Nanjing's Hidden Gem: Hanting Premium Hotel Review (Pukou Pudong Rd)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the… well, let’s call it the Hanting Premium Hotel (Pukou Pudong Rd) experience in Nanjing. Forget fluffy brochure speak; this is the real deal, warts and all. Prepare for a review that's as messy and unpredictable as a Nanjing traffic jam.
Alright, so I ended up at the Hanting Premium on Pukou Pudong Rd. – a sentence I never thought I'd type, but here we are. Let's be honest, my expectations weren’t exactly SKY-HIGH. "Premium" and "Hanting" don't exactly scream luxury, right? But listen, Nanjing is a city of surprises, and the real question is, do you get good sleep, you know?
Accessibility & Getting Around (aka: The Great Navigation Nightmare):
Okay, so accessibility – that’s a biggie. I'm not a wheelchair user, but I did see the elevator, so check on that front. The rooms seemed pretty spacious from what I could gather, and I think I spotted some facilities for disabled guests, but I'm not sure.
Navigating Pukou is an adventure in itself. Airport transfer is offered - HUGE plus. Car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site] were things I used - great if you're driving, which I didn't. There's a taxi service, but good luck explaining exactly where you are.
First Impressions & The Room (AKA: Where the Magic… Might Happen):
First, the elevator: it worked! A minor miracle in some Chinese hotels. The exterior corridor was your standard, giving a certain 'budget hotel' feel. The non-smoking rooms are a given, which is fantastic these days. The staff… well, the front desk [24-hour] was… functional. Not exactly brimming with smiles, but efficient. The check-in/out [express] option is available, which is what I wanted, after a harrowing cab ride from the train station.
And the room? Okay, this is where things got interesting. The air conditioning was a godsend after the Nanjing humidity. The blackout curtains were crucial for catching some sleep. The bed? Comfort level: average. The internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! were a blessing. I could actually connect! (This is a huge win in China, trust me). The desk and laptop workspace are standard. I did spot a mini bar – don't expect anything fancy. The TV had tons of channels, but I couldn't understand a WORD (I can't vouch for the on-demand movies). Free bottled water is always appreciated.
Cleanliness & Safety (AKA: Can I Actually Relax?):
This is HUGE, especially post-pandemic. Thankfully, the anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, and rooms sanitized between stays were very evident. Hand sanitizer was readily available. And the thing that truly impressed me? The staff seemed to be following the staff trained in safety protocol. It's reassuring, and I took notice of the smoke detector and fire extinguisher.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking (AKA: Fueling the Adventure):
The Restaurants! I did not eat. But I did manage to make it to the coffee shop. The Asian breakfast and Asian cuisine in restaurant looked okay. I assume the Western breakfast and Western cuisine in restaurant probably exist. I did catch sight of the bar - though, I did not use, nor did I spot any Poolside bar (the pool wasn’t a thing). And the Snack bar? I didn't see it, but would have loved it. Room service [24-hour] is a game changer if you're tired after a long day of exploring.
Services & Conveniences (AKA: The Bits & Bobs):
Daily housekeeping – yay. Laundry service – double yay. There's an elevator – obviously a great thing. Cash withdrawal is easy peasy. I got a good look at their Luggage storage. The Concierge was helpful. The Front desk [24-hour] was… there. The Convenience store was convenient. You'll need it.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (AKA: Hmmm…):
Okay, this is where the Hanting Premium… kinda… stumbled. No pool with view, no sauna, no Spa. No gyms were there either. The hotel is a place to stay, and not a destination. This is where you'd ideally take advantage of the fact that you are in Nanjing.
For the Kids (AKA: Bring the Munchkins?):
I didn’t have kids with me. I saw no sign of any Babysitting service, or even Kids meal.
Final Verdict (AKA: The Honest Truth):
Look, the Hanting Premium Hotel isn't the Four Seasons. BUT, for the price and the location, it does the job. It's clean, generally safe, has solid Wi-Fi, and the staff are, well, they're there. If you need a comfortable place to crash in the Pukou area, close to transport links, and aren’t going for luxury, it's a decent option. I certainly survived.
