No need to keep you in suspense! The highly requested Guangzhou is offering good prices today.
This city is worth visiting just for the food, and you won’t get tired of it even after multiple visits.
As a qualified foodie, I can’t count how many times I’ve been to Guangzhou; every visit feels like my stomach is being well taken care of, indulging in morning tea, desserts, porridge, noodles, and all kinds of Cantonese restaurants that leave people feeling comfortable. Walking the streets of Guangzhou doubles the fun, as you find yourself sitting down to enjoy delicious food along the way.
However, everyone has noticed that we haven’t promoted hotels in Guangzhou much over the past two years. That’s because Guangzhou is primarily a hub for business travel, and since the mask mandate ended, hotels have mostly stopped doing promotions.
Speaking of hotels, we have a preference for the “three giants” of Guangzhou hotels. They are the Baiyung Hotel, which opened in 1983, the China Hotel, which opened in 1984, and the Garden Hotel, which opened in 1985.
These three were among the first to be rated five stars, elevating the standard of hotels in Guangzhou. They have witnessed the passage of time and have endured the test of years, showcasing a lot of old Guangzhou charm, and despite being nearly 40 years old, their reputations remain excellent!
We’ve previously promoted Baiyung and Garden Hotel, and now the state-owned China Hotel finally has some offerings!
Hotels in downtown Guangzhou rarely offer promotions, but this time we encountered a special product due to the 40th anniversary of the China Hotel.
Let me highlight why the China Hotel in Guangzhou is worth stocking up on!
First of all, the location is fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!
You can walk to the Nanyue King Museum and Yuexiu Park, which are must-visit attractions in Guangzhou.
The Nanyue King Museum is built on the original burial site, where visiting not only showcases the gold-threaded jade suit and various jade discs but also allows you to truly experience the tomb.
Yuexiu Park has historically been one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yangcheng, featuring highlights such as ancient Ming city walls, the Guangzhoul Museum with its historical renovations, the Five Rams Monument, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial.
The China Hotel is right next to the Yuexiu Park subway station and quite close to the Guangzhou Railway Station. Moreover, it’s also a stop for buses directly connecting to Hong Kong and Macao; I’ve done the Guangzhou + Hong Kong and Macao combo twice, and connecting from Guangzhou for food and fun is much more enjoyable than crossing from Shenzhen.
Secondly, the China Hotel is steeped in cultural heritage, it’s like living within a cultural experience!
There are so many legends associated with the China Hotel: it was the first five-star hotel in the country to introduce foreign investment, it was one of the earliest hotels to adopt the “composite” concept, it hosted the first beauty pageant in the mainland, and it was the prototype and filming location for the sensational television drama “Miss Public Relations.” It also holds two municipal intangible cultural heritage items (the technique for making Cantonese bamboo noodles and Cantonese dim sum) and was listed as one of Guangzhou’s first historical buildings in 2014. Its giant gilded line-engraved mural is a pioneering piece in the history of modern Chinese architectural art…
Of course, the quality of the China Hotel itself is impressive as well!
The hotel features a 24-hour gym, an outdoor heated swimming pool, a sauna, hot tubs, a sky garden, a children’s center, and a library. It also has a unique “disappearing famous dishes” experience hall and a cultural heritage space for Cantonese bamboo noodles. The guest rooms began renovation in 2020, and the facade underwent a half-year renovation in 2023 (using 4,800 grams of pure gold leaf).
Lastly, the products being offered by the China Hotel are excellent, with substantial benefits!
1) A night in a Deluxe King Room/Twin Room at the China Hotel, including breakfast for two + a 500 yuan dining credit (applicable at three restaurants, can be combined), for 999 yuan.
Valid until December 31, 2024, no surcharge during weekends and summer holidays; from October 1 to 5, an additional 1,000 yuan per night will apply. Exclusions are June 28-29, July 12-13, September 12-13, October 14 to November 3, and November 16.
The Deluxe room is a higher category, and typical rates for similar rooms on Ctrip are about the same, but this offer includes a free 500 yuan dining credit, and there is no surcharge during weekends or summer holidays.
