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Hangzhou is a destination which is served directly by KLM airlines from Amsterdam and they do some good business class promotions for tickets. I wrote about how to book cheaper business class tickets before. When I searched for hotels in Hangzhou the Intercontinental Hangzhou catched my eye as its design is unlike any other hotel I had seen. A good reason to try them out which I do not regret as you can see in the review of the Intercontinental Hangzhou below.
The hotel
Look at the photo above or below. What do you think? Yes I thought so too and I had to try it. The hotel is built as a golden sphere which is hollow inside (see photo in the gallery). It represents the sun and across the square you will find the moon which houses the Grand Theatre. The lower floors of the hotel contain a convention center and a small lobby with the concierge desk. The lobby of the hotel starts at the 5th floor. When I entered the inner part of the sphere I honestly stopped for a few minutes and admired the beauty of the architecture. There are 16 floors making up the shell of the sphere. The inside is fully open with on one side the elevators going up and the other side the lobby and the restaurants. Everything is decorated with marble and everything gives a very open feeling due to the fact that the ceiling is 16 floors up! I was warmly greeted by the staff and within a few minutes I got my room keys and I was escorted to my room. My room was at the 12th floor with a beautiful view down to the lobby. The hotel is located just a short taxi ride away from all major sites like Westlake in Hangzhou. The high-speed train station of Hangzhou as well the airport take between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the traffic. A great location, friendly staff and the unique architecture make it a perfect hotel for a stay in Hangzhou whether it is leisure or business.
The rooms at Intercontinental Hangzhou
The Intercontinental Hangzhou offers modern rooms with warm colors. As an IHG member I got upgraded to a nice suite which had next to the standard room a huge living area. The living area had a dining table, a relax area with couch and seats and a desk to work from. As I need to work a bit in the evening due to my sightseeing during the day I appreciate always a suite. The bedroom had a very comfortable bed, not soft or hard but just perfect for me. A glass wall separates the bedroom from the bathroom which has a rainforest (yes!) shower and separate bath. The restroom is separate and the suite had a second restroom in the hall next to the walk-in closet. From the room I had I had a nice view over the river. The huge windows make sure that I woke up rested as I cannot wake up normally in dark rooms.
Facilities at Intercontinental Hangzhou
At the Intercontinental Hangzhou you will find all the facilities needed. At the 16th floor is the Touch Spa which I enjoyed for a 120 minute massage. I got really pampered there. The same floor has also an extensive gym and a swimming pool with a nice view. These leisure facilities made my stay complete. I do not always go swimming, but I prefer always a hotel to have a pool just in case I want to go.
Dining & Drinking at Intercontinental Hangzhou
With four restaurants and a lobby bar you will not starve; that’s for sure! If you like to eat Western food you can go to the German restaurant Wochinger or the Senses restaurant. I prefer always to eat local so I tried the Sun & Moon Chinese Restaurant. Spicy chicken, sweet & sour fish and some fresh vegetables I had for dinner. The quality was outstanding and I wish I had a bigger stomach to eat more. After dinner I took my welcome drink coupon at the lobby bar for a last drink that evening. Just next to the lobby bar you find the all-day dining restaurant which serves a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the 16th floor I had access to the executive club lounge for breakfast and evening cocktails. I always prefer this access so that I can work and have breakfast without a big crowd. The choice is less, but anything that is not there can be ordered and will be brought to your table. I had a great dinner and breakfast and cannot think of anything that was missing!
Conclusion
If you are looking for a hotel in Hangzhou I can highly recommend the Intercontinental Hangzhou. I enjoyed my stay in the large comfortable room. The food was delicious and with a wide selection of dishes. Add to this the beautiful architecture and the experience gets even better. I hope to return soon during a next trip in China!
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More information please find at the website of the Intercontinental Hangzhou hotel.
Website: http://www.ihg.com
Facebook: http://weibo.com/hangzhouic
Gallery of Intercontinental Hangzhou
** All opinions are based on a genuine stay, flight or experience. I’m not affiliated with the hotel, airline or tour operator but I might be (partially) sponsored – or paid. **
