West Lake State Guesthouse

No wonder it's rated the number one garden! The scenery is beautiful, and the service is meticulous and thoughtful. The hotel facilities are comprehensive, the rooms are spotlessly clean, and the environment is very comfortable. The breakfast is abundant, and the dining area is pleasant. You can even see the visitors on Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda from the hotel grounds.

This hotel is perfect for a trip with parents. Given their generation, they'll appreciate staying at a hotel once frequented by Chairman Mao. The State Guesthouse boasts a prime location by West Lake, and after a early summer rain, it feels like a magical wonderland. The grounds are expansive, featuring various garden landscapes and even a small hill to climb. I'd recommend staying at least two nights! When we visited, they even offered two complimentary photo shoots, where you could pick 5 photos from each. The spot by the arch bridge on the lake, with Leifeng Pagoda in the background, was absolutely stunning! The hotel service was also top-notch. We went after the Dragon Boat Festival peak, and they upgraded our room type. My room also got an upgrade due to a minor drainage issue. Building #8 is very convenient, and the ground-floor rooms with a courtyard are excellent.

I stayed at the Xihu State Guest House for two days, and this place has an inexplicable magic that makes you slow down unconsciously. Just walking by the lake, sitting in the garden, looking at the trees and the water, I barely even touched my phone. That feeling of not having to rush, not having to think about where to go next, was wonderful. I even met up with A Zhe from Xiaowan Travel Photography and took a few relaxed photos in the garden, which I'm really happy with. The hotel service was excellent, and the breakfast was incredibly rich, truly a five-star standard. The only downsides were that the room's Wi-Fi was too slow, and there was no children's pool, while the adult pool was too deep.

The facilities are well-equipped. The bathtub water temperature was perfect for a soak, which is a pleasant surprise as even some high-end hotels sometimes miss the mark. The toiletries provided were also very comfortable to use, maintaining the hotel's premium feel. However, building #7 lacks dining, fitness, and leisure amenities, with all public facilities concentrated in building #8. A shuttle service helps to bridge this gap, and the trade-off is a very peaceful environment. The cleanliness was exceptional. The room, including corners and the bathroom, was spotless. The grounds were also kept meticulously clean. The environment is stunning, right next to West Lake. The hotel's garden and landscaping are beautiful, with greenery and water features everywhere. The terrace room offers a comfortable and enjoyable view. The service was excellent. The staff were very friendly, and the front desk proactively inquired about my needs and were always willing to assist, responding very promptly.

We booked a family room, which was ideally located in Building Two. The room was spacious with a huge bed, and the lake view from the window was absolutely stunning. The room's facilities were excellent, and it was spotlessly clean and tidy. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a welcome fruit platter including passion fruit, blueberries, and mangoes, along with some pastries. We also received complimentary snacks and drinks. The staff's service attitude was exceptional. When they learned that someone in our group was celebrating a birthday, they specially prepared a small cake and delivered a rose to our room. They were incredibly accommodating to almost every request. The breakfast was a Chinese buffet with a wide variety of dishes, and the dining environment was also beautiful. For dinner, we dined at the Ziwei Hall, which requires advance reservation. As a two-diamond 'Black Pearl' restaurant, the dishes were beautifully presented and tasted fantastic, especially the whole 'West Lake Vinegar Fish,' which was incredibly delicious. The 'Plum Sauce Pork Ribs' were also very good. We ordered eight dishes for five people, and it was just right. Although it was expensive, it was definitely worth it. The restaurant also decorated our table and provided a complimentary small cake and longevity noodles for the birthday celebration, which was fantastic. The hotel at night was very quiet and dark, perfect for staying in your room. The hotel in the morning was beautiful, with distant views of Leifeng Pagoda and Su Causeway directly opposite. Nearby are Quyuan Fenghe and Huagang Guanyu (Viewing Fish at Flower Pond). A morning run in the gardens was wonderful, followed by a climb up Dingjia Mountain to see where Chairman Mao once studied. The transportation was also very convenient. If driving, there's parking available. Taxis and ride-hailing services can drop you directly at the reception in Building Eight. For public transport, you can take Metro Line 3 to 'Huanglongdong Station' and then walk about 4.4 km. Alternatively, take Line 1 to 'Longxiang Station' and walk about 6.6 km along the beautiful northern side of West Lake. Or take Metro Line 7 to 'Wushan Square Station' and walk about 5 km along the southern side of West Lake to experience the beauty of Nanshan Road. Overall, our experience at the West Lake State Guest House was superb! It felt like sleeping on West Lake itself. The quality and attitude of the service staff were outstanding. We will definitely choose to stay at the West Lake State Guest House again on our next trip to Hangzhou.

The staff are well-trained. The environment is lovely. The breakfast buffet was delicious, and the complimentary in-room snacks and Longjing tea were a treat. The daily fruit selection was generous. The complimentary 'Xiao Wan' photography experience was excellent; my photographer, Mr. Zhao, was very experienced, and the results exceeded my expectations. The surroundings are beautiful and peaceful, making it unnecessary to visit other West Lake attractions. It's definitely worth another visit. I hope to see the goose and duck family of three again next time; I didn't have enough time to play with them this visit. All the photos and videos uploaded were taken within the State Guest House.

Service: All the staff were incredibly welcoming. I didn't have to worry about my luggage at all; they even helped carry it to my room, which was a huge help for someone like me who's not great with directions. The hotel also has a kids' play area and a small library, along with some family activities. It’s perfect for staying in the hotel when it's too hot in the afternoon, definitely not boring. Hygiene: The hotel even offers housekeeping twice a day, promptly emptying trash and replacing towels. 👍👍 Daily Welcome Fruit: Every day, we received a lotus pod along with other fresh and sweet fruits. My child absolutely loved them.

Highly recommend this guesthouse! The scenery is beautiful, with exclusive views of the West Lake's inner lake. The staff are warm and attentive. They offer a turndown service, and I particularly enjoyed the 'Famous Garden Night Chat' each day – a thoughtful touch. The staff at Building 7, in particular, left a deep impression with their professional service and enthusiastic attitude.

I was initially torn between staying at the Xihu State Guest Hotel and the Xizi Hotel, but ultimately chose the Xihu State Guest Hotel because of its larger grounds. Here are my thoughts: 1. **Absolutely beautiful!** It's lush, green, with charming bridges and flowing water, right on West Lake. You can gaze at Leifeng Pagoda in the distance, past the Su Causeway. It truly feels like living in a park, so much so that I didn't want to leave the hotel at all. (Because the Su Causeway blocks part of the view, you can't see the entire expanse of West Lake, but this also contributes to its peacefulness.) 2. I stayed in Building 7, and the **service was excellent**. The staff were truly exemplary – they'd immediately stand up when they saw a guest, answer every question, and were patient and gentle. 3. Of course, **it's not perfect**. The soundproofing isn't great; I could hear my neighbors getting ready early in the morning. The hotel also isn't cheap, but they use a L'Oréal hairdryer? And for two or three thousand a night, the amenities included Twinings tea bags? And the minibar is chargeable? While I don't really drink a lot of beverages, at this price point, I truly didn't expect them to skimp on these small costs. Also, breakfast... it was quite something. I won't comment on the taste, but the variety wasn't extensive either. So, my positive review is really for the ambiance and the service. If you're looking for a quiet escape, you shouldn't miss this place!