Beijing's BEST Hotel? Hanting Hotel World Park South Branch Review!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Hanting Hotel World Park South Branch in Beijing! Forget fluffy brochures – this is real talk, unfiltered and dripping with my subjective, probably-overly-opinionated take. And let's be honest, finding "the BEST" in Beijing is like searching for a perfect dumpling – always a delicious journey, but not always smooth.
First, Let's Get This Accessibility Thing Sorted (Because, Let's Face It, Sometimes It Matters!)
Okay, so accessibility. Hanting? It’s… okay. This isn’t the Ritz, folks. I didn't personally roll around in a wheelchair (thank heavens!), but the info suggests they do have "facilities for disabled guests." That usually means some ramps and maybe a room or two with grab bars. Important to call ahead and confirm your specific needs. Seriously, don't just assume!
Now, about the on-site accessible restaurants/lounges… Well, the information is rather sparse. We'll have to trust the listing provided.
Internet & Tech Troubles? My Saga!
Accessibility: The Good, the Bad, and the Wi-Fi (Oh, the Wi-Fi!)
Listen, after traveling from Beijing, a good connection is the most important part of a hotel. The good folks at Hanting boast "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" and "Internet access – wireless!". Great! Except getting that bloody Wi-Fi to actually function at a usable speed was a whole different Chinese puzzle. One time, I had to try three times before it worked, then it cut out when I was trying to video chat with my wife. That was a whole fiasco of me wandering the halls (yes, I did) because I was in a bad mood.
The Room: My Personal Fortress of Mediocrity (With a Bed!)
I'm not going to lie, Hanting isn't going to win any awards for interior design. The "Non-smoking rooms" are appreciated, and yes, there's "Air conditioning," which is a lifesaver in Beijing. But the "Closet" was a little… under-closeted. Not enough space to hang clothes, or to hide the evidence of my dumpling spree.
The "Bed" was, well, a bed. Nothing spectacular, but it served its purpose. The "Extra long bed" was a plus, for a tall person like me! The "Blackout curtains" were a lifesaver, allowing me to recover from jet lag, though. And I can confirm the presence of a "Hair dryer". Saved me too, as I forgot mine.
The "Things To Do" & "Ways to Relax" (or, My quest for Zen)
Right, real talk. This isn’t a spa resort. "Fitness center" is listed, but I wasn't about to waste my precious Peking duck time on a treadmill. And "Sauna," "Spa," "Pool with view"? Nope, nada, nil. If you're looking for serious pampering and relaxation, this ain't the place. This isn't a complaint, mind you, just a reality check. The list is a little oversold, or at least, the facilities might have been closed or not working.
Food & Drink: Dumplings, Dim Sum, and the (Potential) Morning Disaster
The "Asian breakfast" sounds promising, right? "Breakfast [buffet]"? Sounds ideal, right? Wrong. Okay, maybe not wrong, but the buffet was… utilitarian. Lots of noodles and stuff. It could have been better, yes, but at least it was available. Now, "Breakfast in room"? I did not see a service available. “Coffee shop” and “Restaurants” mentioned… I couldn’t find one, but I may be blind sometimes.
Cleanliness, Safety, and the (Relatively) Worry-Free Zone
Alright, this is where Hanting shines. I mean, they're serious about hygiene. All the "Hand sanitizer", “Hot water linen and laundry washing”, "Individually-wrapped food options", “Daily disinfection in common areas” and the "Daily housekeeping" – they seem to be taking things seriously. Everything was pretty clean, which, let's be real, is super important in a bustling city. The "CCTV in common areas," "Front desk [24-hour]," and fire safety features gave a decent sense of security too.
Services and Stuff: The Essentials (And a Convenience Store!)
They had the basics: "Concierge," "Elevator," "Laundry service". A "Convenience store" on site was a lifesaver for late-night snacks. Always a win. "Car park [free of charge]" is a major plus in Beijing.
Getting Around: Taxi, Taxi!
The hotel is located around an airport. "Airport transfer" and "Taxi service" are available. Getting around the city in a "Taxi service" is easy.
The Offer (Because You Need a Reason to Book!)
