Shanghai's Hidden Gem: Hanting Hotel Hongqiao Tianshan Road Review!
Shanghai's Hidden Gem? My Honest Take on Hanting Hotel Hongqiao Tianshan Road (Spoiler: It's Complicated!)
Alright, strap in, because I just got back from a stay at the Hanting Hotel Hongqiao Tianshan Road, and let me tell you, it was… an experience. Forget those perfectly curated travel blogs; this is the raw, unvarnished truth, the good, the bad, and the slightly baffling. I'm talkin' ALL the details, folks. Buckle up.
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(Accessibility - Let's Start Here)
So, right off the bat, accessibility. This is always a big concern for me, because let's face it, not every place is designed with everyone in mind.
Wheelchair Accessible?: Honestly, I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did poke around. The lobby seemed reasonably accessible with an elevator. Hallways seemed wide enough. So, potentially accessible, but I'd really want to read some specific reviews from someone who uses a wheelchair to get the full picture. Verdict: Needs further investigation, but promising.
Elevator: Yep, got a decent elevator. Much better than hauling luggage up a flight of stairs after a long flight. Good.
Facilities for disabled guests: They claim to have them, but I didn't personally experience them. More research needed to confirm.
(Cleanliness and Safety - Gotta feel safe, right?)
This is a big one, especially after… well, you know.
Cleanliness: Okay, this is where things get interesting. The room looked generally clean. The surfaces seemed wiped down. They said they used anti-viral cleaning products (fingers crossed!). BUT – and this is a big but – I did spot a rogue hair on the bathroom floor. And the overall impression felt… a little tired. Like, they try hard, but it's a budget hotel, so you get the picture. Verdict: Mostly clean, but room for improvement.
Anti-viral cleaning products: They said they used them. I'm taking their word for it. This is China after all. You just have to close your eyes sometimes and hope for the best!
Room sanitization between stays: They claimed they sanitized. Again, trusting their words.
Hand Sanitizer: Present and accounted for.
Daily Disinfection: Apparently in common areas.
Staff Trained in Safety Protocol: Seemed like it. They all wore masks (as is the law).
First aid kit: Present, I'm sure!
Safety/security feature: Got locks, smoke detectors, etc. Your basic safety stuff.
CCTV in common areas: There was. Watching you. Always watching…
CCTV outside property: Also present.
Front desk [24-hour]: Yes, always someone there.
Doctor/nurse on call: I hope they have one!
Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms, Fire in case of emergency: All present, I hope they work!
Non-smoking rooms: Thank goodness.
Room sanitization opt-out available: I didn't ask, but it's probably a thing.
(Internet - Essential in the modern world!)
- Internet Access: Yep.
- Wi-Fi [free]: YES! Free Wi-Fi in every room. That's a huge win, especially for a budget hotel.
- Internet access – wireless: Yup. Worked well, generally.
- Internet access – LAN: Yup, if that's your thing, you're set.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: See above! Major plus.
- Internet services: They had it. I connected. All good.
(Dining, Drinking & Snacking - Because we need to eat!)
Okay, here’s where things got… limited.
- Asian breakfast: Sort of. It was mostly a buffet thing with some things that could be called Asian. Rice porridge was there.
- Western breakfast: They tried. There was bread, some sad-looking pastries, and instant coffee. Not exactly gourmet.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The main game.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant/room: Limited availability in both, the coffee was vile.
- Coffee shop: More a glorified vending machine.
- Room service [24-hour]: Apparently. I didn't try it. Probably overpriced.
- Snack bar: Nope.
- Bottle of water: Provided, which is nice.
- Restaurants: One, basically.
- Buffet in restaurant: The aforementioned buffet.
- Desserts in restaurant: Not much to write home about.
- Daily essentials condiments Yes!
- Alternative meal arrangement: You could, I guess, ask.
- Hygiene certification: They seemed like they were trying.
My Breakfast Saga:
Let me tell you about the breakfast. I went down there expecting… well, not Michelin-starred cuisine, but something that wouldn't make me actively sad. The "buffet" was… minimal. The bread was stale. The "sausages" were suspiciously grey. The coffee was instant… and tasted like despair. I ended up eating several sad little pastries and staring blankly at the other guests. One woman kept filling her plate with nothing but hard-boiled eggs. It was a whole scene. I swear I saw a guy take a single slice of dry toast and use it as a coaster. I decided to embrace the absurdity. Verdict: Breakfast: Manage your expectations. Bring snacks.
(Available in all rooms - The Nitty Gritty)
- Air conditioning: Absolutely necessary in Shanghai's humidity!
- Alarm clock: Yes.
- Bathrobes: No. Again, budget hotel.
- Bathtub/Shower: Shower, yes. Bathtub, probably not.
- Blackout curtains: Thank god.
- Closet: Adequate.
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes, but the coffee was… you know.
- Complimentary tea: See above.
- Desk: Yes.
- Extra long bed: Standard bed.
- Free bottled water: Yes!
