Lanzhou's Hidden Gem: Hanting Hotel Near Radio & TV Center!
Lanzhou's Hanting Hotel Near Radio & TV Center: A Whirlwind Review (With Honesty & A Few Swears)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into the Hanting Hotel near Lanzhou's Radio & TV Center! This review ain't gonna be some sterile, corporate-speak rundown. This is the real deal. We're talking sweat, tears (okay, maybe just a little frustration), and my unvarnished opinion. Let's do this.
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- Keywords: Lanzhou Hotel, Hanting Hotel Review, Lanzhou Travel, Accessible Hotel, Free Wifi, Spa Lanzhou, Best Lanzhou Hotels, Clean Hotel, Chinese Hotel, Near Radio & TV Center, Lanzhou Dining.
- Description: A brutally honest and detailed review of the Hanting Hotel near Lanzhou's Radio & TV Center, covering accessibility, cleanliness, food, amenities, and the overall vibe. Prepare for a rollercoaster!
(Accessibility - Let's start with the basics, shall we?)
- Accessibility: Now, I'm not in a wheelchair, so I can't give a 100% definitive on-the-ground assessment of everything. BUT, the hotel claims to have facilities for disabled guests. Whether they're actually functional and readily accessible is another story. I saw an elevator, which is a huge plus in a multi-story place. The website boasts details. Honestly, I wish I could give a more concrete answer.
- Access: Getting to the hotel was pretty straightforward. The area's not ridiculously congested (unlike some of the city center, ugh). Car park [free of charge] – score! Always a win. I didn't need airport transfer this time, but the option is there, which is great for those who need it.
- Wheelchair accessible: As mentioned above, I'm not in a position to provide a full assessment. I did not see wheelchair access in the public areas.
(Cleanliness & Safety - The Pandemic Edition)
Alright, this is where the Hanting actually impressed me. I'm a bit of a germaphobe (thanks, COVID!), so I was glued to how seriously they took hygiene.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas: Check and check. You could smell the sanitization, which is usually a good sign. They definitely weren't skimping!
- Hygiene certification, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol: I'm going to assume all those boxes were ticked, because it felt clean. I saw staff hand sanitizer stations everywhere, and they wore masks faithfully.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Didn't see this specifically, but they seemed to have gone above and beyond anyway.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes! For their breakfast stuff, which was reassuring.
- Safe dining setup: The dining area looked pretty safe, with tables spaced apart.
- First aid kit, Doctor/nurse on call: Thank god I didn't need either, but knowing they were available was great.
(Rooms - My Personal Sanity Zone)
My room? Standard, but functional. You know, the kind of place you're grateful for after a long day of Lanzhou adventures.
- Available in all rooms: This list is looooong! So I'll hit the highlights: Air conditioning (essential in summer), Free Wi-Fi, Coffee/tea maker (THANK YOU, SAVIORS), a desk (useful), a refrigerator, hair dryer, and a private bathroom.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes! And it worked! A miracle!
- Non-smoking: This is a must for me. It's a godsend.
- Blackout curtains: Excellent for sleeping in, if you're into that.
- Soundproofing: Worked pretty well. I didn't hear much of the street noise.
- Additional toilet: Helpful, especially if you are traveling in a big group.
- Desk: A desk suitable to work in.
- Socket near the bed: A thoughtful touch.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: Both options, very convenient.
- Alarm clock: Check!
- Bathroom phone: Check!
- Bathtub: Check!
- Bathrobes: Check!
- Bed: A decent and comfy sleep, not hard or soft.
- Blackout curtains: The room was quite dark.
- Bottle of water: Check!
- Closet: Large and helpful.
- Coffee/tea maker: Hot beverage maker.
- Complimentary tea: Nice!
- Daily housekeeping: The housekeeping staff did a fantastic job!
- Extra long bed: The bed was definitely long enough.
- Hair dryer: Good, helpful product.
- High floor: They gave me a room on a high floor!
- In-room safe box: I am really glad they have one.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: They have them.
- Internet access – LAN: Check!
- Ironing facilities: This is a very helpful touch!
- Laptop workspace: Check!
- Linens: Clean and comfortable.
- Mini bar: Well stocked.
- Mirror: Check!
- On-demand movies: Always a good option for entertainment.
