noodle Obsession, and Mild Panic
- Morning (8:00 AM): Arrive at Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG). Everything feels impossibly smooth, a disconcerting calm before the… well, you know. Grab a pre-booked ride (thank GOD for pre-booked). The driver, bless his cotton socks, speaks maybe five words of English, and two of them are "Hanting Hotel!" The other three, mysteries.
- Morning (9:30 AM): Check-in at the Hanting Hotel. The lobby is… functional. Let's be kind. It has a distinct aroma of… well, Chinese hotels. Which is a good thing. It's there. The front desk staff is efficient (and probably judging my horrendous attempt at "Ni hao"). Room is…compact. Think "cozy" with a capital "C." Okay, it's tiny. But hey, it's clean, and the air-con works. Praise the heavens!
- Late Morning (10:30 AM): The real mission begins: finding the best noodles in Nanjing. Forget the historical sites (for now!). I'm on a quest. Armed with Google Translate and a healthy dose of optimism, I venture out. First attempt: a noodle place I found on a blog. The menu? A glorious, indecipherable tapestry of characters. Pointing and hope are my allies. Result? A HUGE bowl of noodles, slathered in a spicy sauce. I think it's chicken, but who am I to judge? The flavor… chef's kiss. Pure, unadulterated noodle bliss. The kind that makes you sweat a little and mumble appreciatively.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Attempt to walk off the noodle coma. The walk from the hotel to the Presidential Palace is good. But there's this street vendor selling fruit skewers next to the entrance to the building. The strawberries were juicy and the pineapple, sweet and all made for the perfect snack. Still, the crowds are… intense. The palace is all grand halls and history, but I'm mostly just dodging selfie sticks and trying not to get lost. Impressive, yes. But definitely fueling my mild panic about navigating a foreign city.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): Back in the hotel, take the opportunity to do laundry, but I had no idea how to even use the laundry machine. After calling downstairs, the staff came up and after a few minutes I had a load of laundry going.
- Evening (6:00 PM): Finding dinner. The language difference is real, so trying to order anything is difficult. I saw a sign with some pictures on them and I went with a picture of a plate of rice. It could've been anything in that photo, but it turned out to be okay!
Day 2: The City Walls, a Taxi Hell, and a Porcelain Tower
- Morning (8:00 AM): Attempt to navigate the Nanjing Metro. (That's what the Metro Station on the hotel name means!) Actually, the Metro is amazing. Clean, efficient, and blessedly air-conditioned. I think it's much easier, and faster than walking, or taking a taxi.
- Morning (9:30 AM): The Nanjing City Wall: Majestic. Imposing. And… a really, really long walk. Great views of the city, though. Definitely worth the climb (even if my legs are screaming by the end). I keep imagining ancient soldiers guarding these walls. Or maybe they're thinking "Wow, this is a long walk."
- Lunch (12:00 PM): After that walk, I'm STARVING. Found a dumpling place near the wall. The dumplings are good, but the real highlight is the communal dumpling-dipping sauce. Delicious and communal.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Attempting a taxi. This is when things turn to a comedy of errors. Google Maps, a friendly phone, and a driver who speaks NO English. We're going in circles. I'm pointing frantically at my phone, which is probably just creating more confusion. Finally, we get to where I think I need to go. I need to find the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): The Porcelain Tower! OH. MY. GOD. This is where the trip goes from "pretty good" to WOW. The reconstructed tower is breathtaking, especially with the sunset. The intricate details, the shimmering porcelain… I could spend hours just staring at it. I am a sucker for beauty and this is it. Seriously, photos don't do it justice.
- Evening (6:00 PM): Back at the hotel, I'm exhausted but happy. Dinner is a less-adventurous affair – some instant noodles from a nearby shop. Comfort food wins. Sleep comes quickly.
Day 3: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Metro Mishaps, and Departure (Maybe?)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Another impressive climb. The mausoleum itself is beautiful, and the gardens are stunning. The sheer scale is awe-inspiring. So many people. I feel a little overwhelmed by the grandeur, and the weight of history.
- Late Morning (11:00 AM): Metro Madness. Trying to get back to the hotel from the Mausoleum… I, for some reason, took the wrong train and ended up a completely opposite direction. At this point, my brain is officially fried. Thank goodness for the Metro maps (even if I had to ask for help to read them).
- Lunch (1:00 PM): Found a small cafe near the hotel. This is the closest to the western food I've had. I'll take it.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Checking out of the Hanting Hotel. The staff is super friendly (and probably relieved to see me go). I'm sad to go.
- Afternoon (2:30 PM): Taxi to the airport. (Pray for me.)
- Afternoon (3:30 PM): At the airport. My flight is… delayed. Of course. Time to people-watch and reflect on a trip that was equal parts amazing and chaotic. Nanjing, you were a wild ride.
- Evening: Departure… hopefully.
The Takeaway: This trip isn't about pristine perfection. It's about getting lost, laughing at my own mistakes, and embracing the unexpected. It's about noodles, incredible sights, language barriers, and the sheer, wonderful messiness of life on the road. Wish me luck with that flight!
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Hanting Hotel (Shanghai Rd Metro!) - Nanjing: Your Unfiltered FAQ Guide!
