2-Sterne-Hotels in Jiangsu, China

I arrived in pouring rain. I thought I could walk to my hotel but it was impossible in the downpour. I didn’t want to bother any hotel owner.   I didn’t and still don’t  have an eSIM that can make local  call but thanks to Trip.com, there is a link that I could call the owner for free.  I didn’t advise the owners my arrival time so they were off running errands.  I called the owner to pick me up and thankfully he answered. He was busy but gracious enough to turn around and picked me up. It knew Zhouhuang requires a ticket but I didn’t know that no cars, nor motorcycles, nor bicycles are allowed. Without him I would have arrived the hotel easily.  I always like to meet the owners instead of employees . They were very helpful and answered all my questions. They are honest people who dedicate their  blood and sweat to their business. The owner even offered to walk me to the bus stop  to Suzhou which was my next destination.  This  operates two hotels with 9 in one and 6 in the other. The one that I stayed in with 9 rooms is in a  lively and busy area . Just outside the hotel is a restaurant and there are plenty of places to eat. Inside the hotel is a peaceful oasis where you won’t hear any noise. The location is the best. The other hotel is in a quieter neighborhood a few minutes away. Each of the 15 rooms has it’s own personality, is different and has its distinctive decoration. The owners said they decorated them themselves. I love the decoration and especially the lighting.  After you reserve a room, be sure to contact the owner for the exact address in case you want to arrive on your own. I think it is best to request the owner to take you there because he/she will lead you to the ticket booth to buy tickets. There are a number of bridges so heavy big luggages can be a bit of a challenge .  If you arrive after 5 pm, you can enter free of charge as no one is there to check your ticket. . But once you are inside, and if you choose to leave the area after 8 or 9 am until 5 pm, you have to pay to come back in. You can buy a one day or in my case 3 days pass.  Do check with the owner for up to date information.  The room was quite clean. There were hot water all the time. There were other guests during my stay but they were not noisy at all. I barely heard them. I slept very well during my 3 nights there.  Zhouhuang is really beautiful. There are many canals, bridges, boat rides, good food of all kinds. I had some of the best meals there. In fact , I ate in the same restaurant that serves dumpling twice. One night I had grill (BBQ) meat just outside the entrance for 4 yuans. .  There is decent size supermarket just outside the turnstile and not too far away is a much bigger supermarket. It was there where I bought half a Peking duck for only 32 yuans . The seller sliced the meat and separated the meat from  the bones. The bones he fried so it was crunchy.  It was delicious. There is a theater that offers performances. The night view is great. If you step out your room, you will be overwhelmed in a good sense by the exciting surroundings.  This hotel definitely is one of the best that I have ever stayed in. Look at the beautiful pictures and find one that you like.  I stayed only 3 nights and one of those days I went to Tongli. In my opinion, one should spend at least 2 to 3 full days in  Zhouhuang (and especially this hotel ) savor the ambience. I don’t think Tongli is worth the time because it was twice as expensive and there are not that many canals and boat rides. It is much quieter and has fewer things to see. . The worst is that the sightseeing places require you to show your ticket. After 2 places, I lost mine ticket and I  couldn’t get in the rest of the places. It is unnecessary to require proof of entrance because you can’t enter the area without a ticket. 

I was initially asked by the hotel to leave a five-star review, but after my full stay I can’t do so in good conscience, and I have since adjusted my rating based on the second half of my booking. This was a two-part stay (two separate bookings of five days each), and while there are genuinely strong positives, the overall experience was significantly affected by ongoing service and cleanliness issues. There are still clear strengths to highlight. The location is excellent—quiet, safe, and surrounded by good restaurants, convenience stores, and a pleasant park nearby. The rooms are also very well designed: spacious, comfortable, and equipped with useful amenities such as a washing machine. The layout and overall setup make it a very livable space. The staff were, for the most part, kind and helpful. One staff member in particular was consistently warm and welcoming. When issues were raised, the team did attempt to respond professionally, and I do appreciate that some solutions were offered, including a discounted rate for a future stay. However, there were repeated concerns that affected my experience, particularly during the second half of my stay. Cleanliness remained a consistent issue. Even after rooms were serviced, dust accumulated very quickly—so much so that items like my laptop would be visibly covered overnight. This raises concerns about the overall level of cleanliness and ventilation. In addition, housekeeping services felt inconsistent. On multiple occasions I had to specifically request basic essentials such as bottled water and fresh towels, rather than these being proactively restocked daily as would normally be expected in this type of accommodation. Service consistency also varied. Some days staff would check in or ask whether I needed room cleaning, while on other days there was no such follow-up at all. This lack of routine made the experience feel unpredictable for a stay of this length. There were also concerns regarding pricing and communication during an attempted extension of my stay. I had initially paid approximately 268 rand per night (already at a discounted rate). When I asked to extend for one additional night during the May Day holiday period, I was quoted around 800 rand. While I understand that rates fluctuate during peak demand, this felt inconsistent given the earlier discount offered due to the significant issues experienced in the first rooms. The handling of this request also felt quite rigid initially, although the pricing discussion changed once I indicated I would be leaving a review. By that point, however, I had already made alternative arrangements in another city. I also noticed a change in overall tone and attentiveness from staff following my initial complaints, particularly on the day I was trying to extend my stay. In that instance, even basic housekeeping services were not offered, which contributed to a feeling of inconsistency in service. Ultimately, I think this hotel has strong potential. The location, room design, and general setup are genuinely excellent, and there are staff members who are clearly committed and welcoming. However, the inconsistency in cleanliness standards, basic housekeeping expectations, and service delivery means I cannot recommend it as a reliably high-quality stay at this stage. With more consistent attention to cleanliness and service fundamentals, this could be an excellent hotel experience—but in its current state, it falls short of that standard.

