Luoyang Grand Hotel

Arriving at the Luoyang Grand Hotel one is impressed with the lobby, which is a bit dated, but has a clean feel to it and a nice little goldfish pond. The elevator doors close on the third person entering like a welcome hug and the elevator itself wobbles reassuringly on its cables as you are enveloped in the aroma of cigarette smoke. Your door opens directly onto the bathroom wall, ensuring that you enter at a safe pace. In your room you are met with the combined fragrance of decades of dust, tobacco smoke and mould, with a hint of drain water. The bed is one grade softer than marble or granite and the soothing orchestra of traffic outside will have you sleeping like an insomniac in no time. The nostalgic effect of broken windows, light switches and fittings is a feature worth the cost, as is the panoramic view of the China Tobacco factory, proud sponsor of the olfactory ambience. The restaurant has a single menu brochure and it’s absence of any other guests will, no doubt, be a relief from the hustle and bustle of downtown Luoyang. So, if you are a nicotine addict with anosmia, a penchant for sharing your shower with fungi and eating questionable food, this is the place for you!

The good: centrally located; rooms look better than the lobby; big malls, restaurants and banks around the hotel; The bad: some rooms are old; the staff is slow (also in understanding); breakfast is simple; hotel is in need of renovation

Clean, quiet, spacious rooms. Big bed, good air conditioning, wifi. Great location. Very friendly staff. Excellent buffet breakfast. Western or Chinese dishes at the on-site restaurant. Well situated. Walking distance to a shopping with excellent selection of restaurant mall and to the city park. Park recommended.