Okay, so here’s the deal. Hanting Hotel World Park South Branch isn’t going to blow your mind with luxury. And it may need some work. But if you're looking for a clean, safe, and relatively affordable place to crash while you’re exploring Beijing, with a reasonable base of operations, it's a solid choice.
Here’s my offer for you:
Book Hanting Hotel World Park South Branch Now and Get:
- Free Wi-Fi (fingers crossed it works this time!)
- A Clean Room (guaranteed, or I’ll eat my dumplings… metaphorically speaking)
- Proximity to key attractions
Disclaimer:I may have exaggerated some things. I'm a human, and subjectivity is part of my day-to-day life. The facilities may or may not exist in 2024, so check them!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Starway Hotel Nanhu Plaza, Urumqi!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is a chaotic, caffeine-fueled, slightly-too-honest-for-its-own-good descent into the heart of a Beijing adventure, specifically around that Hanting Hotel near the World Park South Branch. Don’t judge me, I’m running on fumes and dumplings.
The Utterly Unofficial, Maybe-Should-Have-Planned-Better, Hanting Hotel & World Park South Branch Shenanigans Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival (And Instant Regret - Just Kidding, Sort Of)
- 14:00 (ish) - Arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): Okay, so the flight was delayed. AGAIN. You'd think I'd learn to pack a damn book. Instead, I spent three hours people-watching, judging everyone's luggage choices (seriously, who needs that many designer bags?), and battling the existential dread of realizing I'm about to spend a week in a city I barely understand.
- 15:00 - 16:00 - The Taxi Tango: Finding a taxi that doesn't immediately try to rip you off is an Olympic sport. I swear, the meter started climbing faster than my blood pressure. Finally, after a heated debate (mostly consisting of me gesturing wildly and repeating "World Park, South Branch! Hanting Hotel!" like a broken record), we were on our way. The driver, bless his soul, seemed as confused as I was.
- **16:30 (more or less) - Hanting Hotel Check-In: ** The room. Let's just say "compact" is an understatement. It's the kind of place where you have to shuffle sideways to get to the bathroom. But hey, clean sheets, AC (thank god), and a questionable view of a concrete wall – what more could a weary traveler ask for? Actually, a bigger room might’ve been nice. And better soundproofing. I could hear my neighbor's snoring immediately.
- 17:00 - 18:00 - The Great Wall of Snacks (and Desperation): After a shower and a brief, soul-crushing reflection in the tiny mirror, I needed sustenance. Desperately. Found a dodgy little convenience store. Acquired mystery cookies (regret), instant noodles (comfort food), and a bottle of water that cost more than my first-born child (exaggeration, but it felt like it).
- 18:00 - Onwards - Mild Panic and Mild Dinner: I tried to order dinner. The menu was in Chinese. My Mandarin is… nonexistent. Pointing worked. I think I got chicken and rice? Some kind of tofu? Who knows. It was food. Sort of. It filled the void of loneliness and jetlag. I'm pretty sure I ate it while watching some bizarre Chinese drama where everyone was wearing elaborate costumes and shouting. I have no idea what was happening but it was oddly compelling.
Day 2: World Park - An Ode to Miniature Everything (And Existential Questions)
- 9:00 - 10:00 - Breakfast (or the lack thereof): The hotel breakfast was… interesting. Let's leave it at that. I skipped most of it and went straight for the coffee, which tasted suspiciously like brown water and regret.
- 10:30 - 16:00 - WORLD PARK! This is the main event, folks. I walked into World Park with a half-formed idea. I walked out… well, I walked out, but with more questions than answers. Basically, it's a theme park of miniature versions of famous landmarks. Miniature. The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal – all shrunk down. It’s simultaneously charming, slightly creepy, and strangely profound.
- Early On: I thought was all pretty cool. The little Arc de Triomphe was sweet, the tiny Trevi fountain was begging for a coin. The crowds were intense, though. Like, elbow-to-elbow, pushing-and-shoving intense. Apparently, everyone else thought miniature monuments were equally a good idea.
- Mid-Day Madness: The sheer scale of it started to mess with my mind. Am I tall, or are the monuments small? Am I small, or are the monuments large? Is the universe, in reality, a series of giant, miniature buildings? I started to feel dizzy. I need food.
