Back again to Hotel Canton, and this time stayed on 26th floor in a newly-renovated room, at rate of CNY300, for 6 nights. Update from my previous report in July 2007: 1. Airport Express bus no. 5 no longer stopped at hotel. I paid CNY16 to get from airport to Aether Square, which was next to the China Hotel (Marriott), and then paid CNY10 for taxi to Hotel Canton. 2. Renovations started on hotel lobby. 3. There was complimentary in-room wired internet. 4. Bed was still as hard as before. Three types of pillows were offered in room. 5. Aircond control was much better, I could now get to a more comfortable temperature around 22degC. 6. Bathroom shower pressure had improved, but could be better. Washbasin had been replaced by the circular (hemispherical) glass type which was quite classy but not very practical. 7. Concierge is helpful and knowledgeable. Although I asked different staff throughout my stay, they gave very useful information about shopping, transport, etc, and took the trouble to write down the destinations so that I could give to the taxi drivers. The bell boys were also quite efficient. They asked about our destinations and informed the doorman by walkie-talkie so that a taxi was waiting, with the instructions, by the time we reached the door. If you have time for shopping, take a taxi (about CNY14) to the West Railway Station around Liuhua Hotel. You will find there an incredible range of clothes, bags, watches, shoes, spread over more than 30 shopping malls, many of them are wholesale, but are willing to sell just one item. For computer products, go to Tianhe near the East Railway Station. Beijing Road is expensive and has limited selection. I was also in Guangzhou at the right time on 7 May 2008 to witness the Olympic torch run at the Tianhe stadium. There were so many people on the streets, that officials had to close the subway station for safety. It was a long long walk to a place where taxis and buses were available.

We stayed in this hotel over the New Year. The hotel room is well decorated. Staff are friendly. Love the breakfast, they offered plenty choices of both western and chinese style. Good taste. The hotel is located 5 min-walk to Beijing Lu, the shopping street. We enjoyed our holiday here very much.

I come to Guangzhou each year during 'Canton Fair time', which means they jack up their rates 5-7X what they normally charge. If I was paying RMB300 a night, this place would ROCK...But since I'm paying RMB1600/night, I'm a little harder on the place. But every hotel in Guangzhou charges MUCH more every April and every October. And I've stayed here all but once, twice a year for the last 10 years. The hotel is very clean, the buffet breakfast is the exact same food every day--decent food by Chinese standards, but poor quality compared with the rest of the world. As another traveler reported below, the beds are hard as a rock...Some of the hardest beds I've ever slept on. I'm on a 'higher floor room' which means internet access...They have refurbished the rooms over the last few years, and aren't bad, but this is an older hotel, and things (especially the bathroom) are a bit worn. The TV is pretty weak--you only get CNN for a few hours a day, and I can generally only find one other English channel. The dinner buffet is very expensive...But again, I think they jack up the prices come 'fair time'...Not sure what it goes for the rest of the year, but for US$35, I expect a little more. That being said, there is a beer tap in the corner and what they call "Local Beer" (I'm assuming 'Pearl River Beer' flows continuously during dinner. I'll probably keep staying here--mostly out of fear (the 'one time' I mention above that I didn't stay here, I was scared for my health and safety at the other place's rooms). It's a decent hotel at a decent price, so I'll keep coming back every April and October, and continue to pay their crazy prices (but I cut them some slack, every other hotel in GZ is charging even more than this place).

This hotel is just okay. Bad points are that the bed is VERY hard. The food is terribly overpriced ($32usd buffets) and the rooms are a bit shabby. I was told that the rooms on the upper floors are much nicer. Internet connection is available on the upper floors, lower floors must use expensive business center. Massage place is above average and prices are okay. Location to the Beijing Rd (Lu) walkway is superb and its literally two blocks walk from the hotel. The staff was very friendly and business like. I changed a travelers check and had no problems at all. All in all, an so-so hotel.

This hotel is just okay. Bad points are that the bed is VERY hard. The food is terribly overpriced ($32usd buffets) and the rooms are a bit shabby. I was told that the rooms on the upper floors are much nicer. Internet connection is available on the upper floors, lower floors must use expensive business center. Massage place is above average and prices are okay. Location to the Beijing Rd (Lu) walkway is superb and its literally two blocks walk from the hotel. The staff was very friendly and business like. I changed a travelers check and had no problems at all. All in all, an so-so hotel.