Liuhua Lake Garden Inn

Finding it.. Got off the metro at the Yuexiu Park stop, China Hotel exit. Didn't know where to go from there so got a taxi: unnecessary as was less than a 10 min walk away. Problem is that there is little signage on the outside to inform you that you have reached your hotel. Even the taxi driver was confused. Is very near to large parks and is convenient for metro access. Room was good value at about 220RMB. Clean with reasonably priced bottles of water in the room 3RMB. The room had windows overlooking the corridor, which meant you had no idea if it was night or day. There are many rooms with windows so request one. Level od English was not that good. It took a while to explain the bill while checking out, especially as they did not print out a bill or give any kind of receipt. I would stay there again.

It was difficult to find the hotel as its full name is only written in Chinese. When I checked into the hotel, I was trying to ask if I was in the right place. I got a very confused look. I asked in rather poor Chinese and did not get the answer in Chinese but a rapid fire bunch of questions. In China, they usually need your passport to check you in for immigration paperwork. It took them ages to understand that I had not overstayed, that I in fact have a work visa. The whole ordeal had me picturing immigration carting me off even though I had a proper visa. The room was acceptable and they provide free internet. Also, the room's safe was big enough to keep my laptop in, which is not common in many hotels. The window faced the hallway which is common in China but makes it difficult to wake up in the morning.