YUN-ZEN CENTURY HOTEL

The Hebei Century Hotel is surprisingly good compared to other hotels in the region. Most particularly the room was suitable and clean, the food was varied, and the facilities of a high standard for this part of the world.

Location: Shijiazhuang, downtown, a shopping centre is located just across the road. Accommodation: We travelled from Beijing to Shijiazhuang by high speed train, and our supplier recommended this hotel to us. I stayed in a double room. The room itself was clean and big. Bed was big and very comfortable. This part of China at this time of year is quite cold (down to -18C, with wind chill), but the room was warm. The air conditioning worked well and I was very cosy for the night. Shower in my room was very good. The toilet was of particular note, having electronically controlled massage, bidet and seat warming functions. The food was good, as was the service. Had a few issues connecting to the WiFi initially, but a call to reception sorted it. It worked well after I sorted my connection issue. As with everywhere in China, some western websites and apps (Google, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.), do not work. Facilities: We didn’t get the time to use the facilities. Overall: This hotel was good. It is rated at 5 stars, which may be a little generous by European standards. The entrance foyer is very impressive. Food was good. Breakfast had the usual Chinese and Western fare in a buffet arrangement. Was very tasty. The staff were friendly, polite and very willing to help in any way. Just to note: this hotel is in an area where smoking is still permitted inside, and this is a smoking hotel. The only way you would know though, is the odd discarded cigarette butt in the ashtrays dotted about the building.

I had a room in the curve of the tower, overlooking the main road, which gave off a lot of traffic noise, all night, despite being on the 19th floor (they do love their car horns...). My colleagues had rooms on the other side, and had no problem with noise at all. Rooms were large, but bathroom was very small - they have installed Japanese style electric toilets which take up a lot of space in front of the basin. Room was well equipped with amenities - some of which you would never have thought of, and all the ones you would, and the bed is probably the most comfortable one in the whole country, which is why this gets a 4 instead of a 3. Breakfast is not great for westerners - limited choice, and bread and pastries were stale. Unfortunately at check out I had a problem because the assistant did not know how to charge my credit card in RMB, despite the receipt asking me to confirm that I had been given a choice of currencies. The only option she could do was USD - no help to me, being British. In the end I gave up explaining this, as it was taking too long.