- Private bathroom: Useful.
- Reading light: Great for reading.
- Refrigerator: Helpful.
- Safety/security feature: Secure.
- Satellite/cable channels: Many TV channels.
- Scale: Useful.
- Seating area: Cozy and comfortable.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Check!
- Shower: The shower was warm.
- Slippers: Always a plus!
- Smoke detector: Check!
- Socket near the bed: Excellent.
- Sofa: There was a sofa to relax.
- Soundproofing: Check!
- Telephone: Check!
- Toiletries: All the basics, good quality.
- Towels: Soft and clean.
- Umbrella: Check!
- Visual alarm: I did not need.
- Wake-up service: Always available.
- Window that opens: I liked this.
(Dining, Drinking, & Snacking - Fueling the Adventure)
Okay, the food situation deserves its own section. It's a mixed bag.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The buffet was… adequate. Okay, maybe even a little boring. Standard Asian breakfast fare, nothing groundbreaking. Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant. Good if all you want is to fill a hole in your stomach, but not memorable. Vegetarian restaurant.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: They had a small coffee shop, which was a lifesaver, but the coffee was… well, not great. Drinkable.
- Western breakfast: The other options for breakfast were not appealing.
- Room service [24-hour]: Nice to have, in a pinch.
- Snack bar: They had snacks on offer.
- Restaurants: The restaurant was a bit dull, but fine.
(Amenities & Services - The Perks (and the Letdowns))
Here's where things get a little… messy.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: There was a gym. I didn't use it. I’m lazy like that.
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Nope, I don't believe they have it.
- Spa, Steamroom: I don't believe they have these two.
- Bar: I didn't check it out.
- Concierge, 24-hour front desk: Both were helpful, though the front desk staff's English was… variable. You'll need patience.
- Currency exchange, Cash withdrawal: Easy enough.
- Dry cleaning, Laundry service, Ironing service: All available, thankfully!
- Luggage storage: Convenient.
- Daily housekeeping: The housekeeping staff was on it, seriously.
- Convenience store: The shop was good, sold necessary items.
- Facilities for disabled guests: See above.
- Pets allowed unavailable: Always a plus.
- Car park [on-site]: Score!
- Elevator: Yes!
- Smoking area: Designated area available.
- Business facilities: I do not know this.
- Airport transfer: Available.
- Baby sitters: Yes.
- Gift shop: Yes.
- Security: Excellent.
(Getting Around - Navigating Lanzhou)
- Taxi service: Easy to
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the glorious, chaotic, and possibly slightly disastrous world of my trip to… wait for it… the Hanting Hotel Lanzhou Radio and Television Center in Lanzhou, China. Oh boy. This is gonna be a ride.
Day 1: Arrival and the Art of Surviving the Train Station
- 7:00 AM (ish) - The Pre-Trip Panic: Okay, let's be honest, packing is a goddamn art form I've yet to master. Three suitcases? Check. Random assortment of snacks I'll likely regret? Double check. The gnawing feeling I've forgotten something vital? Triple check. I swear, every trip feels like prepping for the apocalypse.
- 9:00 AM - The Train Station Debacle: Lanzhou Railway Station. Let me tell you, it's a character. A sweaty, bustling, chaotic character. Finding the correct platform felt like a goddamn scavenger hunt. Picture this: me, sweating profusely, clutching my tickets like they were gold, navigating a sea of humanity – pushing, shoving, and speaking a language I mostly understood through frantic hand gestures and the terrified expressions of fellow travelers. "Platform 7, you say? And it's… where exactly??" I swear, I aged ten years in that hour.
- 11:00 AM - The Train Ride – Existential Dread and Instant Noodles: Okay, actually the train ride wasn't terrible. The scenery was breathtaking at times, vast swathes of what I assume was the Gobi desert rolling past. And the sheer variety of train snacks! It was both a culinary adventure and a potential gastrointestinal nightmare. Those pre-packaged instant noodles? Comfort food at its finest. Did I eat three packs? Maybe. Don't judge.
- 5:00 PM - Arrival at the Hanting Hotel – The Grand Reveal
- First impressions… well, it's a Hanting. Clean, functional, and about as exciting as watching paint dry, but the price was right. It's not the Ritz, but after the train station, my standards had plummeted. The lobby was a beige haven. The air conditioning was either freezing or non-existent. I was torn by the temperature.