While other places might offer 500 yuan dining vouchers, it pales in comparison since this is Guangzhou, known for its exceptional hotel dining. A 500 yuan dining voucher here is essentially equivalent to receiving cold hard cash.
This dining voucher can be used at the Li Lounge’s buffet lunch & dinner, the Food Street’s lunch & dinner, and Four Seasons China’s dinner.
I’ve dined at all three restaurants in the China Hotel, and they exceeded my expectations. Beyond Michelin-starred and trendy eateries, venues like these, where locals vote with their feet, are definitely worth a try. The buffet at Li Lounge attracts many non-hotel guests who specifically come to enjoy it.
Food Street is highly cost-effective, offering a rich selection of dishes, fulfilling all cravings without needing to leave the hotel.
For friends with tight schedules, this means you can eat very satisfying meals without stepping out of the hotel.
Four Seasons China specializes in high-end Cantonese cuisine, reviving many nearly lost traditional dishes with refined presentations, priced similarly to regular Cantonese restaurants in Beijing and Shanghai.
This product is flexible; you won’t lose the booking if you need to cancel, and if it expires, it will automatically be refunded, making it safe to stock up on hotels in downtown Guangzhou. If you find cheap flights, get tempted, plan for a summer getaway with kids, or want to escape the cold weather for some early tea, you’ll have all bases covered! The dining credits can be combined, so if you book multiple nights, you can stack them for a more extravagant meal!
Links for booking the King Room and Twin Room:
2) Two nights in a Luxury King Room/Twin Room at the China Hotel including breakfast for two + a set for afternoon tea for two + an 15% discount at Li Lounge and Food Street, for 1388 yuan.
Valid until December 31, 2024, no surcharge during weekends and summer holidays; from October 1 to 5, an additional 1,000 yuan per night will apply. Exclusions are the same as above.
This product offers incredible value! It’s challenging to find a five-star hotel in Guangzhou for under 1388 yuan for two nights. The nearby Orange Crystal Hotel charges 1000 yuan for two nights. This product guarantees that you will be able to stay during weekends and in summer at this price.
Both the luxury room and the previous deluxe room are 35㎡; the only difference is that the deluxe room has a higher ceiling and better views, but otherwise, they are similar.
I highly recommend the twin room at China Hotel for family outings, with two 1.4m beds, which can easily accommodate two adults and two children.
Both nights include breakfast; the breakfast at China Hotel is hearty, providing a delightful variety over two mornings.
The dim sum and desserts at China Hotel are excellent, meaning their afternoon tea is not just for show or decoration with lots of tasty savory and sweet options. It usually sells for 398 + 15% service charge, which essentially means you’re getting around 400 yuan off.
Afternoon tea takes place in the Martini Bar on the fourth floor, right by the pool, and the ambiance is quite pleasant.
The 15% discount at Li Lounge and Food Street is practical.
When it comes to bamboo noodles and Cantonese pastry, China Hotel has earned recognition for its heritage, so visiting Food Street for a taste is definitely worthwhile. If you wish to indulge in seafood, you can enjoy a buffet at Li Lounge, where seafood is a highlight in their evening offerings.
King Room booking link:
Twin Room booking link:
3) One night in an Executive Suite at China Hotel including breakfast for two + 500 yuan dining credit (applicable at three restaurants, can be combined) + Executive benefits, for 1199 yuan.
Valid until December 31, 2024, no surcharge during weekends and summer holidays; from October 1 to 5, an additional 1,000 yuan per night will apply. Exclusions are the same as above.
This product is an upgrade from the first product to an Executive Suite, which is 55㎡. I personally prefer the design of the suite; it’s trendy and vibrant with a chic orange color scheme. The typical price of a suite is about 400 yuan more than the Deluxe room, but this product only requires an additional 200 yuan for the upgrade.
Suite booking link:
Among the products from China Hotel, the greatest discount opportunity is in product 1, while product 2 offers good value for consecutive stays, and product 3 is suitable for those who prefer larger rooms.