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Escape to Paradise: Palazzo Jannuzzi Relais Awaits in Sorrento, Italy
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the chaotic beauty that is my trip to the Hanting Premium Hotel Nanjing Pukou Pudong Road, Nanjing, China. Forget those pristine, perfectly planned itineraries. This is the real deal, folks. Prepare yourselves for a roller coaster of jet lag, questionable food choices, and the occasional existential crisis.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Noodle Debacle
Morning (or, let's be honest, afternoon, thanks to a brutal red-eye): Landed in Nanjing. Everything's a blur of customs, the overwhelming scent of…something…(jasmine tea? exhaust fumes? who knows!), and the desperate need for coffee. Found the airport shuttle, which, naturally, involved a frantic sprint and a near-collision with a rolling suitcase. The driver seemed mildly amused by my flailing arms. Score one for me!
Afternoon: Finally reached the Hanting Premium. The lobby? Clean, sterile, and devoid of any character. The room? Well, it had a bed. And a tiny TV. And a surprisingly functional air conditioner (thank God). The view? Mostly other buildings. Honestly, I was too exhausted to care about the vista. The real battle was against the urge to crawl into bed and not emerge for a week.
Evening: THIS is where things get interesting. The Great Noodle Debacle. My stomach, having survived the flight, decided to protest loudly. "Food! Now!" it bellowed. I, obeying its commands, wandered out, armed with Google Translate and a reckless spirit.
- Found a tiny noodle shop. The aroma was intoxicating. The menu?…Mostly ideograms. Pointed at a picture of what looked like noodles. This was the beginning of a beautiful, if somewhat terrifying, relationship with an unknown dish. Turns out, it was noodles. But, oh, the texture! The broth! It was a spicy, oily, savory explosion of something I couldn’t even begin to identify. Somewhere between delicious and 'why am I sweating?'. I practically inhaled it. Was it the best noodle experience of my life? Maybe. Was it also slightly terrifying? Absolutely. I'm still unsure if the sweat was from the chili or my own anxiety about not knowing what I was eating. Also, I'm pretty sure I made a mess of myself and the table. Sorry, noodle shop owner!
- Rant time: Why is it so hard to find chopsticks that actually, you know, work? I fought with those things like it was a life-or-death struggle. I ended up with noodles plastered everywhere, including my face. So. Much. Regret.
Night: Collapsed into bed. Jet lag kicked in, full force. Woke up at 2 AM convinced the hotel room was haunted. It wasn't. Just sleep-deprived. And maybe a little bit haunted by the memory of those noodles.
Day 2: Temples, Tea, and the Existential Dread of Being a Tourist
Morning (ish): Finally managed to pry myself out of bed. The world was…still there. Hooray. Decided to be all cultural and visit the Jiming Temple. It was gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. The colors, the architecture, the sheer sense of history…made me seriously appreciate beauty again. I even lit some incense (probably the highlight of my whole trip).
Afternoon: Tea time! Found a tea house, because, when in China, drink tea. Ordered a pot of something fancy that the server looked like a little like I was trying to poison myself. Turns out it was delicious. Sipped my tea, stared out the window, and contemplated the meaning of life. Or maybe just where I could find a decent map. The whole experience just made me want to stay curled up in the tea house, sipping tea and staring into space, but I reluctantly paid the bill and left.
- Rambling thought: Standing in front of a millennia-old temple, you know? Really puts your own little existence into perspective. Suddenly, all my worries about work emails and grocery shopping felt incredibly…small. And then, just as quickly, I was stressing over what to eat for dinner. The human condition, am I right?
Evening: Found a street food market. This was a mistake. So many smells. So many potential food poisoning factories. Faced with a wide array of fried things and unknown meats on sticks. I bravely approached a stall of dumplings and made friends with the vendor, who spoke even less English than I spoke Mandarin. But, with a series of gestures and the universal language of pointing, I secured myself a plate. They were heavenly. Soft, savory, and oh-so-delicious. Definitely worth the potential food poisoning.
