5-Star Hotels in Yangzhou

Amidst the sweltering summer heat of Yangzhou, Rebuilding Ice Bowl Hotel, nestled beside Dongguan Street, offers a hidden oasis of cool tranquility within the bustling city. Originally a Qing Dynasty scholar-official's residence, its nine interconnected courtyards, with their green tiles and high walls, effectively block out the heat. Stepping inside, one is immediately enveloped in a refreshing coolness. Ancient pines lean against floor-to-ceiling windows, while lotus-scented breezes ripple across the pond, and a gentle mist drifts around pavilions, dispelling the summer's intensity. In the afternoon, sitting quietly in the tea room, brewing a pot of Green Willow Spring tea, the cicadas' chirping fades behind the brick courtyard walls, leaving only the fragrant scent of plants in the air. The Huaiyang dim sum at Xi Banquet is refreshing and delightful. Sitting by the window, one can watch the tree shadows gently sway on the white walls. There's no need to venture to the distant suburbs; here, in a century-old mansion, you can steal half a day of serene living. As the evening breeze drifts through the long, narrow alleyways, carrying away the oppressive heat, you begin to understand Yangzhou's unique summer elegance and leisurely pace within the Ice Bowl Hotel.

The biggest pleasant surprise of my trip to Yangzhou was this one-night stay. It's a peaceful oasis tucked away from the hustle and bustle, with every brick and tile in the courtyard showing thoughtful design. Strolling around felt like an immersive experience in a Jiangnan garden. The guest rooms steer clear of generic decor, with meticulous attention to detail, making the living experience far exceed expectations. Xiao Zhao (Zhao, the staff member) was genuinely attentive and thoughtful, proactively helping with many small things we hadn't even considered. This kind of heartfelt service is much more touching than mere pleasantries. This isn't just a place to crash for a night while sightseeing; it's somewhere you can slow down and truly enjoy your journey. I've saved it for future reference and will definitely return on my next visit to Yangzhou.

We were a family of three, and I specifically chose a room with a 1.5-meter bed plus a slightly smaller one, which made for a very spacious sleep. The pillows were a bit high; it would have been even better if there were options for pillows of different heights. Overall, the hotel's recreational environment is great for kids, with animal feeding and an outdoor swimming pool. In the evening, we went to the hot springs, which had many pools and a nice ambiance, although the fish spa, which the kids loved most, cost extra. If you want to visit Slender West Lake, it's very convenient from here. We also drove a short distance to a highly recommended restaurant online called Da Mao. If you're traveling with children and just want to enjoy the hotel and its surroundings, it's a relaxing choice.

Let's start with the downsides: Since the family room can accommodate three adults, there should be three sets of towels, bath towels, tooth mugs, drinking glasses, and coffee cups, not just two. Even children or teenagers need their own bath towel and tooth mug. Also, the curtain button was sometimes a bit unresponsive. Now for the positives: 1. The location is excellent, making it convenient to get anywhere. You can walk to the South Gate of Slender West Lake, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby. 2. The breakfast was good; while not exceptionally lavish, it had everything you'd expect. The coffee came from a machine and tasted great. 3. The terraces on four of the floors are a major highlight! Breakfast is on the 11th floor (top floor), and on a nice day, you can dine on the terrace, enjoying the lush forest view and a distant glimpse of the Qiling Pagoda while being shielded from the sun – a fantastic experience. You can also enjoy the night view in the evening. 4. The hairdryer is a Dyson, and in the lobby downstairs, there's a coffee machine, tea, hot water, and bottled water available.

Arrived in Yangzhou in the evening, and as soon as I got to the hotel entrance, someone helped me with my luggage and escorted me to the lobby. The front desk staff was incredibly gentle and patient during check-in, even upgrading my room and gifting me a local Yangzhou specialty: Yangda yogurt. The room was very clean and cozy, truly feeling like a home away from home, which put me completely at ease. The breakfast had a wide variety of options and tasted great. For lunch, I ordered Huaiyang cuisine at the hotel, which was delicious and comforting for the stomach. Dinner was also in the lobby, a hot pot that warmed me right up, melting away the chill from the rainy Yangzhou night. I was so impressed that Wanda Realm takes such care with its food, making my tired traveler's heart feel a sense of belonging. I'll definitely come back next time… I really didn't want to leave and felt a touch of reluctance.

Overall, I was quite satisfied. The waiters were very nice and there were many breakfast varieties. The dinner included in our original package was a buffet. Because there were not many people, they changed it to a Chinese restaurant to save costs. However, the standard was lowered to only 200 yuan, and it was not easy to order dishes by ourselves. We could only eat the dishes prepared by the chef. In addition, when checking in at the front desk, I saw that other tourists who stayed in the room had upgraded their courtyard rooms to garden views. So our package didn't seem to be that cost-effective, right?

A top-rated stay! My trip to Yangzhou ended perfectly, and from the moment I checked in, I experienced incredibly thoughtful service. The lobby manager, butler, and staff made me feel right at home, offering a wonderful blend of hospitality and freedom. Located right by Slender West Lake, the hotel had everything for dining, entertainment, and relaxation. The most pleasant surprise was the metasilicic acid hot spring – its skin-rejuvenating effects were amazing and left me feeling nourished and radiant. A must-try!

The place is beautiful. The rooms/cottages of the hotel are spread around a nice area. There is a vegetable garden and kids could feed the goats and rabbit. My kids loved the hotel and the room. Front desk gave us kids slippers and toothbrushes and a bag full of treats and snacks for the kids. Beds were very comfortable and the family room was beautiful with a balcony looking to the canal. Black swans swimming in there. The private outside hot bathtub was cool. They gave us some activity tickets (kids cookies baking, two free coffee cups and free entrance to the park beside), sadly we couldn’t use them, because we came noon and went to visit a different area , then left the next day after breakfast. The outside hotel surroundings are nice and peaceful. The food was great! Breakfast buffet is delicious. I would recommend it. There was a staff speaking English, but was not necessary for us. The service is very good and friendly…I’ll return.

The room was incredibly spacious with a great view. It's conveniently located next to a commercial area, making dining and even experiencing a Yangzhou-style scrub (a local bathing tradition) very easy. The hotel also offers laundry facilities, including detergent. It's very close to the Yizheng Baseball Field, just a 10-minute walk away. I have to especially commend the hotel service; they truly went above and beyond to provide whatever we needed. I'll definitely stay here again if I have the chance.

The location is good next to the Donghu Wetland Park (walking distance) although it's hard getting around if you don't have a car. The place is big, and you get a balcony with your room. It's also quiet. Unfortunately, the day I was leaving, my Didi/taxi driver I got ended up wasting my time for 30min (he kept driving further away from me--I don't know why) and then canceled on me and made me miss my train (I'm sure the hotel staff remember me exploding on the phone with him in the lobby). The hotel was good enough to arrange a ride for me (although I still didn't make the train on time). Luckily, I was able to get another train as I had to be at work at 7am the next morning. Anyway--it's a fine hotel for the money, but I wish transportation from there was a bit more reliable/frequent.