Friends who were looking for a hotel in Hangzhou recently are really in for a treat!!
Today, the hotels in Hangzhou have rolled out packages that offer excellent value for money. I’m planning to stock up on a few for when my parents come to Hangzhou.
The hotel itself is fantastic; it’s an established five-star hotel in Hangzhou, not to mention it’s part of the Huanglong Hotel and Tourism Management School that nurtures talent in the hospitality industry.
How should I describe the historical significance of this hotel? Back in the 1980s and 1990s, no Hangzhou resident could refuse an invitation to dine at the Huanglong Hotel. Even now, the buffet at Huanglong Hotel is still renowned within the Hangzhou hotel circle.
If we delve into the history of the Huanglong Hotel, there’s a lot to cover. It was the first joint venture star-rated hotel in Hangzhou and served as a window for Hangzhou residents to connect with the international world, setting a pioneering example in various aspects of the city’s ambiance.
Previously, we recommended three classic hotels in Guangzhou: the White Swan Hotel, China Hotel, and Garden Hotel; the Huanglong Hotel has also been around for 36 years, just a few years younger than the “Three Gems of Guangzhou.”
However, when choosing a hotel, you should not just consider its history. Comfort is the primary requirement. Huanglong Hotel began renovations and expansions in 2007 and underwent another round of maintenance and upgrades at the end of 2022, preserving its original charm while modernizing its facilities, so there’s no need to worry about the hotel being outdated.
The **Elegant Suite** package is available through Ctrip.
The location of the hotel is also worth mentioning—it’s just a short walk from the A2 exit of the Huanglong Cave metro station.
It’s next to the West Lake scenic area and near Baoshi Mountain, where you can see the Baoguo Pagoda directly. A pleasant walk along the Baoshi Mountain Greenway leads you to attractions like Huanglong Cave and the Baopu Dao Temple. Additionally, the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Theatre is just 200 meters away, located diagonally opposite.
With its excellent location, delicious food, and prestigious history, regardless of your reason for selecting a hotel, the Huanglong Hotel is a great choice. The package is valid until the end of the year, and the pricing rules are very friendly—only during the National Day holiday are there five days requiring an extra fee. If you’re planning to visit Hangzhou in the latter half of the year, make sure to book!
Today, I have three great packages to discuss, all very affordable.
1) **Huanglong Hotel Comfortable King/Double Room Package**: 1 night with breakfast + afternoon tea for two + seasonal fresh fruit upon arrival, starting from 699 CNY. Valid until December 31, 2024. No price increase during Mid-Autumn, weekends, and summer vacation; for the period of October 1 to October 5, an additional 500 CNY per night is required.
Actually, the price for a similar room with double breakfast on OTA platforms is already in the four-digit range, while the afternoon tea for two included in this package costs about 468 CNY on Ctrip.
So, adding up the rights included in the package would cost around 1500 CNY, but our package is only 699 CNY.
The Comfortable rooms, while basic, start at 35 square meters, offering a decent amount of space. If you’re lucky, you might get a room facing Baoshi Mountain, which is quite refreshing.
The overall design of the room is elegantly vintage, with simple yet layered beige wallpaper paired with deeper wood tones, striking a balance between modernity and understated elegance.
The hotel’s toiletries are from Appelles, a high-end essential oil skincare brand from Australia, which smells delightful.
While the welcome fruit is seasonally appropriate, it’s quite clever that the accompanying plate matches the design on the greeting card… there are many thoughtful details within the room worth exploring.
**Links for room bookings**: King Bed link: | Twin Bed link:
2) **Huanglong Hotel Cuilake Camping Deluxe King/Double Room Package**: 2 nights with breakfast (can be split) + seasonal fresh fruit upon arrival, starting from 1299 CNY. Valid until December 31, 2024. No price increase during Mid-Autumn, weekends, and summer vacation; for the period of October 1 to October 5, an additional 500 CNY per night is required.
The camping rooms have become quite popular on social media, directly merging outdoor experiences with an urban hotel vibe, making them attractive for many young people looking to take photos here. I believe young people will really enjoy this room type with its modern, youthful style.
The entire floor also has a small common area, which is a perfect social spot for younger guests. Features like hiking poles and backpacks are creatively displayed on the wall panels, adding to the ambiance.
Inside the room, simple tatami layouts effectively divide the areas into a relaxation zone, camping zone, and sleeping area, adding outdoor elements while ensuring comfort. For instance, top outdoor brand Snowpeak’s picnic tents, storage boxes, and lounge chairs are integrated into the design.
The room’s color scheme leans towards earthy tones, reflecting natural elements like soil and rocks.
**Links for room bookings**: King Bed link: | Twin Bed link:
3) **Huanglong Hotel Luxurious King/Double Room Package**: 1 night with breakfast + seasonal fresh fruit upon arrival + buffet dinner for two, starting from 1399 CNY. Valid until December 31, 2024. No price increase during Mid-Autumn, weekends, and summer vacation; for the period of October 1 to October 5, an additional 500 CNY per night is required.
The Luxurious King room is the third tier in the hotel, with an area ranging from 46 to 51 square meters, offering spacious and well-lit accommodations.
The calendar price for a similar room with double breakfast is over 1300 CNY, which effectively makes the buffet dinner complimentary.
