Shanghai's BEST Kept Secret: Hanting Hotel Near Xinhua Hospital!
Shanghai's BEST Kept Secret…Is it REALLY? A Hanting Hotel Near Xinhua Hospital Review (Prepare for Rambling!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the mystery that is the “Hanting Hotel Near Xinhua Hospital” in Shanghai. Honestly, the name alone is about as scintillating as beige wallpaper, right? But I'm here to tell you – maybe – it's got a little more going on than meets the eye. Mostly. Let's get messy (and maybe a little obsessed) with this review, shall we?
(SEO & Metadata - Buckling up the Nuts and Bolts!)
- Keywords: Shanghai Hotel Review, Hanting Hotel, Xinhua Hospital, Budget Hotel Shanghai, Accessible Hotel, Free Wi-Fi, Shanghai Travel, Clean Hotel Shanghai, Shanghai Dining, Spa Shanghai, Family-Friendly Hotel, Shanghai Accommodation
- Categories: Hotel Review, Travel, Accommodation, Budget Travel, Shanghai, China
(Accessibility - Let's Start Strong!)
Right, accessibility. This is a big one for me, and honestly, a huge selling point. The website claims "Facilities for disabled guests," which always makes me a little wary. But! The elevator worked consistently! It felt wide enough for a decent-sized wheelchair, though I didn't have one with me to test. This is already a win! The entrance seemed pretty flat, and I did observe a ramp leading into the lobby (though, again, I'm eyeballing, not verifying with a wheelchair-bound friend). So, potentially, a strong start. More research needed to be absolutely sure.
(Accessibility - On-site accessible restaurants / lounges, Wheelchair accessible)
Okay, back to accessibility. I didn't see any specific signage for accessible restaurants or lounges, and the layout was kinda tight in the breakfast area. Definitely not spacious enough for navigating with a wheelchair. So, score down a bit here. Wheelchair accessibility within the hotel itself… hmmm. Tricky.
(Internet Access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!)
This is huge news, right? And it was true! Free Wi-Fi, baby! And it worked! I'm a sucker for free Wi-Fi. Fast enough for streaming, uploading pics, and the all-important Instagram stalking of my ex-boyfriend (don't judge). The thought of actually paying for internet in this day and age makes me want to weep into my coffee. Absolute win here.
(Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas)
The internet was reliable. LAN? Didn't check (who uses LAN anymore?). Wi-Fi in public areas? Yup. Smooth sailing. Didn't try any fancy internet services. Basically, it did what it needed to do, and I was happy.
(Things to do, ways to relax)
Umm… the “things to do” inside the hotel? Let's be realistic. It wasn't exactly a resort. They had a… fitness center? I saw it alright. I didn't use it. Looked like a bunch of dusty treadmills and weights, tucked away in a corner. Relaxation? Hmm. They had a "Spa/Sauna" listed. That’s… ambitious. Let's just say, if you're looking for a luxury spa experience, you're in the wrong place. We're talking basic, folks. Probably. I didn't go near it. Maybe avoided it. My imagination went wild.
(Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor])
Okay, so this is where my hopes and dreams got a serious reality check. The website claimed these things. But the reality… No visible pool of any kind. No sauna I could see, and certainly no pool with a view. The fitness center was a sad affair. Massage? Possibly, theoretically. I didn’t investigate. The "Spa/sauna" still makes me chuckle, though. Don't go expecting a luxurious pampering session. This isn't that kind of hotel.
(Cleanliness and safety)
This is where things started to get a little better. The room felt clean. The air was… fresh? (Okay, maybe not fresh, but not overwhelmingly stuffy, which is a win in Shanghai.) They claimed "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Daily disinfection in common areas," etc. I saw staff cleaning, which looked thorough, and the place felt safe. I'm not going to pretend I'm a cleanliness expert, but it didn't scream "biohazard" to me, and for a budget hotel, that’s fantastic.
(Cleanliness and safety - Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment.)
Okay, there were A LOT of claims about hygiene and safety. I felt (and still feel) skeptical when a place claims to run on an advanced level of cleanliness, so this is where a lot of these features start losing a bit of their power. I didn't see a doctor/nurse, but they claimed one was available. Hand sanitizer? Yup, at the reception and around the dining area. Individually-wrapped food options? Yes, at breakfast (see below, the bread was not great). Physical distancing? They tried. Staff seemed trained in protocols. I did NOT ask about room sanitization opt-out (who would!). This all felt reassuring, even if you have to take it with a grain of salt.
(Dining, drinking, and snacking)
This is where things get…interesting. The breakfast. Oh, the breakfast. "Asian breakfast," "Western breakfast," "Buffet in restaurant," "Coffee shop." The reality was slightly…different. It was a buffet, yes. The “coffee shop” (maybe, more like a coffee machine, I didn't dare use) was, well, a machine. The Asian options were…interesting. The Western options were… less so. The bread? Dry and sad. The fruit? Basic. The eggs? Edible. I ate. I survived. I won't lie, I was not thrilled. But hey, it was included, and it filled a hole. I guess.