Is this place actually *decent*? Honest to goodness, like, is it remotely okay?
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room. Hanting isn't the Ritz. You're not getting marble floors and pillow mints (though, honestly, a pillow mint would've been nice one night). It's a budget hotel. Think "functional." Think "cleanish." Think "you get what you pay for... and sometimes a little bit more." Honestly? For the price, it's *generally* okay. I've stayed in far, far worse places. Once, in a hostel in Budapest, I swear the air hung with the scent of a thousand forgotten socks... and that was *after* they'd supposedly cleaned. Compared to *that*, Hanting is practically a five-star resort.
My expectations? Low. My enjoyment? ... Often higher than expected. Especially after a few shots of baijiu, let's be honest.
Right. Location, location, LOCATION! How brutal is the Shanghai Road Metro access *really*?
Okay, THIS is the good stuff. The Shanghai Road metro station? GOLD. Pure, unadulterated, public-transportation gold! Seriously, it's like having a magic carpet but instead of a rug, it's a gleaming, air-conditioned train. You're talking *seconds* away from the hotel entrance. No death marches, no sweating profusely just to reach a bus stop. Perfect for those late-night noodle runs (essential!) or early-morning explorations. I found myself actually *eager* to use the metro. Which, if you know me, is a miracle. I’m usually a walking, grumbling, "I hate public transport" cliché.
Just... watch out for the rush hour. It can get *intense*. I once saw a guy reading a newspaper on a slightly-smaller-than-a-matchbox portion of space. Human Tetris at its finest.
What about the rooms? Are they, like, the size of a shoebox? And are they *clean*?
Shoebox? Potentially. I've stayed in rooms that made a walk-in closet seem spacious. The rooms are compact. Really compact. Don't expect to do cartwheels. You'll probably trip over your suitcase. Pack light, people!
The cleanliness... well, it's a budget hotel. Let's leave it at that. There were definitely cleaner bathrooms that I've seen in my life. But I've also seen much worse. I think the cleaning staff does their best (bless their hearts). You might encounter a rogue hair here or there. Just... mentally prepare yourself. And bring Clorox wipes. Not a bad idea, honestly. I always do.
Breakfast! Is there breakfast? And if so, is it edible? I have standards, you know!
Ah, breakfast. Okay, let's be brutally honest. The breakfast at Hanting? It's... a breakfast. Don't expect gourmet delights. It's pretty much what you would expect for the price. There's usually a selection of congee (rice porridge, the Chinese staple!), maybe some questionable pastries, and some… mystery meats. Proceed with caution.
I’m not going to lie, one morning I saw something that looked suspiciously like a chicken foot in a bowl of… something. I think I stuck to the instant noodles that day. My advice? Embrace the street food. Nanjing is a city of culinary delights. Skip the hotel breakfast (unless you're feeling brave, and then, please, send me pictures!). Wandering out for a bowl of hot and sour soup or some delicious fried dumplings is worth the extra few steps! Trust me.
The Staff? Are they helpful or just... there? And, like, how's the English situation?
The staff? They're generally… there. They're polite, they try, and that's all you can ask for! Don't expect fluent English conversations (this is China, after all). It's a bit of a language barrier situation, yes. But they're usually happy to help with simple requests. Google Translate is your friend. A smile and a "xie xie" (thank you) go a long way.
I once tried to explain that my toilet wasn't flushing. It was a pantomine of frantic waving and increasingly bizarre gestures. Eventually, a very kind receptionist came up, gave me the universal "thumbs up" sign and went in. I'm pretty sure he fixed it. Bless him.
Okay, the WiFi. Is it a torture device designed to test my sanity?
Oh, the WiFi. Ah, the WiFi. This is where things get… interesting. Sometimes it's brilliant. Super fast, streaming videos, answering emails like a boss. Other times? It's slower than a sloth in molasses. You'll find yourself refreshing pages until your eyes bleed.
Bring your patience. Bring a backup plan (mobile data, perhaps?). Or, you know, just embrace the enforced digital detox. Read a book! Talk to people! (Just kidding... mostly). Seriously though, the WiFi can be patchy. Be prepared.
Anything REALLY bad? Like, a dealbreaker?
Honestly? The noise. Road noise. This hotel is on a busy road. It can be *loud*. Especially at night. I'm not a light sleeper, but even *I* had nights where I was fighting off the urge to throw a pillow at the passing trucks (and the occasional karaoke session echoing up from the street). Bring earplugs. Invest in them. You'll thank me. They are your new best friend. Really it might be worth it just for those.
Also, the elevators can be a bit... slow. And small. And sometimes slightly terrifying. But hey, character-building, right?
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Okay, the million-dollar question. Would I stay at Hanting Hotel (Shanghai Rd Metro!) again? Yes. Absolutely, probably. The location is *that* good. You can't beat it. The price is right. I've had some genuinely hilarious experiences there. And those street food dumplings? They are calling.
But... with earplugs, Clorox wipes, and a healthy dose of low expectations. And maybe a stash of instant noodles, just in case. After all, travelling is a journey and not a destination right? And this place helps make a journey a little more, well... memorable.