- Lunchtime Let-Down: Found a restaurant in World Park that looked promising. Was not. The noodles were sad. The dumplings were soggy. The tea was lukewarm. My enthusiasm for tiny buildings wilted.
- Back to the Tiny Buildings: I’m not sure why, but after the lunch, I found myself drawn back to the miniature versions of the world. The whole thing made me feel… well, I had no idea. Happy? Sad? Confused? Inspired? All of the above? The miniature Sphinx were pretty cool, though. Seriously, the detail…
- 16:00 - The Escape: Got out of World Park which was harder than you can think. So many crowds! So many miniature things! I needed air. I needed a drink. I needed… well, I needed to find a place outside the park before I spontaneously combusted.
- 17:00 - Street Food Salvation: Found a little street food stall near the park entrance. Amazing! Savory pancakes, spicy noodles, and I think I even managed to figure out how to order a decent cup. It was the best street food I’ve ever had, because, well, it was the only decent thing that day.
- 18:00 - Retreat and Reminisce: Back at the hotel. Took a bath. Did some reflecting (more like, staring at the ceiling). World Park… it gets under your skin. Maybe tomorrow, I'll go back? Maybe not. Maybe I need therapy.
Day 3: The Great Wall (and the Great Headache)
- 7:00 - 8:00 - Wake Up, Dread: I'm feeling the jetlag. And the slightly-too-small bed. And the existential dread of the upcoming Great Wall excursion. But, the world is cruel and I had to get up anyway.
- 8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast (Trying Harder): Attempted to be adventurous at the hotel breakfast bar. Succeeded in discovering a mysterious, possibly raw sausage. Regret. Back to the brown water coffee.
- 9:00 - 11:00 - Transport Trauma: The plan was to take the public transportation. That was the plan, anyway. However, I ended up getting lost for an hour at a bus stop, trying to communicate with everyone, and failing. Finally, I gave up and just took a random bus to the station.
- 11:00 - 17:00 - THE GREAT WALL (Badass Edition): Okay, so I finally made it. The Wall. The actual, historical, magnificent thing. And… OMG. It's breathtaking. The views, the history, the sheer immensity of it all… It's a mind-blowing experience. Climbed like I was in a movie. I'm pretty proud. And then my shoes started falling apart.
- The Climb: It's more vertical than you think. So many steps! So little air! I sweated more than I thought humanly possible. But every single breathless moment was worth it.
- The Views: The rolling hills, the watchtowers, the endless horizon… It was magnificent. I felt like I was on top of the world.
- The Crowds: Despite going early, there were people. Lots and lots of people. But I lost myself in the immensity of it all.
- The Memories: I felt a deep sense of awe. I looked at the wall. Thought about Chinese history. Then I found a vendor selling water and bought the most expensive water in the world.
- The Descent: The way down was as challenging as the way up. Then my shoes fell apart.
- 17:00 - 19:00 - Back from the Dead (and the Wall): Exhausted and dehydrated, I battled the traffic back to Beijing. Finally, back to the hotel. I almost collapsed into the bed.
- 19:00 - Dinner (A Quiet Plea for Survival): Ordered something easy to the hotel room. Ate it in silence, staring at the concrete wall. Feeling satisfied.
Day 4: Rambling, Re-evaluating, and Maybe Not Leaving the Hotel
- 9:00 - 12:00 - Sleep in (maybe): I really just want to stay in bed. I want to watch TV. I want to nap.
- 12:00 - 13:00 - Lunch: Noodles in the hotel room.
- 13:00 - 17:00 - Maybe I should just stay in the hotel: Contemplating what to do. Watching TV. Wondering if I should try to learn some Chinese.
- 17:00 - Dinner (Again, Alone): Ordering from a delivery
Hanting Hotel World Park South Branch: The Unfiltered Truth (From Someone Who Actually Stayed There!)
Okay, spill the beans. Was it *really* as cheap as everyone says?
Alright, here's the deal. Cheap? Absolutely. Eye-wateringly so. I booked it because, let's be honest, I blew a good chunk of my budget on Peking duck and Tiananmen Square trinkets (regrets? maybe a few!). I booked a "double room" which was more "double-ish". It felt like I practically *stole* accommodation! But remember, you’re paying for a *place to sleep*, not the Ritz. Think… affordable. Think… you're basically funding the cleaning lady's kid's college fund. Think… budget-conscious adventurer. Seriously though, the price? Hard to beat. Hard. To. Beat.
