I have visited the
small town of Guzhen, Zhongshan many times.
For my first couple of years in China I lived in the neighboring town of
Xiaolan on the north side of the city.
Many of my students were residents of Guzhen and did a lot of foreign
trade work, specifically for lighting which the town is famous for. Indeed, this is a city that needs to be seen
to believe. It’s literally wall to wall
lighting showroom and factories. At
night, the streets are lit up by the overwhelming number of showrooms and malls
dedicated to this business. And as a
result, the town has become quite wealthy and ultra-specialized. There are a number of hotels that cater to
guests from all around the world (and natively) doing business with these
businesses; this is the best.
Building:
Location: The
location of the hotel seems odd at first site.
It’s a massive complex of lighting malls, shopping malls, apartments and
hotels surrounded by empty farming fields and abandoned land. It’s not the first place you would imagine
when thinking about one of the tallest buildings in Guangdong and one of the
most luxurious hotels in the city of Zhongshan.
But it works for one reason alone, the train station. The Guzhen High Speed Rail Station is
attached to the complex; integrated seamlessly to provide the ultimate transportation
convenience from the larger city of Guangzhou to the north and the neighboring
towns of Xiaolan and Jiangmen. 
Facilities: Opened in
2019, the building is brand new and feels that way everywhere you turn. There is a mall attached with an IMAX theater
and variety of culinary options. Parking
is abundant and free. Navigating the
massive tower is efficient given its size and complexity, and the combination
of high-end fixtures and natural light make it an ideal modern place to spend
some time. However, I can’t give it full
marks because at the time of my visit the spa and pool were closed (I assume
due to the low occupancy). I’m sure
these are first rate facilities given the amazingly clean state of the fitness
center that I got to utilize, but without being allowed access to these I have
no choice but to give them a “0”.
Amenities: As a new
property, the built-in amenities of the room are fantastic. It seems the bathrooms were well thought out. However, there was no compendium (a standard
requirement for any 5-star property) and an empty mini-bar which shocked
me. This is, again, probably a factor of
the low occupancy during the pandemic times and management’s need to cut back
on labor expenses. Such a shame! For these reasons, it’s irresponsible to
continue to market your property as a 5-star when it is clearly not. Still, the amenities that were in place were
of the highest quality. Such a mix of
this & that makes this category difficult to rate.
Décor: Given the
property’s primary purpose of serving guests doing business in the lighting industry,
you would expect the property to have very high-end design and functional
lighting fixtures. It did. Throughout the property were simply but
wonderful examples of what the local industry celebrates. Mixed with that were modern color cues and
even some ancient Chinese characteristics.
The blending of all these elements while also taking full advantage of
the high views, big windows, and above par fit and finish is something to be applauded
by the designers and made for a memorable experience.
Service
Staff: Although
obviously on a skeleton crew with so many facilities shuttered and very little
activity in the hotel, those on duty were attentive and professional as one
would expect from a management company with this reputation. The front desk check-in was effortless and
the dining staff in the restaurant for the breakfast was on the spot with requests
and ready to jump on your needs at a moment’s notice. Note to management: At check in I was gifted an
afternoon tea set in the lobby lounge. What a great welcome amenity, thank
you. But a few hours later that offer
was rescinded with no explanation given.
This is not good management policy.
5-star properties distinguish themselves with the best service possible. At this level, an effort to follow through
with gifts and assertions from any member of the staff (gifted or paid for)
should be given and if unable to provide it, alternatives should be
offered. This is what guests of the most discerning nature expect and that is what they pay for.
Food: The
breakfast buffet was larger than I expected.
Mostly Chinese breakfast offerings which I have become accustomed to, I was
mostly impressed with the vast options available in that cuisine category. It’s tough to go hungry here. The restaurant is on the 59th floor
offering views in all directions. For
some reason, this makes the food taste better?
I would say so.
Cleanliness: It’s a
new property, so the place is essentially still spotless. Some fit and finish issues in the flooring of
the room and the admittedly “difficult to keep clean” fabric walls, but I can
look beyond those. In all, it’s near par
with the best of the best offered in Guangdong.
Comfort: The advertised
“Heavenly Bed” was just that, heavenly. This
is by far the most comfortable bed I have ever experienced. It is slightly above that of the Sheraton
beds that I recently got to experience.
What sets this one apart is not just the mattress but the endless layers
of pillows and bedding you have to swim through. The room was just the right size for 1
person (maybe even 2) with the lounge chair and large coffee table providing a
relaxing place to read and watch a few minutes of television. The bathrooms and bathtub were tops and I was
very comfortable during my time in the room.
Uniqueness: At the
end of the day, this hotel is just like any other tower hotel. But, the tasteful décor, the unique location
and purpose make it a truly unique experience.
If you have no business to do in this town, you’ll find it boring. But, if you find yourself here, there’s no
better hotel to be. Tower hotels in
mixed-use developments are all the rage and are becoming a dime a dozen in the
major cities of China. Still, having views
like that with your morning coffee just can’t be beat.
Value: With occupancy
low during this time, deals are abundant throughout Guangdong. Although many of the hotel’s facilities were
still closed (no pool or spa), I still feel this was an excellent luxury value
especially compared to the prices you’ll pay in the heart of the larger cities
in Guangdong for a similar property. Here,
you can spread out, work in a relaxing environment and enjoy an evening or two
without worrying about the price being paid.
Rojo Rating:
Location: 6
Facilities: 7
Amenities: 8
Décor: 8
Staff: 7
Food: 7
Cleanliness: 9
Comfort: 9
Uniqueness: 7
Value: 7
Total: 75/100
For a weekend getaway or for locals looking for a night or two to
pamper themselves in luxury, this is a great property that has a lot to offer
(when the rest of the facilities are open, of course). Primarily a business hotel, and a very good
one at that, if you’re here for leisure you can also enjoy yourself immensely. For now, the anomaly of this massive
development surrounded by empty green fields and farms is interesting enough and
you’ll feel like a King or Queen at the top of your tower looking down on the
peasants below.