This buffet dinner is quite valuable; individual pricing is also fairly high, often around 438 CNY per person. It features a wide variety of authentic seafood and high-end dining ingredients, with the current season allowing for a feast of crayfish. When crab season arrives, the focus will shift to all-you-can-eat hairy crabs (which everyone knows are quite pricey and worth it).
**Links for room bookings**: King Bed link: | Twin Bed link:
This pricing is truly explosive! I initially thought about omitting one of the packages, but I found it hard to part with any. Ultimately, it depends on individual needs. The reason Huanglong Hotel has thrived in Hangzhou for decades is due to its unique charm.
As one of the earliest star-rated hotels in Zhejiang, it has witnessed Hangzhou’s rapid development over the past 30 years. In the 1990s, it was a starting point for many Zhejiang entrepreneurs. The hotel has embraced the changes of this great era alongside the city, becoming a memory for the old residents of Hangzhou.
The hotel began renovations in 2007, back when 4G networks were not yet available, and it had already begun exploring “smart hotel” concepts. The functionalities that might seem ordinary now were remarkably advanced over a decade ago; some features still reflect their early “smart” origins.
For example, after guests swipe their key card in the elevator, the system automatically detects their room card information when they exit, lighting up directional signs to guide them to their rooms without navigating the twists and turns of hotel corridors. Furthermore, when you’re watching TV and someone rings the doorbell, the peephole camera can instantly display the image on the TV screen. These features have been in place for over a decade and are still quite rare even today.
The overall design of the hotel creates a shape resembling the character “品,” with several buildings surrounding a garden. The recent heat wave has prevented opportunities to explore the classical garden charm.
I have a great appreciation for the landscape design here, with various pavilions, towers, buildings, and bridges surrounding the fish pond, creating winding paths to engage with the surroundings. Visitors can also see many koi fish that approach when you get close.
The architecture was designed by Mr. Cheng Taining, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who cleverly incorporated the concept of negative space from Chinese painting, resulting in a perfect balance. The entrance sign displaying “Leisurely See the Southern Mountain” is a design philosophy of Mr. Cheng, personally written by calligraphy master Zhao Puchu.
**Lifestyle**: Art is not only a vehicle for beauty but also one of the core aspects of Huanglong Hotel’s brand. Over the years, the hotel has evolved into a lifestyle-focused hotel, showcasing artistic installations, floral designs, and exhibition planning. However, due to space limitations, I won’t delve deeper into these areas today.
On the right side of the lobby, there is a Huanglong Lifestyle Gallery that frequently hosts exhibitions; recently, they held an exhibition related to weddings.
Walking further leads you to the art corridor. Since 2010, the Huanglong Hotel has collaborated with the Hangyang Art Center of the China Academy of Art, and it has already been 14 years. Rumor has it that the hotel has been compiling works from these years and might even publish a book.
At the end of the art corridor, there’s a small art gallery open for hotel guests to visit for free. The hotel often hosts art salons and cultural exchange events.
Surrounding the garden, there is a circle of third-party merchants with many popular restaurants, like Su Mian Fang and Yu Ling Long.
For example, Yu Ling Long, a Zhejiang cuisine restaurant, features an interesting design that boldly merges Eastern and Western elements with vibrant colors, creating a rich ambiance. The food here aligns perfectly with my taste; I recommend the crispy chicken, golden seafood tofu, secret-recipe pig trotters, pan-seared Australian beef, and pan-seared French foie gras.
**Lobby Lounge**: The South Lobby is where regular guests check-in. Upon entering, you can see a “Huanglong” winding through the hall. I initially thought this represented the dragon, but I later learned that it changes annually based on the zodiac (the previous red bunny was very popular).
The lobby lounge is located in a sunken area that perfectly separates noise from the quieter environment, meeting functional needs without obstructing guests’ views of the outside.
We usually enjoy our afternoon tea package here, but if it’s crowded, we might opt for D’Baker. The afternoon tea for two is valued at over 400 CNY, and the portions are generous; the desserts, with their sweet and tangy flavors, are particularly recommended.
**D’Cafe**: This is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant where we have our breakfast and buffet dinner included in our package. As a highly regarded hotel, the food here is not only delicious but also beautifully presented.
The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety, catering to both Western energy-packed breakfasts and comforting Chinese options. I recommend the noodle station; besides the common Yangchun noodles, there are also the unique Biangbiang noodles from Shaanxi. Additionally, popular Jin Yun baked goods are available, consisting of both thick and thin scallion pancakes.
In the evening, the main attraction at the buffet is the crayfish, as it’s the season for feasting on them. The selection ranges from Japanese sashimi to Korean kimchi, French foie gras to imported seafood—an overwhelming array of quality treats!
Crayfish come in various flavors; traditional steamed, garlic, and thirteen-spice are no longer sufficient for everyone’s taste buds. Therefore, the hotel has launched vodka-infused crayfish, using spirits to eliminate odors, kill bacteria, and enhance flavors, creating a unique boozy taste that’s perfect for summer.
**D’BAKER**: Positioned opposite the all-day dining restaurant, D’Baker is a bakery operated by Huanglong Hotel. During the 2016 G20 summit, the Huanglong Hotel provided bakery supplies for key foreign affairs events, showcasing the bakery’s level of quality.
D’Baker’s products are all handmade, emphasizing quality ingredients and authentic flavors.