The location – is it actually convenient to, you know, *stuff*?
World Park South Branch, huh? Sounds grand, doesn't it? Like, "Ooh, I'm near the Arc de Triomphe!" Nope. It's... well, it's near the World Park. Which is... a park. A park with miniature versions of world landmarks. It's kinda cool, actually, if you're into that. Getting to the *real* attractions, like the Forbidden City, takes a bit of strategizing. You're looking at a subway ride, probably involving a couple of changes. Let's just say I perfected the art of public transport in Beijing. It’s doable, just factor in extra time. And maybe download a good offline map. Trust me on this one. I did once went the wrong way and ended up at a random village, haha. Almost missed my train.
What about the *room*? The actual room? Is it, you know… habitable?
Okay, this is where things get… interesting. My room was... well, it was a room. It had a bed. It *looked* like a bed, anyway – it was a mattress on a platform with the thinnest sheet imaginable. The walls? Let's just say you could hear *everything*. The couple next door? Full soundtrack. The hallway conversations? Crystal clear. I think I heard someone order room service. In Mandarin. Honestly, I became intimate with every cough and sneeze. The bathroom? Functional. The shower had hot water, which, after a day in the Beijing humidity, was a GODSEND. The air conditioner was... loud, but it worked. Sort of. Think, like, a giant, grumpy hairdryer. It did its job, but it was a whiny teenager about it. Was it luxurious? Absolutely not. Did I survive? Yes. Did I sleep? Yes. Eventually. Earplugs are your best friend here. Pack them. Seriously.
Cleanliness – is it a dealbreaker?
Alright, let's talk cleanliness. This is where the Hanting starts to show its budget side. Let's just say 'spotless' isn't the first word that springs to mind. The sheets, I *think* they were clean, but I'm not entirely certain. I definitely checked for…things. You know the drill. Hair, questionable stains, stuff you just *don't* want to know about. The bathroom was cleaned daily, but it could have been better. I wouldn't eat off the floor. Okay, *I wouldn't even think about eating off the floor.* But, honestly, for the price, I wasn't expecting a hospital room. It was *livable*. Bring some anti-bacterial wipes, just in case. And maybe some of those weird little disposable toilet seat covers. I'm a germaphobe, so I always do anyway.
The staff - friendly? Helpful? Or just… there?
The staff... Well, they were there. Their English proficiency varied. Some were super helpful, others... less so. I had one interaction where I tried to ask for a taxi, and I'm pretty sure they just stared at me. Then, after a long moment of awkward silence and some frantic gesturing by me, a taxi magically appeared anyway. Maybe it's all the magic, who knows? But, to be fair, they always tried. They were efficient, if not particularly effusive. Think… airport security. They're polite enough, but not exactly your new best friend. But, hey, they did their job, right? And the price? Still worth it.
Let's talk about the breakfast, or lack thereof...
Breakfast? Oh, right. Breakfast. I think there *was* a breakfast option. I *think* I saw it. *Once*. It involved some kind of rice congee, mystery meat, and a lot of things I couldn't identify. Let's just say I stuck to the 7-Eleven across the street for my morning fuel. Instant noodles and pre-packaged pastries were my breakfast companions. It was a culinary *experience*, to be sure. But the hotel breakfast... yeah, I passed. For the price, I wasn't expecting a continental spread. I’m a simple girl, I need my coffee and a banana.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Okay, here’s the brutally honest truth. For what I wanted – a clean-ish, cheap-ish place to collapse after a day of sightseeing and eating all the dumplings Beijing had to offer - yes, I would. Am I recommending it to my mother? No, absolutely not. She would have a coronary. But for a budget traveler? A backpacker? Someone who prioritizes experience over luxury? Yeah, absolutely. Just pack earplugs, hand sanitizer, and a sense of adventure. Really just buckle up and give it a shot. It's an *experience*. It's a story. It’s a *cheap* story. You won't regret it, for better or for worse. It's a character builder! Just, maybe, bring your own pillow.