- The room itself was… compact. Okay, let's call it cozy. Picture this: twin beds, a tiny desk, and a bathroom that could barely swing a cat. But hey, I had a bed, it was clean, and that's what mattered at this point.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner Search and Confusion: Okay, I had been looking forward to authentic Lanzhou food for weeks now. Sadly, my attempts at finding anything beyond the hotel food were thwarted at every turn. I tried a few local restaurants, but the menus were all in Chinese, the staff all spoke in a flurry of undecipherable sounds, and I felt like a confused mouse in a culinary maze. Ending up back at the hotel and ate it all.
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime and Nighttime Fear : The bed was like a cloud after the chaos of the day. As the night descended a loud bang woke me. There were so many things going on outside the hotel window. As I was struggling to fall asleep, the fear really set in: a deep-seated sense of being totally, utterly alone in a country where I didn't speak the language.
Day 2: The Quest for Food and the Temple of the Eternal Flame
- 8:00 AM - The Hotel Breakfast Mystery: The hotel breakfast! That's when another wave of confusion hit me. The buffet offered a vast array of… things. I swear, half of it was unidentifiable. I bravely tried a mystery meat (texture: questionable), and the other half was a carb explosion. It was going to be an interesting day, or the end of me, I don't know which.
- 9:00 AM - The Temple of the Eternal Flame (Bingling Temple): I took the train to see Bingling temple, and I have to admit, it was breathtaking. The caves carved into the cliffs, the Buddhas, the history… it was all stunning. I spent hours wandering around, feeling humbled and awestruck. It was a true moment of peace and meditation.
- 12:00 PM - The Food Fiasco, Part 2: "Okay," I told myself, "Today, you will conquer Lanzhou cuisine!" I tried a small restaurant I found. The staff spoke a little bit of English, but more importantly, they had pictures on the menu. I ordered a bowl of something that looked promising. What arrived was a steaming bowl of… something. I ate it, but the mystery of the taste remains. What was in it????
- 2:00 PM - A Walk Around the City: I went on a wander through the city, through a park. I bought an ice cream. Honestly, at times I was overwhelmed, and at others, I was enchanted. The contrast was part of the adventure.
- 7:00 PM - The Melancholy of the Evening After the food and the travel, the sun went down, and I was lonely. I Skyped my wife. The connection was awful. I started to miss her. The silence of the hotel room became a heavy curtain in the heart.
- 9:00 PM - Another Night The silence got louder. The room was more cold. I went to sleep, and it rained.
Day 3: Departure and the Aftermath
- 8:00 AM - Hotel Breakfast - The Encore: Back at the breakfast, I just got toast. I didn't have the energy for the unknown.
- 9:00 AM - Packing Mishap and Hotel Panic: Packing. I thought I was a pro by now. Turns out, I was wrong. The packing, the checking out, the trying to hold it together, and feeling that slight, lingering fear of getting totally and utterly lost in the airport! Oh, the drama.
- 11:00 AM - The Airport Tango: The airport was fine, no drama. Easy to survive.
- 2:00 PM - The Flight and the Emotional Fallout: Now back home, I have an immense respect for anyone traveling to new places. There were moments of awe and wonder. But there were also moments of extreme frustration, loneliness, and mild terror. Is it worth it? God yes. Now, where to next?
Hanting Hotel Near Lanzhou Radio & TV Center: The Real Deal (Maybe?) - FAQs
Alright, spill it. Is this Hanting Hotel actually...good? The reviews are all over the place!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because the truth is: it's complicated. Look, Hanting Hotels are generally... functional. Think of it as the reliable Corolla of Lanzhou lodging. Does it have marble floors and a Michelin-star chef? Absolutely not. Does it get the job done and keep your wallet from weeping uncontrollably? Probably.
My personal experience? Oh, man. One time, I swear the elevator sounded like it was about to explode. I think I aged a decade during that two-story ascent. But, the bed was comfy, and the water got hot, which is a win in my book. The reviews are mixed, yeah, but for the price and the location (near the Radio & TV Center, which is actually handy), it's a gamble I'd probably take again... with a healthy dose of pre-emptive anxiety.
The location, you said? Is it actually *convenient*? I'm worried about getting lost in Lanzhou!
