Kunming Baoshan

We made the mistake of choosing this hotel during a stopover for a flight to Burma the next day simply for cost considerations (it is cheap at about $ 40 US). This is a typical communist era Chinese hotel that has seen better days ( or perhaps not) and if my guess is right is scheduled for demolition in the near future. It still has in place un-manned stations for floor monitors reminiscent of hotels in the former Soviet Union. The lobby was undistinguished and the rooms were sad, depressing, stale and in need of cleaning. Our room was situated next to those of an extended Chinese family, whose trip to the big city may have been a first, and who insisted on using the hallway for their living room and yelling back and forth across the hall to each other. The bathroom did appear to have hot water but no heat in the room as is pretty typical of Chinese hotels in this province. The spartan breakfast ( included) was essentially inedible. The congee ( rice soup or gruel), which is what we generally prefer in Asia, was ill prepared without any of the traditional toppings. The hard boiled eggs, when shells had been removed, looked like candidates for preserved eggs (perhaps they were). The pastries appeared stale and no tea was provided. You might be better off trying your luck down the street for breakfast if you do decide to stay here for whatever unimaginable reason. The only redeeming feature of the Baoshan Hotel is its location which is pretty much in the center of things. If price is really a consideration and you care to be located in this area of Kunming, I would probably head for the Hump ( a backpacker type of place). On the other hand for a bit more money I would suggest the New Era Hotel where you would be infinitely more comfortable and happy. Both are within walking distance of the Baoshan.

We were in China for the Eid ul-Adha qurban (sacrifice) ritual and relied on Sister Mariah Mah's package and hotel accommodation in Kunming and in Yuxi. We stayed for 2 nights here in Kunming. With the help of Sister Katijah Wang, checking-in was fast. The front office staff spoke very little English but showed their willingness to help guests. Two elevators served this 15-storey hotel. Some inconsiderate guests smoked in the elevators but hotel staff seemed to ignore this despite the "No Smoking" signs. The room has all the standard facilities normally found in 3- or 4-star hotels including a bathtub. The only minus points are the stiff mattress and the single thin pillow. The TV has no English channel. Each room has a hot and cold water dispenser. We found the small switch behind the dispenser after some difficulty. The toilet is average and has good supply of hot water, toiletries and even condoms. There is a price tag on the condoms and shavers. What we liked most about this hotel is the location. We walked about 15 minutes amongst the crowd to Nancheng Mosque in Zhengyi Road along many shopping outlets in the cold Kunming weather. The area near New Era Hotel between Dongfeng East and West Roads comes alive after dark with streets vendors. The massage on the 2nd floor is the best we ever had. We paid RMB217 for an amazing 3-hour jacuzzi-sauna-facial-manicure-massage package. This complete wholesome massage package is unbelievably very very good. The men and women have separate sections but be warned of naked bodies in the jacuzzi-sauna area.

I booked a triple room at Baoshan via "Ineedhotel". The agency arranged the booking with the Hotel and then confirmed the booking via email with me. We arrived at the hotel at 5 p.m. on 24th July. The rain was pouring down and it was peak hour. It was not a good time to be searching for alternative hotels, a fact of which Baoshan is obviously very aware. They denied all knowledge of a booking from the agency. They went through the charade of a search under every possible variation of the name in which the booking was made. Sorry, no booking and sorry too, they said, there were no triple rooms available at that time. Maybe I would like to take a "Suite" which was all they had available capable of conversion to a triple room. And so up went our cost from about 300 RMB to 445 RMB. The "suite" had that hallmark of the hotel, lolly pink doors in cheap paint, the paint well and truly peeling on the lolly pink door of the bathroom. Lest I be misunderstood, ALL doors are painted lolly pink - whole hallways of lolly pink doors! I contacted "Ineedhotel" later and berated them about their failure with this booking. But they, poor things, replied that Baoshan had, in turn, told them that I hadn't turned up, I was a "no show" - thus robbing "Ineedhotel" of their commission. So Baoshan, taking advantage of the rotten weather and the time of the day, didded me with their denial of my booking and their claim to be able to make available only a "suite" - thus extracting an extra 150 RMB from my wallet. And they then turned bare-faced liars once again and robbed "Ineedhotel" of their fee. Don't stay there. And, as for being in a central business district of Kunming, I can tell you that it's a pretty down-market part of town. Upon our return, I returned to the tried and true Camellia, a hotel in a nice part of town which had a wonderful triple room available - 3 beds plus a sofa and occasional table - for 260 RMB. It's a pity reviews such as this reach a restricted audience. Baoshan's performance on this occasion deserves to be available to every potential "guest" in coloured lights at the entrance. Maybe they are honest in fine weather. But in evening peak hour in heavy rain, they've got you. And such smiles they smile as they lie through their teeth.