- Hair dryer: Yep.
- High floor: Not applicable to all rooms, it depended.
- In-room safe box: Yes.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Probably.
- Internet access – LAN: If you need it.
- Internet access – wireless: Yes, and it works well.
- Ironing facilities: Yes, if you're willing to hunt it down.
- Laptop workspace: Yes, the desk served well.
- Linens: Fine.
- Mini bar: No.
- Mirror: Yes.
- Non-smoking: Yes.
- On-demand movies: Nope. This is a budget hotel, people!
- Private bathroom: Of course.
- Reading light: Yes.
- Refrigerator: Yes.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes, but the channel selection was… interesting.
- Scale: No for the one I stayed.
- Seating area: Limited. It's a small room.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Just a shower in my room.
- Shower: Yes.
- Slippers: Yes, the cheap kind.
- Smoke detector: Yes.
- Socket near the bed: Yes, thankfully.
- Soundproofing: Not perfect, but decent.
- Telephone: Yup.
- Toiletries: Basic. Bring your own conditioner.
- Towels: Okay.
- Umbrella: Never needed it.
- Visual alarm: I'm not sure if they have them.
- Wake-up service: I'm sure they do.
- Wi-Fi [free]: YES!
- Window that opens: Yes, thank goodness for fresh air!
(Services and Conveniences - What else do they offer?)
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Yup.
- Concierge: Present, though I didn't really need them.
- Laundry service: Yes, at a price.
- Dry cleaning: Probably.
- **Elevator
Alright, alright, here's the messy, honest, and totally-not-airbrushed travel itinerary for my Shanghai adventure, starting from the Hanting Hotel Hongqiao Tianshan Road. Buckle up, buttercup, because it's gonna be a WILD ride.
Day 1: Arrival and Ah, the Jet Lag…
- 14:00 - Check-In Disaster (Almost!) So, I arrive at the Hanting. The lobby? Surprisingly…not grim. I’ve seen budget hotels that look like they’ve been through a zombie apocalypse. This one, at least, has a slightly-less-than-depressing aesthetic. My Mandarin is…well, let's just say the hotel staff are saints. Luckily, they had someone who spoke some English. The check-in was like a slow-motion ballet of confusion. Names, passports, WiFi passwords… It took at least 20 minutes. Almost gave up and had a full-blown meltdown.
- 15:00 - The Room: Expectations vs. Reality. The room… it's a room. Clean enough, I guess. That's the important part. It's… small. My suitcase barely fits. The window overlooks a street, which is a mixed blessing. Good for people-watching, bad for my sleeping schedule, I predict.
- 16:00 - First Food Fiasco: Okay, so I was STARVING. The jet lag was a beast. Found a little noodle place down the street. I pointed at a picture, mumbled "xie xie," and hoped for the best. The noodles were… spicy. Really spicy. Almost cried. But I survived. And the guy running the place was probably laughing at me. Delicious, though.
- 18:00 - Stumbling Around: Navigation Nightmare. I tried to get somewhere, anywhere, just to feel like I wasn't trapped in a hotel room. Shanghai is BIG. I wandered aimlessly for an hour, getting hopelessly lost. The street signs might as well have been hieroglyphs. Ended up back at the hotel, defeated but with a newfound respect for Google Maps.
- 20:00 - Dinner - A Bit More Courage: Found a decent-looking place. This time I dared to try to pronounce a few things, I'm pretty sure I butchered everything. What I did order was incredible! The waiters were laughing with me, not at me!
- 22:00 - Sleep… or Attempt Thereof: The jet lag is currently winning. Trying to sleep. The traffic noise. The jet lag. This is going to be a long night.
Day 2: Culture Shock and Dim Sum Dreams
- 08:00 - Wake-Up Call: Traffic Symphony. Oh, joy. The incessant honking. I want to strangle the taxi drivers.
- 09:00 - Breakfast Roulette: Found another hole-in-the-wall place. Ordered something that looked suspiciously like a mystery meat pancake. It was… surprisingly good! Or maybe it was the desperate hunger talking.
- 10:00 - Temple Time (Kind Of): I braved a taxi! The Shanghai Temple. It was beautiful. The incense, the chanting, the sheer number of people… it was sensory overload, in the best way possible. Took a million photos. Got yelled at for taking a photo of the monks chanting. Oops.
- 12:00 - Dim Sum Devotion: I'd been waiting for this. Found a bustling dim sum restaurant in a shopping mall. The food came out steaming, fragrant, and utterly divine. The moment I popped a little pork dumpling in my mouth, I almost wept with joy. The xiao long bao were perfect – the soup inside was the ultimate treat! I devoured everything in sight. This was the high point.
- 14:00 - Shopping Spree (That Turned Into Regret): Went to a market – the one with all the fake designer goods. I bought a "genuine" Gucci bag. I know, I know, I shouldn't have. But it was shiny! And cheap! I'll probably regret it later when it falls apart.
- 16:00 - Lost Again: I got separated from the group. Cue chaos. I think I'm starting to master the art of looking lost.