Eine einzigartige Reise, ich freue mich, ”Xiying” in Nanjing entdeckt zu haben. Hier traf ich interessante Reisegefährten und hatte eine komfortable Nachtruhe. Ausstattung: Eine riesige Aussichtsterrasse im Freien, genau wie auf den Fotos (ich habe das Gefühl, dass es im Sommer noch mehr Spaß machen würde 🤔). Sauberkeit: Sauber und ordentlich. Service: Die Rezeptionistin ist eine lustige Person (hahahaha). Der Frühlingswind ist nicht trocken, auf Wiedersehen, Xiying.

It was an amazing journey staying in this hotel! Absolutely wonderful environment and service here. Fully recommended to my friends who plan to travel to Suzhou!

This hostel changed the idea I had of a great hostel! SEE OTHER REVIEWS FOR COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING CHECK-IN/STAFF: Simple & easy. There is a language barrier with most of the staff, but it's nothing a little patience, on both ends, and a translator can't fix. I was helped to my room with my bags. I personally enjoyed the staff and especially one of the cleaning ladies. She was truly a joy to see every day and seemed like she genuinely liked seeing me. They helped when my food order had issues, twice. I was helped getting I was running late for my train on check-out morning. ROOMS/FACILITIES: Comfortable, clean and curtain for the beds. I the rooms are reasonably spacious. The average person follows the general quiet in the rooms so you can sleep peacefully any time you want. The blanket is thick, some beds have extra little hooks. (Would be nice if they added them for all beds) Pillows are decent, towel and locker provided. Beds have North American & Chinese style plugs. The entire outlet system of the building seems to be that way. AMENITIES/GOOD TO KNOW Laundry detergent, toothbrush/toothpaste individually wrapped units and earplugs provided at no cost. Towel/bed sheet change upon request is offered if stay is 3+ days. The main lobby toilets are used buy restaurants guests from next door. The is security at night (not personally for the hostel, for the alley) Private homes are across the way so keep the volume low to quiet after 10pm. OVERALL/PERSONAL THOUGHTS ” I would recommend staying here for a short or long period. Excellent valut for dollars. I felt very welcomed, comfortable & overall relaxed. My only real complaint is the lack of fridge,microwave and a sink area. As a budget traveler it can get costly having to order or go out for every meal is super inconvenient. To be fair, you can ask for your items to be placed in the staff fridge at the bar. The downside is having to wait and ask for staff to get it for me. This was super frustrating when I wanted my food and had to wait about 20 minutes for someone to finally be able to do it. Not to mention the general inconvenience of not being able to go to a fridge at will. Even though there's a laundry area upstairs, many people will do laundry in the sinks leaving the bathroom floors constantly wet and countertops soaked. Not management's fault but could possibly be addressed in the rules. There are days where a gentleman will come sit outside the hostel or the general alley area with Barky McBarkerson his incredibly annoying dog that's constantly barking at everyone and everything. When they're directly on the property hanging out infront don't even think of enjoying the fresh air peacefully . I think there's a way for management to address bothersome behavior to their guest. IMO if management could somehow provide a common fridge and a microwave, they would be close to top tier hostel all things considered. Review based on multiple stays. Enjoy

GreenTree Inn, Jurong (Jiangsu Province) is an oldie but a goody! I stayed there for 5 nights in late August/early September (2025). At first glance I was a bit dubious, but it turned out to be a really great place to stay. I felt very safe there and in the neighbourhood (day and night) and would stay there again. Excellent customer service ..… the Reception and cleaning staff were all really friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. The first room I was allocated smelt of cigarette smoke (no thank you!), but I was immediately moved into a nicer smelling room, which was absolutely spotless, quite large, and had a nice new smart tv, air con, an opening window with a flyscreen and security bars (essential for a ground floor room), nice solid furniture, pure white linen (impressively imprinted with “GreenTree Inn”) and a clean, comfy doona and pillows. A standard hard’ish Chinese bed, but I find them quite comfy. The old carpet runner along the length of the long ground floor hallway (where my room was) is a relic from way back when, but it was clean and well maintained, as was the rest of the hotel that I could see. The shower head needed fixing, but that’s an annoyingly common problem in pretty much every budget ＞ mid range hotel I’ve ever stayed in, in China. The hotel is only about 20 metres from Jurong Chongming Subway Station. Local bus stop almost at the front door (& across the road). The entrance to the old cobbled road (no cars allowed) & all its little shops is across the road at the lights, and a large pharmacy at the entrance (near the “archway”). Electric scooters galore to hire (via the AliPay or WeChat apps) outside the subway. Plenty of restaurants in walking distance once you get past the trades shops (plumbing supplies etc). My only gripe about GreenTree Inn Jurong (& this is a gripe I have for many hotels etc throughout China) is that smoking is allowed on the premises. I think it’s the worst it’s been since 2002 when I first started travelling to China. It’s awful walking into foyers and lifts that reek of cigarette smoke, and copping wafts of the smoke along hallways from smokers in their rooms (& ashtrays at lift entrances), and horrible arriving tired after a long flight and long trek from airports etc, only to discover you then have to request a room change to escape the smoke, and start all over again. No matter how accommodating the staff are, I could easily do without that hassle and the horrible smell. In my opinion, hotels etc in China need to up their game where that’s concerned, and follow the lead of the many countries which have banned cigarette smoking in all public buildings (including hotels), all public indoor and outdoor spaces, anywhere near children and shopping centres, on and near public transport etc etc etc.