Convenient-ish. Let's say it like this: it's *better* than being stuck in the middle of nowhere. The Radio & TV Center is a landmark, so even a lost tourist like me can usually find it. The hotel is pretty central for getting to some key areas, like maybe exploring the Yellow River or haggling (badly) at a local market.
But navigating Lanzhou? That's a whole different sport. Traffic can be insane, and the bus system… well, let's just say I once ended up four blocks from my intended destination. But I'm not good with maps, so that could be me. The hotel staff *should* be able to help with taxis-- make sure you have the address written in Chinese. Trust me.
What about the rooms? Are they…clean? I have standards! (Sorta.)
Clean *enough*. Let’s be real, this isn’t the Ritz. The cleaning standards are… variable. The sheets *usually* look clean. The bathroom… well, I wouldn't eat off the floor (or any surface, for that matter), but it's functional.
My one major room experience? I once found a small, unidentified, crusty object in the corner of the room. I opted to ignore it. I still have no clue what it was, but I’m pretty sure I don’t *want* to know. So, you know, bring your own wipes and maybe a hazmat suit, just in case. Okay, maybe not a hazmat suit, but you get the idea.
Is breakfast included? Because I NEED my coffee. Seriously.
It *might* be. Sometimes Hanting hotels in China offer a basic breakfast, but don't get your hopes up for a Western-style buffet. Think Chinese staples: congee (rice porridge), some steamed buns, maybe a hard-boiled egg that's been sitting out for… a while. The coffee? Eh, don't even ask. Pack your own instant, or prepare to wander the streets bleary-eyed in search of caffeine.
My advice? Find a local noodle shop early. Trust me, Lanzhou noodles are a life-saver. Breakfast at the hotel? Consider it a bonus if it's edible. If not, it's an adventure preparing you for a day of adventure!
Anything I *really* need to know before I book? Like, the *real* secrets?
Okay, here's the raw truth. First off, download a translation app, like, yesterday. Mandarin is helpful, but even knowing some basic phrases will be huge. Secondly, be prepared for a little…adventure. Things don't always go smoothly in Lanzhou. That's some of the charm, right? Err… right?
My *biggest* piece of advice? Remember the elevator story? Book a room on a low floor if you have any anxiety about heights (or rickety elevators). Also, try to get a room in the back – the street noise can be *intense*. And bring earplugs. Lots and lots of earplugs. Oh, and a sense of humor. You'll need it. Seriously, you will.
One more thing: The water pressure *may* be, shall we say, enthusiastic. The first time, I felt like I was standing in a fire hose. Adjust accordingly. And remember, you're in Lanzhou. Embrace the chaos, the weird food, and the potential for a slightly less-than-perfect hotel experience. It's all part of the fun, right?
Speaking of "fun", is there anything *near* the hotel? Like, can I walk to something interesting?
Okay, let's be real. "Walkable" is a relative term in Lanzhou. The Radio & TV Center itself isn't exactly a major tourist draw, but it's a good landmark for finding your bearings. There might be a few small shops and restaurants nearby, but you're not exactly steps away from the city's main attractions.
Things I *did* walk to? Well, I once walked *toward* a market. Ended up 3 blocks away from what I was looking for, and almost got run over by a scooter. I swear I could feel the exhaust fumes burning my lungs! Okay, not the best plan. Taxis or Didi (China's Uber) are your friends for exploring the wider area., you know, if you're into that. The Yellow River is a bit of a trek, and the White Pagoda Mountain Park is further out but worth it for the views. Basically, don't expect to step outside and be immersed in the cultural experience. That said, it's a pretty good base for exploring!
Okay, fine, you've (kind of) sold me. But what about the staff? Are they friendly? Can they speak English?
Friendly-ish. English skills are, let's say, limited. Be prepared to use a translation app (again, seriously, get one!), point, and mime. They're generally helpful and try their best, but don't expect fluent conversations about the nuances of your travel plans. I found them perfectly pleasant. The lady at the reception always manages to call me "sir", even when I walk in with a beard and a backpack. It's... a nice touch.
Remember to pack a phrasebook. And patience. And a sense of humor. See a pattern here?
Final verdict: Should I stay at this Hanting Hotel? Tell me, *honestly*!
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