Even if you don’t bother looking into reviews, it’s still wise to stock up, as details still matter.
The China Hotel boasts an impressive 850 guest rooms, making it a significant establishment, and its facade reflects that.
On either side of the exterior are 41.5-meter-high gilded line-engraved murals that are notably significant as the largest architectural sculptures in the mainland; one depicts the theme “Trade Connects All Seas” and the other “Dances and Songs Celebrating Peace.”
Last June, both murals underwent a six-month restoration, covering a total of 1,300 square meters and comprising 109 figures, utilizing 4,800 grams of pure gold leaf through a double-layer application technique to restore the giant gilded lines.
Especially at night, the golden shine is truly mesmerizing.
In many places within the China Hotel, you can see this representative element of “gilded murals.”
For instance, the atrium murals, the second-floor decorative walls, the back wall of the guest rooms, and even the packaging of amenities.
The lobby employs a color scheme of red, yellow, and black, reflecting beautifully on the mirrored glass and marble floors, creating a golden ambiance.
China Hotel excels at innovation, and its newly opened lobby bar adopts a modern minimalist style.
Utilizing STORM coffee machines, of which only three are in China, this is the only one in Guangzhou.
We arrived a bit early, as a new historical and cultural experience area will open soon, providing a systematic introduction to the 40-year history of China Hotel.
The first floor also houses Food Street and the Four Seasons China.
Food Street:
⏰: 11:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00
👍: Old fire soup, Sha Wan ginger milk, Cantonese scallion pancakes, shrimp bamboo noodle wontons, pigeon
💰: Average cost 150+
The decor of Food Street features typical Xiguan style, with traditional lattice doors, redwood furniture, and Guangdong flower-paned windows… preserving the beautiful memories of the older Guangzhou.
Chefs start making dim sum daily at 5 a.m., with bamboo noodles, fish paste porridge, and five-spice salted meat zongzi being the famous trio.
Inside Food Street, there’s a special heritage area for Cantonese bamboo noodle-making, which has been recognized as intangible cultural heritage in Guangzhou.
When the producers from the show “A Bite of China” were filming bamboo noodles, they also shot scenes in Food Street. There is a significant difference between Cantonese bamboo noodles and those from Hong Kong and Macao; the Cantonese version has a lighter alkaline taste and emphasizes a chewy, smooth texture.
The meal we ordered, including service charges, totaled more than 700 yuan, enough for three or four people. The most recommended dishes were old fire soup, Sha Wan ginger milk, Cantonese scallion pancakes, shrimp bamboo noodle wontons, pigeons, and a unique golden crispy chrysanthemum.
The Sha Wan ginger milk in Food Street is made with freshly ground ginger juice, making it spicy and rich. Our photographer had two bowls of ginger milk each day.
The Cantonese scallion pancake is quite different from that of Shanghai, achieving a hollow state in the middle, becoming more fragrant with each bite.
Food Street also features a unique rice cooker pigeon, which is marinated impeccably. If you’re used to crispy-skinned pigeon, you might want to try this different flavor.
The golden crispy chrysanthemum is also a test of culinary skill, fluffy and crispy, perfect as a snack with tea or wine.
The 500 yuan dining credit can be well-utilized in Food Street, but be aware that alcoholic beverages and seafood are not included.
**Four Seasons China**:
⏰: 8:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00
👍: Golden award-winning char siu pastry, dim sum assortment, fish maw soup, stir-fried green yam with grouper balls
💰: Average cost 250+
Four Seasons China specializes in high-end Cantonese cuisine, thus the average cost is slightly higher.
Executive Chef Xu Jinhui has over 30 years of experience and is a distinguished figure in the Cantonese culinary circle with numerous accolades, recognized as a “Michelin-star chef for Cantonese cuisine,” an “Outstanding Chef in Asia-Pacific,” and a five-star chef at Guangdong’s “Cantonese Cuisine Mansion”… He is a trusted figure among locals.
Guangzhou is not lacking in high-end Cantonese dining, but what makes Four Seasons China unique is its collaboration with the Guangzhou Museum. Based on the museum’s collection of Republican-era food recipes and menus, they created a “disappearing famous dishes” series, reviving nearly lost culinary styles.