- 18:00 - Dinner & Disaster: I tried to find a restaurant but the language barrier was too hard. I ended up in a 7-Eleven! Eating instant noodles in my room. The noodles were okay, not as tasty as the Dim Sum.
- 20:00 - The View from my Hotel: My hotel view is not the best. Is has a weird view of a street. I spend time thinking of when I will go home.
- 22:00 - Sleep… This Time, I Think! Maybe the lack of sleep has caught up to me and I will sleep.
Day 3: Exploring, Reflections, and Departure Blues
- 09:00 - The Bund (Finally!) Took the subway for the first time. It was a bit scary, but I did it, I'm proud! Walking along The Bund was spectacular. The architecture is incredible.
- 11:00 - Art Appreciation (Sort Of): Went to the Shanghai Museum. I don't know much about art, but it was pretty. And air-conditioned! A much-needed break from the humidity.
- 13:00 - Snack Time: Went back to the hotel I had a snack. A pack of chips and some nuts from the convenient store.
- 15:00 - Last Minute Shopping: I tried to buy gifts. I failed spectacularly.
- 17:00 - Dinner: Dinner. I found a place and actually ordered food I know! The service was slow, but the food was alright.
- 19:00 - Packing and Panicking: Starting to pack. I don't want to leave! Shanghai is messy and wonderful.
- 21:00 - Meltdown: The idea of leaving causes a wave of emotion. I wanted more time!
- 22:00 - Sleep: My flight is tomorrow morning!
Final Thoughts:
Shanghai is a beast. It's chaotic, beautiful, confusing, and exhilarating all at once. It's probably the most frustrating and best thing I've ever done. I'm exhausted but utterly in love. The Hanting Hotel? Perfectly functional. The food? Amazing. The memories? Priceless. Would I go back? Absolutely. As soon as my bank account recovers. And maybe I should learn some Mandarin first…wish me luck!
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Hanting Hotel Hongqiao - The Good, The Bad, and The (Occasionally) Ugly: My Honest FAQs
Let’s Get Real: The Price vs. The Expectations.
Look, I went in expecting a budget hotel. I wasn't expecting pristine marble floors and a butler. And I didn't get them. What I got was a room that was, you know, *a room*. The price point is the key. You're paying next to nothing, especially for Shanghai, so keep that in mind when you're judging the slightly (and I mean *slightly*) worn carpets.
The "expect the Ritz" comment? Totally tongue-in-cheek. But, for the price, it’s more than acceptable. It's kind of a steal, really. Just remember you’re trading luxury for affordability. And hey, sometimes, that's a fair trade. I mean, ramen and a bed are better than cold concrete and the Shanghai street, right?"
The Subway Saga: A Balancing Act.
The subway is your best friend here. Seriously, learn the Shanghai Metro map. It's your lifeline. The hotel is a manageable walk to a station, and from there, you can get just about anywhere. But, and this is a big but, sometimes that walk feels a *lot* longer after a 12-hour flight. Especially if you're dragging luggage AND you’re still battling jet lag. I remember one time… Oh god, don't even get me started on that one time. Let's just say I almost adopted a stray cat outside the station out of sheer desperation. It was late, it was raining, and I just wanted a bed. But hey, the subway is *reliable* I guess."
Personal Space... or The Lack Thereof.
Okay, the room size. It's true. I'm not a claustrophobe, but even *I* found myself doing a little happy dance of freedom every time I stepped out into the hallway. The bathroom... well, let's just say you could probably shower, brush your teeth, and do your hair all at the same time. Seriously, I've seen bigger airplane bathrooms. But it's functional, it's clean enough, and it works. Once, I left a hair tie in the bathroom and... Well, let's just say it's in a different province now. But I survived! I’d recommend packing light. Or, you know, becoming a contortionist.
The Wifi Woes – a Personal Saga.
The wifi situation….oh, the wifi. One time, I was trying to video call my family back home. I was already stressed, jetlagged, and the Chinese internet gods appeared to have a vendetta against me. The connection kept dropping. The video glitched. It was like watching a horror movie. My poor mother kept saying, “Oh honey, are you okay? Are you in a basement dungeon?" And I was tempted to say yes, just to end the suffering. I eventually gave up and spent the rest of the evening staring blankly at the wall, questioning all my life choices. So, yeah. Bring a VPN. And maybe a rosary. Just in case.
Earplugs: Your New Best Friend.
Okay, the noise. It's Shanghai. It's bustling. You're not going to get complete silence. You might hear the occasional car horn, the distant rumble of a construction site… and the aforementioned 'things' from your neighbors. But, I'm a fairly light sleeper, and I managed. Earplugs are your friend. Invest in a good pair. They’re cheaper than therapy. And on one particularly loud night, I swear I heard someone singing opera until 3 AM. I think that’s an experience worth remembering, though. Don’t expect complete silence, but it’s pretty normal Shanghai street noise, you know?
Lost in Translation (and Loving It, Mostly)
