White Swan Hotel

I initially thought the hotel might be old, but it wasn't at all. I stayed in a suite. It's an old five-star hotel, and it doesn't lose out to modern five-star hotels one bit. It has a similar vibe to Shangri-La hotels. The carpets were very clean and even smelled good; I understood why after seeing the hotel's carpet cleaning machines and staff. It's worth staying here. Especially suitable for a trip with your mother.

I really love this classic State Guesthouse. The White Swan Hotel has a deep-rooted history, and the staff are all very professional and well-qualified. For dinner, we went to the Jade Garden restaurant on the third floor. We got a table right away without waiting, around 5:15 PM. There was a live guzheng performance for 45 minutes, and hotel guests get a 15% discount on food, plus a 15% service charge. Our meal for two cost 1075 yuan. We stayed in a river view room. The blackout curtains worked great, so no sunlight came through in the morning. The shower had excellent water pressure, making for a comfortable wash. What was unpleasant, however, was the service at the bakery on the first floor. A tall female staff member, upon hearing I wanted to buy a Napoleon cake to send home, immediately told me it couldn't be shipped. She claimed they'd had incidents where customers complained about expired food after shipping, blaming the delivery person. I told her that if I chose to ship it, I would accept the risk of spoilage and she needn't worry. She insisted I call SF Express to confirm if they would ship Napoleon cakes. I made the call, and the courier arrived quickly to pick up the package. Plus, SF Express offers next-day air delivery. It's not necessary for the bakery staff to play the role of a know-it-all when it comes to potential disputes with couriers later on. If I couldn't ship it, I'd just eat it myself. Why make a customer who has traveled so far so unhappy? Why create so many hurdles just to sell a cake? I really don't understand. Her well-intentioned advice, which crossed professional boundaries, was unnecessary. A simple reminder would have sufficed. If I couldn't ship it, would she have refused to sell it to me? It's such a simple process: the customer wants to buy bread, you scan the code and take payment. This was truly bizarre.

This classic hotel is still very well-maintained. The city view room exceeded my expectations – it was so comfortable to sit by the window with a cup of coffee in the morning! Plus, the location is absolutely superb. The only slight disappointment was Yu Tang Chun Nuan, which didn't quite meet my expectations. I'd definitely come back to stay again if I have the chance!

🦢 My stay at White Swan Hotel was absolutely fantastic! It truly lives up to its reputation as a seasoned five-star hotel. The overall ambiance is elegant, with a strong Lingnan garden vibe. The room was comfortable and quiet, and the service was thoughtful and attentive. I also got to enjoy the highly anticipated morning tea. The stay included three complimentary travel photos, and the photographer was great at finding the best angles – the final pictures turned out wonderfully. Every corner of the hotel is perfect for photos. My entire stay was delightful and relaxing. It's definitely a must-visit when in Guangzhou, and I'll choose to stay here again next time.

I chose White Swan Hotel for the last day of my trip, having heard about this long-standing five-star hotel for a while. Experiencing it firsthand, I can say it truly lives up to its reputation. The service was exceptional, making me feel right at home, and the hotel was very clean. I was extremely satisfied.

This is an established five-star hotel, and although it's been around for a while, it's exceptionally well-maintained. All the facilities are complete, the environment is excellent, and it's spotlessly clean. The service is also top-notch. The hotel's Yu Tang Chun Nuan restaurant is fantastic and definitely worth trying! We had originally only booked one night, but we decisively extended our stay for another. Highly recommended!

Overall, it was good! Most of the services were also quite good. The swimming pool was a bit old, with a lot of mold and moss visible. Also, the service from the front desk staff member who checked me in was okay, but there's room for improvement. Firstly, a warmer welcome would be nice. Secondly, is it necessary to announce the room number aloud? I recall that when I worked at a five-star hotel front desk, this wasn't allowed due to privacy concerns. Furthermore, there was no brief introduction to the hotel facilities. I wasn't informed about the location of basic amenities like the gym and pool. It could be better, and I hope White Swan continues to improve!

Let's start with the downsides. The overall facilities and decor are a bit old and outdated, which is to be expected given the hotel's age. The bathroom doesn't have a separate shower (you have to stand in the bathtub to shower), no smart toilet, and the TV doesn't support screen mirroring (or maybe I just couldn't figure it out). Since the hotel is in a scenic area, if you want to take the subway, you have to cross a pedestrian bridge (without an escalator), which might be inconvenient for those with mobility issues. The day I arrived, I came out of Baiyun Airport T3 with luggage and, thinking it would be a bit of a walk to the ride-hailing pick-up point, I took a taxi. There was no queue, and I estimated it would be around 120 RMB, but I ended up paying over 180 RMB to the hotel, clearly ripped off. I'd recommend using ride-hailing apps like Didi when in Guangzhou. Later, when I went to Shunde and called a Didi, the driver told me halfway that I needed to cover the round-trip highway tolls (I'd certainly cover the one-way), and I didn't say anything. I just let him add it to the fare and later reported it to the platform, and I got a refund quickly. Now for the positives :) Firstly, the hotel's location is superb, right on Shamian Island, surrounded by historic buildings that are perfect for photos! It's also not far from Yongqingfang, Shangxiajiu, and Beijing Road Pedestrian Street; it's convenient to walk or take a taxi. Secondly, the hotel's Yu Tang Chun Nuan is a well-known Guangzhou restaurant. We had dim sum for breakfast, and it was perfect, though a bit pricey, but worth it. You can buy some dim sum from the ground floor to take away; skip the mooncakes as nobody eats them now, but the Sachima is quite good and makes a nice gift. The hotel staff are generally of high quality and are mostly very accommodating.