Night: Back in the hotel. Replaying the day in my head. Am I actually having fun? Yes. Am I also slightly terrified? Maybe. But hey, that's what makes it an adventure, right?
Day 3: Forbidden City Excursion and the Unexplained Phenomena
Morning: A trip to the Presidential Palace, an absolute must-see! It was magnificent, a truly impressive tribute to the past. The historical significance! I even felt a twinge of patriotism (even though I’m not even Chinese!). I am not a huge fan of crowds, however, finding myself jostled, shoved, and slightly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people. At one point I was pushed right in front of a group taking a photo, and I ended up in someone's vacation photos. I'd like to apologize immediately for any and all potential photobombing.
Afternoon: Back at the hotel. Spent an hour staring out of the window, feeling vaguely depressed about the amount of laundry I'd need to do when I got home. Then I decided to go out to the local supermarket in search of some snacks - a bad idea, ended up spending more time staring at packages and wondering what each one was than shopping!
Evening: Something weird happened. Tried to order room service… which wasn’t available. Tried to find a restaurant… which was closed. Ended up eating the stale biscuits I bought earlier as dinner, ate them, threw them away. A small tragedy, but still.
Night: Another night of bad sleep. The AC is loud, but without it the room is unbearably hot. I'm starting to suspect the hotel is actively trying to sabotage my enjoyment.
Day 4: Departure - Finally! (Or, More Accurately, The Great Escape)
Morning: The final morning. Managed to pack, sort of. Did I mention I have a knack for leaving things behind? I can only hope I haven't forgotten anything essential, (like my sanity, I jest).
Afternoon: Airport time. Reflecting on the trip and still feeling a bit confused when it was all said and done. I made some amazing memories, ate some incredibly questionable things, and probably looked like a complete idiot at least 50 times. Would I do it again? Absolutely (after a long nap and copious amounts of coffee).
Departure: Finally, finally, on the plane. And as I look back at the last few days I realize that, in the end, it wasn't the temples or the historical sights. It was the messy, the imperfect, the hilariously disastrous moments that made it truly memorable. China, you've been wonderful…and exhausting.
So yeah, that's my "itinerary". A glorious, unedited, probably-slightly-exaggerated account of my experience. I hope you enjoyed the chaotic ride! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find some decent sleep. I'll be back in Nanjing someday, but I won't be the same. I'll be better.
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Hanting Premium Hotel (Pukou Pudong Rd), Nanjing: The Unvarnished Truth (and Maybe Some Regret)
So, is this place actually a "premium" experience? Don't lie to me, okay?
"Premium"? Oh, honey, "premium" is a *relative* term. Let's just say the "premium" got a little lost in translation somewhere. Look, it's clean-ish. The bed didn’t collapse when I flopped onto it (a win in my book these days). But "premium" conjures images of fluffy robes, champagne on arrival, and someone actually *caring* about whether your conditioner is the right one for your specific hair type. This? This is more like… thoughtfully arranged budget. Think: "Could-be-worse-but-could-be-better-easily." It's like that friend who *claims* to be a gourmet but just microwaves frozen dumplings. You get the picture.
The Location - Pukou Pudong Road. Tell me the *vibe*... and is it practical?
Ah, Pukou Pudong Road. Picture this: You're in Pukou. Now, imagine a road. And that road… okay, it’s actually fine. Seriously. Look, the hotel's not plonked in the middle of a bustling tourist hub, which is either a blessing or a curse, depending on your personality. It’s definitely more… local. Expect a lot of noodle shops (bless!), a few karaoke joints (potentially a curse!), and the general hustle and bustle of Nanjing life, away from gleaming shopping malls and whatnot. Public transport... is a thing. Did I *master* it? Let's just say I arrived at the hotel eventually, and leave it at that. (My Chinese is... improving! Slowly.)