Overall, an okay hotel to stay in for a night or two as the location is relatively convenient yet quiet, the beds are comfortable (some hotels in China have rock-hard beds and pillows, not everyone likes that!), and the price isn’t super high. However, there are better hotels for a similar price if you look for them. My main issues were the bathroom, and a discrepancy between the room I booked based on the Trip pictures, and the room I was actually given. Pros: Service: The hotel staff (both front desk and housekeeping) were really friendly and helpful, and were proactive asking other guests to be quiet during quiet hours at night. The room itself was quite clean. Facilities: The bed was really comfortable, and the room seemed well-kept and renovated within the last few years. Location: Close-ish to a metro station (although the sidewalks in Nanjing are impossible with large suitcases, it is walkable if you don’t have too much luggage), and the area was not too noisy at night. Cons: Service: I booked the ‘Deluxe King Outer Window’ room, but the room in the pictures when you book is not what you will get. I was instead put in the smaller, cheaper ‘Comfortable Big Bedroom’, despite paying more for the other room type. I was even given a ‘free upgrade’ to the ‘Deluxe King Outer Window’ room on my first night, and then asked to move to the smaller room type after one night! The difference is tiny if you only stay a night or two, but I needed to be in Nanjing for 12 nights so it added up to a big cost difference. The hotel should use accurate pictures when booking, because I felt a bit deceived, and the size difference between the rooms was noticeable. Another review says the same happened to them, so either the hotel has a habit of upcharging, or they have misleading pictures and need to make them accurate so everyone is on the same page. I didn’t say anything at the time as it was hard for me to move rooms, but I should have asked them to clarify. Facilities: The linens (towels, sheets etc.) had some small rips in them, and the towels were quite small. The bathroom was not very clean (e.g. the metal parts of the shower, the toilet). I knew this already, but it is a wetroom, and I always forget how bad they are to use. The entire bathroom gets soaked easily even if you’re trying to be careful, which put me off showering. The drains smelt incredibly bad, and the only way to stop the smell was to run the shower for a few minutes, and after a few minutes of no water they would stink again. It is a common problem in China, but this one was worse than some. Again, it put me off using the bathroom at all, and could probably be fixed easily by installing drain covers or traps.

Kommen Sie hierher und halten Sie sich für die Prüfung, der Service der Rezeption ist sehr intim, und ich habe den Prüfungsbeschluss gerufen, die Klimaanlage ist ruhig und sehr komfortabel. Anlagen: Alle Gesundheit: sauber Umwelt: sauber Service: Vorsicht, intim

Der Service an der Rezeption des Hostels war hervorragend, und die Atmosphäre unter den Frauen war unglaublich angenehm und beruhigend. Die Lage ist ideal, um die Stadt zu erkunden; die U-Bahn-Station ist nur wenige Gehminuten entfernt. Die Gemeinschaftsräume waren sauber und ordentlich, und die Ausstattung ließ keine Wünsche offen. Ich habe meinen Aufenthalt in diesem komfortablen Hostel während meiner Reise nach Nanjing sehr genossen. Ich komme auf jeden Fall wieder, wenn ich die Gelegenheit dazu habe. Absolut empfehlenswert!

Die geografische Lage dieses Hotels ist sehr bequem! Die Nähe der Hochbahnstation, Tai Lake, Wanda Square, umgeben von Restaurants und Bequemlichkeiten wählt viele aus. Es ist kein Problem, Essen und Einkaufen zu lösen. Obwohl der Ort in einem wohlhabenden Bereich liegt, ist das Zimmer sehr ruhig. Die Größe des Zimmers ist angemessen, die Layouts sind vernünftig, die Infrastruktur ist perfekt und wird gut gewährleistet. In diesem Bereich und im Preis ist der Preis wirklich sehr hoch! Die Service-Personal ist auch sehr gut und reagiert schnell. Es wird stark empfohlen, Freunde, die sich auf die Bequemlichkeit und das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis konzentrieren!