As the May Day holiday approaches, it’s time to update the travel options around Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.
After all, prices for many medium to long-distance destinations are soaring, and I personally feel that staying in Hangzhou is more pleasant. This way, you can avoid the hassles of ticket grabbing and traffic jams altogether.
Today’s article is about the opening promotion for the **Hangzhou Xianghu Free Manor**.
Seeing the name, those familiar with vacation circles should be able to guess something. That’s right, it is a sister facility to the Xianghu Xiaoyao Manor. One is focused on freedom, and the other on leisure, perfectly embodying the essence of vacationing.
We previously covered Xiaoyao Manor, which has received a good reputation since its opening in 2020. With the new Free Manor now available, people have a new option in the same geographical area that offers more updates and better value for money. Moreover, the first promotion of a new store is generally a one-time low price; stocking up means earning more. This time, we also have limited edition coupons for instant discounts of 50 yuan, but they are few in number, so you’ll need to be quick.
Those familiar with Xiyou understand that any hotel we write an entire article about must be one we’ve personally visited. This is to be responsible both to ourselves and to our readers. We made two trips to the Xianghu Free Manor before starting this write-up. We experienced everything we could. Given the initial pricing, it is indeed worth it.
First, let’s talk about the location. The Free Manor is right next to Xianghu Lake, with mountains behind and water in front. In the minds of locals, Xianghu holds a status comparable to West Lake. Surrounded by mountains and lush trees, with little bridges spanning the water, it has a water area of 61,000 square kilometers, almost as large as West Lake, and boasts a beauty that’s strikingly similar.
However, after a few visits, I’ve developed a different perspective: The grandeur and soul-stirring beauty of West Lake contrasts with the peaceful serenity of Xianghu.
Next, I will first share the products, and then elaborate on the opening prices, which are truly worth stocking up on.
1) Xianghu Free Manor Yun Jin King Bed Room/Twin Room for 1 night with breakfast: 649 yuan; Yun Jin King Bed Room/Twin Room for 1 night with breakfast + Xianghu boat ticket for 2 or VIP welcome gift (choose one): 699 yuan.
In fact, these prices can be made even cheaper by 50 yuan with a coupon (details below).
Valid from May 12, 2024, to April 23, 2025, with no price increase during the summer. There is an additional charge of 200 yuan for Friday and Saturday nights and an extra 400 yuan during holidays.
I highly recommend the 699 yuan package, which includes either the boat ticket or VIP welcome gift; I suggest choosing the boat ticket.
The ticket price alone is 55 yuan per person, making a boat ride on Xianghu simply delightful.
Yun Jin is the second-tier room type at Free Manor, with an area exceeding 50 square meters.
The rooms are designed with warm natural wood tones, and compared to the more standard hotel room designs, it offers a stronger sense of design with flowing lines that harmonize with the greenery surrounding it.
Most guest rooms also come with outdoor terraces, allowing guests to immerse themselves in nature effortlessly.
Each room’s bathroom is also equipped with a dry and wet separation, and bathtubs are provided. In addition to normal sinks, there are also vanity tables.
Rooms are also equipped with a Nespresso capsule coffee machine, JBL wireless charging Bluetooth speaker, minibar, and other amenities that enhance comfort.
In fact, this wave of prices can be made 50 yuan cheaper.
By entering the keyword “Xiyou Gift” on the Ctrip app, you can find a 50 yuan instant discount coupon. Those who use it can save an additional 50 yuan. However, there are only 1,500 of these coupons available, so it’s a race against time! Even without the coupon, the prices are extremely reasonable.
Links for bookings:
– 649 yuan per night for Yun Jin King Bed Room: [link]
– 649 yuan per night for Yun Jin Twin Room: [link]
– 699 yuan per night for Yun Jin King Bed Room + gift option: [link]
– 699 yuan per night for Yun Jin Twin Room + gift option: [link]
2) Xianghu Free Manor Ripples King Bed Room/Twin Room for 1 night with breakfast + classic afternoon tea for 2: 899 yuan; Ripples King Bed Room/Twin Room for 1 night with breakfast + western or Chinese set meal for 2 (choose one): 999 yuan; Ripples King Bed Room/Twin Room for 2 nights with breakfast: 1399 yuan.