Let's talk about the room itself. Comfort level? Design details that made you gasp? Or cringe?
Okay, room… right. It's *functional*. The bed, as I mentioned, didn't immediately disintegrate. There’s a TV (mostly Chinese channels, if you're into that; I'm not fluent, so mostly I watched… nothing). The bathroom? Cleanish. Again, a running theme.. I did NOT find any design element that made me gasp in awe. In fact, the lighting seemed to have a personal vendetta against me; it was either strobe-light bright or twilight darkness. I swear, I spent a good ten minutes just figuring out the on/off switch for the bedside lamp, which was designed by someone who clearly hates all humans. And the air conditioning... Oh, the air conditioning. It sounded like a jet engine taking off, except it was blowing lukewarm air. And the walls? Thin. VERY thin. Let's just say I learned a lot about my neighbors' sleep schedules and the intricacies of their morning coughs.
Breakfast! Tell me about the breakfast spread! Is it worth it? Do I need to BYO?
Breakfast. Right. Look, I'm a breakfast person. I LIVE for those tiny sausage links, the questionable scrambled eggs, and the mystery-meat dumplings. And the Hanting Hotel's breakfast? Let's just say it wasn't a *deal breaker*. It wasn't winning any culinary awards, but it wasn’t inedible. There were, again, sausage links, and some sort of... porridge thing. I think I saw some pickled vegetables. It got me fed, but don’t expect a gourmet feast. It's probably worth the nominal extra cost, otherwise, BYO instant noodles from any convenience store. And a coffee. The coffee machine looked like it was older than the hotel itself.
Service. Any stellar examples of hospitality? Or any moments you wanted to scream?
Service. Okay, this is where it gets... complicated. The staff were perfectly polite, never *rude*. But… there was a certain level of... detached efficiency. They did their jobs. They answered my questions (mostly). They didn't seem particularly *thrilled* to be there, nor did they make any real effort to make the experience feel uniquely tailored or welcoming. My experience? Mostly neutral, a sort of ambient politeness. No screaming. (Unless you count the air conditioning, but that was mechanical, not human).
Okay, the big one: Would you stay here again? Be honest! And WHY, or why not?
Would I... I'm torn. Seriously, torn. If I was on a tight budget and just needed somewhere clean-ish to crash for a couple of nights *and* didn't plan on spending much time in the room? *Maybe.* If I were on a romantic getaway? Absolutely, positively, categorically NOT. If I prioritised a great night's sleep, I’d look elsewhere. If I needed to be centrally located to all the major tourist attractions…. Well, the location isn’t *horrendous*, it's just not *amazing*. Honestly? It's a solid option for the price, if you understand what you're getting. It's no luxury, but it's functional. The bottom line? I probably would, but I wouldn't be *excited* about it.
Okay, the *best* and *worst* thing about this hotel in a nutshell? Give me the highlights and the lowlights!
Alright, the quick and dirty: Best Thing? The price. It was cheap. It served a purpose. Worst thing? I am still not sure if those were sausage links or something else entirely at breakfast. And the air conditioning. Oh, the air conditioning. And the lighting. Okay, and the thin walls. Okay, maybe there are more "worst" things. Let us say, it was functional. And you get what you pay for.
Spill the tea: Any truly *unforgettable* experience? Something you'll be telling your friends about?
Ooh, Unforgettable? Oh, yes. The *bathroom*. I was in there, you see, and took a shower. All was well! And then, the hot water ran out. Completely. In the middle of my shampooing, the tap coughed, sputtered, and then gave out. I had to finish rinsing my conditioner under... lukewarm water. The feeling of semi-clean, half-conditioned hair is one I, to this day, am still processing with a therapist (kidding!). It wasn’t just the cold water though, it was the sheer *absurdity*. The whole experience, the stark inadequacy of the shower, the utter lack of hot water, was a perfect metaphor, the very embodiment of the hotel itself. A slightly disappointing, ultimately manageable experience that I guess… I’ll never forget.
