Hangzhou Yilin Apartments

Yilin occupies part of a high rise service apartment building complex. It is within the East block (right hand side when you face the building) of the complex. The hotel reception is actually on the 12th storey, inside apartment #12-12 (a converted hotel room). Other Service apartment operators like Westlake 7 Service Apartments occupy a different part of the same building. It appears to be operated by a family. However, you will need to inform the security personnel at reception counter at ground level to activate the elevator for you to go up to 12th storey in the first place. The elevator is operated by proximity card for added security reason. So, better not check in late at night as there may be no security guard at ground level reception to activate the elevator for you. Check in was a breeze and the owner is helpful in dispensing advise on the places of interest and how to get there, but they can only speak in Mandarin. A proximity card is issued, to activate the elevator. Entry to apartment room is activated by keying in a 6 digit code onto the room lock-set. Essentially, Yilin is more like a service apartment than hotel – it does not have room service, porters, no grand hotel type lobby, no kitchen, etc. Room actually has all the necessary creature comforts to allow several days of stay. It has a small kitchenette (but no stove) and most importantly, a small washing machine inside the bathroom. The bed is hard, but bearable. TV has many channels, mostly Mandarin. Apartments on higher floors offer a narrow side view of Xihu (West Lake). There is a 24 hr convenience store at the ground level, and several Chinese type eateries opposite the service apartment. The Wushan Road night market (7.30 pm till midnight) is right outside the Service Apartment. There are food & merchandise stalls; quite a crowd. Location is good, about 10 minute brisk walk to the West Lake (or board bus #10 at nearby Pinghai Rd). About 300m Northeast of service apartment is the location for boarding the airport shuttle bus (¥20, every 30 minutes till 8.45pm), outside Grand Metro Park Hotel. Nearest metro station: LongXiangQiao 龙翔桥站 (Exit D) within 10 min walk along Pinghai Rd, then turn right into Yuewang Rd. Repeat: Yes, economical & meets minimum accommodation standards.

I picked this spot because of fairly positive reviews, the swimming pool, and central location. I ended up too busy to swim, but the location was very convenient. A quick walk to Ping Hai Road and Huan Sha Road. Also a very quick walk to Yan An Road and the Long Qiao Transportation center, where you can sign up for a bike rental card. There is a bike rental stop just a few meters in front of the hotel, making transportation convenient. There are many shops and small restaurants nearby with two large foot massage places out front and a night market right at the foot of the hotel. The room was quiet and comfortable with good air conditioning and hot water. A western toilet and free toilet paper were provided along with toothbrush and paste, a comb, shower cap, body wash, and shampoo. Just bring conditioner. Boiling water pot, tea, microwave, small fridge in kitchenette. Not suitable for really cooking, but could heat up breakfast or snacks. The laundry machine worked great, but you need to go to the drugstore to buy washing fluid. Staff was mostly helpful, helped find more hangers and info about bike rental and let me make phone calls from their reception desk, but didn't seem to know the roads/location of things too well. Internet was good. Cons: sewer stink in bathroom was bad - keep door shut, kitchenette had small cockroaches that would migrate to the bathroom at night, not enough hangers to hang clothes to dry, downstairs main lobby is dark at night, room phones don't dial out.