So far, they’ve released three seasons: the first focused on traditional Cantonese banquet styles; the second emphasized complex craftsmanship; and the third showcased the poetic elements of Cantonese dishes with a section on “disappearing dim sum,” bringing back over 20 dim sum varieties that are now hard to find on the market.
The fourth season has just been launched. These “disappearing famous dishes” are hard to find outside Guangzhou, which is why I strongly recommend that everyone must try Four Seasons China.
The restaurant’s exterior features an experience hall for disappearing famous dishes, offering detailed information. Don’t forget to check it out before you dine!
The private rooms at Four Seasons China are named after the Eight Scenic Spots of Yangcheng from 1963, and each room boasts different murals and tableware.
The menu corresponds to the “four seasons” in the restaurant’s name, including both the main and season-based menus.
To sample a broader range of flavors, we chose the menu-on-site option. The portion sizes in the pictures are for one person, but the actual servings are typically larger.
The dim sum at Four Seasons China is absolutely delectable! The award-winning char siu pastry is a must-try, and you can also order a dim sum assortment. Our picky photographer tasted a selection of dim sum and gave it high praise. The three items from left to right are: layered sea bass puff, Jinling duck yam dumpling, and Xi Shi flour dumpling.
Four Seasons China’s fish maw soup is also layered with flavor, featuring more defined peppery undertones than typical Cantonese seasonings, creating a warm and delightful texture.
The menu is extensive, so you can choose according to your preferences. At Four Seasons China, it’s likely that the 500 yuan dining credit won’t be enough, especially since you’ll probably be tempted to order their intricate dishes.
If you bought the two-night product 1 or product 3, you can combine your dining credits; 500 yuan x 2 equals 1,000 yuan, perfect for a splurge at Four Seasons China. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the dining credit applies to dinner.
The second floor has a banquet hall and the buffet restaurant Li Lounge, where the 500 yuan dining credit is applicable for lunch and dinner.
Li Lounge:
⏰: Breakfast from 6:30-10:00 (extended to 10:30 on weekends), lunch from 12:00-14:30, and dinner from 18:00-21:30.
💰: Lunch 328 + 15% service charge, dinner 428 + 15%.
We typically snap photos of restaurant environments around half an hour before meal times. At Li Lounge, it’s common for guests to start queuing well ahead of mealtimes. There tends to be a line for breakfast, as many hotel guests head out early. Many diners for lunch and dinner are often non-hotel guests, which just shows how good the reputation is.
Though there may be a queue, it doesn’t significantly affect the dining experience, as the restaurant has multiple service counters to ensure patrons can browse and select their meals comfortably without crowding.
The restaurant decorism incorporates Cantonese embroidery and ceramics. A hotel of such heritage is like a local guided tour within itself.
Tables by the windows are delightful but need to be booked ahead of time.
All three products include breakfast at Li Lounge, which is quite nice. You can efficiently enjoy a variety of Cantonese snacks like beef tripe stew, fish skin dumplings, and cheung fun.
Don’t hold back on trying the dim sum; there are items like egg tarts, char siu pastries, sticky rice chicken, pineapple buns, and pearl cakes to grab and enjoy!
The Western breakfast options are quite comprehensive, covering a wide range of choices.
The lunch and dinner menu differ by about 100 yuan, and savvy guests would opt for dinner, as the evening configuration is more lavish, giving you the freedom to savor seafood. It’s truly a delight!
I had the buffet dinner two nights in a row, always heading straight for the seafood, which was of quite good quality. After satisfying my seafood cravings, I then indulged in other specialties.
Next to the seafood station, there’s a broth for a hot pot; if you don’t want cold items, you can cook some seafood lightly, which is very much in line with Cantonese wellness principles. The seafood station is replenished regularly, offering an enticing variety, and there’s usually some change in selection each day.
Sashimi is served by the queue but is unlimited. I find this design rather reasonable, ensuring everyone gets to taste their desired dish. Freshly cut, the texture is commendable.