Valid from May 12, 2024, to April 23, 2025, with no summer price increase. An additional charge of 200 yuan applies for Friday and Saturday nights and 400 yuan for holidays.
The Ripples room is a higher-tier option, larger in area and located on higher floors to ensure a view of Xianghu Lake, with other features being quite similar. Each room has a viewing terrace, combining both lake and garden vistas.
Upon inquiry with hotel staff, I learned that every room type offers a bed addition service (additional charge of 300 yuan, includes one breakfast). So you don’t have to worry if you are traveling with kids.
Additionally, the packages available for the Ripples rooms include afternoon tea/western or Chinese set meals for two.
I’ve already tried the Chinese set meal, which featured authentic Jiangnan flavors made from seasonal ingredients—extremely fresh and tasty.
The western set is equally impressive.
The meal included bread, desserts, avocado energy bowls, mushroom soup, and grass-fed ribeye steak, all showcasing the chef’s commitment to quality.
The afternoon tea is also exquisite, presenting a refined style, a visual and taste delight.
Links for bookings:
– 899 yuan Ripples King Bed Room + afternoon tea: [link]
– 899 yuan Ripples Twin Room + afternoon tea: [link]
– 999 yuan Ripples King Bed Room + western/Chinese set meal: [link]
– 999 yuan Ripples Twin Room + western/Chinese set meal: [link]
– 1399 yuan for two nights in the Ripples King Bed Room: [link]
– 1399 yuan for two nights in the Ripples Twin Room: [link]
Now, let me give you a detailed introduction to the hotel.
The hotel is located by Xianghu Lake, making it not only suitable for self-driving but also very accessible by subway.
You can take Line 1 to the terminal station or take Line 5 like I did and ride a taxi from Jucai Road to the hotel lobby, taking only about fifteen minutes.
To be honest, my impression of Xianghu Free Manor was stunning.
The design team of the hotel is a collaboration between GOA Elephant Architectural Design and MOD Interior Design, blending the beauty of Chinese drama and classic culture with modern design elements. Utilizing the existing topography of the mountains, it creates a canyon-like landscape with tiered waters, rock walls, and vegetation, responding architecturally to the mountains and water, embodying Chinese culture while also catering to modern aesthetic needs.
For instance, the design for the butterfly atrium below drew inspiration from the scene of “Butterfly Lovers” after Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai transformed into butterflies. The beautiful butterfly wings flutter across the sky, creating a photogenic spot.
Moreover, the Free Manor’s facilities are comprehensive, including an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor wading pool, with the indoor pool being temperature controlled.
The gym is spacious, equipped with various fitness machines and even includes a yoga room. According to the hotel staff, an indoor children’s center will be set up, and all facilities will be in line with those of the Xiaoyao Manor, potentially even better.
I previously mentioned the dining options available with Ripples rooms, and I must emphasize again that the dining at the Free Manor is impressive. Let me list them for you one by one.
The Chinese set meal available with the Ripples room is served at the Shiguang Chinese Restaurant. With cold dishes, hot dishes, soup, and staple food, two people will find it more than sufficient, and it will easily feed a family of three or four.
The cold dish duo includes local candied duck and cherry yam.
The hot meal consists of four dishes and one soup: braised sweetfish with spring bamboo shoots, Longjing fried shrimp, Xiaoshan spicy veggies, sautéed garden vegetables, and hand-made fish ball soup with water shield.
Additionally, there’s a staple food, Xiaochuan, and a fruit platter.
Moreover, the environment of Shiguang Chinese Restaurant is fantastic, with a design that mirrors the dynamic beauty of the lake, featuring a winding, wave-like ceiling that reflects the gentle undulations of the lake surface.
On the other hand, the afternoon tea and western set meals are served at the Xiangying Restaurant, where the ambiance is even more pleasant and leisurely, with abundant greenery, making dining a refreshing experience.
The afternoon tea features both savory and sweet items, with beverage choices of tea, coffee, non-alcoholic cocktails, and juice available.
The western set meal should also not be underestimated in portion and quality.