(Dining, drinking, and snacking - A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant)
Okay, so the restaurant was… one room. The bar? Non-existent. Bottle of water? Provided. Breakfast service? See above. Coffee/tea? See above. Desserts? Don't recall seeing any. Happy hour? lol. Room service? Claimed to be 24-hour, but I didn't try it. Salad? No-go. Soup? Maybe. Vegetarian options? Probably – think bland vegetables. Western cuisine? See above. International? Loosely defined. The food was… there. It was fuel. Don't expect a Michelin star.
(Services and conveniences)
Alright, let's get through this faster. The basics were covered. Daily housekeeping? Yes. Luggage storage? Yes. Convenience store? Nope. Concierge? Present. Cash withdrawal? Didn't try it, but probably. Air conditioning? Worked well. Dry cleaning? Possibly. Ironing service? Maybe. The usual stuff. Nothing to write home about, except the air conditioning, which, in the Shanghai summer, is a lifesaver.
**(Services and conveniences - Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Premium Hotel Xiamen SM Plaza!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the glorious, messy reality of a trip to Shanghai, specifically the Hanting Hotel near the Bei Bund Xinhua Hospital. Now, I'm not a travel agent, I'm just a slightly disoriented human being who enjoys a good adventure (and a decent cup of coffee, which, spoiler alert, is a struggle in China sometimes). This itinerary? Consider it more of a "suggestion" with a healthy dose of "we'll see what happens."
Day 1: Arrival (and the Great Luggage Tango)
- Morning (8:00 AM -ish): Land in Pudong International Airport (PVG). Okay, first hurdle: navigating the airport. It's HUGE. Find the damn train (I nearly wandered into a biolab, I swear). My luggage? Let's just say we had a brief, intimate dance of me versus a suspiciously heavy suitcase. Managed to wrestle it onto the Maglev (vroom vroom!), which, I’ll admit, is pretty cool.
- Late Morning (10:00 AM -ish): Arrive at the hotel. Hanting Hotel Shanghai Bei Bund Xinhua Hospital. Sounds… clinical, right? The reality is… well, it is pretty functional. Clean sheets, decent wifi, and a tiny room that perfectly mirrors my life: compact and slightly chaotic.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM -ish): Lunch! Found a little dumpling place nearby. Oh. My. God. Pork and shrimp dumplings. I swear, I could have eaten a hundred. (I probably came close.) Seriously, the flavour just exploded in my mouth. Pure, unadulterated dumpling joy. I think I actually shed a small, happy tear. This is when I became a dumpling convert, officially.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM -ish): Explore! Walk around the neighborhood. This is where I got properly lost. Absolutely, wonderfully, hopelessly lost. I tried to use Google Maps, but it was like trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphics. Ended up wandering into a bustling marketplace, full of vendors shouting and selling things I couldn’t even comprehend. It was overwhelming, beautiful, and exhilarating. I bought a strange, spiky fruit that tasted vaguely of disappointment. Worth it.
- Evening (6:00 PM -ish): Dinner: Attempted to find a restaurant that wasn't… quite so loud. Ended up in a tiny noodle shop. The noodles were amazing. The chopstick skills still need work. (Let's just say a lot of noodles ended up on my shirt.)
- Evening (8:00 PM -ish): Collapse. Seriously, I crashed. Jet lag hit me like a ton of bricks. Slept like the dead, dreaming of dumplings and cryptic street signs.
Day 2: Bund, Bikes, and Bafflement
- Morning (8:00 AM -ish): Coffee Quest Part I. The hotel's instant coffee? Let's just say it was… not great. Wandered in search of actual coffee. Found a Starbucks. (Yes, I know, I know, but sometimes you just need familiarity.) The Starbucks was a lifeline, pure and simple.
- Morning (9:00 AM -ish): The Bund! Okay, this is the Shanghai postcard moment. The waterfront, the buildings, the sheer, glorious scale of it all. Wow. I spent a good hour just staring. Took approximately 10,000 photos. (Okay, maybe not that many, but close.)
- Late Morning (11:00 AM -ish): Bike shenanigans. Decided to rent a shared bike. It. Was. Terrifying. Traffic in Shanghai is a free-for-all of scooters, cars, and pedestrians. I narrowly avoided being flattened by a bus. I swear, I saw my life flash before my eyes. It was glorious, and I probably aged ten years in thirty minutes.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM -ish): Lunch: Decided to try something adventurous. Called a "mapo tofu". Spicy! Spicy good. My mouth was on fire, but I couldn't stop. I sweat and I enjoyed every second of it, from the steam that escaped from my pores to the way my stomach slowly started to accept the spice.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM -ish): Shanghai Museum. Culture time! This place is HUGE. And fascinating. I got lost for a second and almost touched something I should not have. Learned some things about Chinese art and history, although my attention span wavered after a while. I'm more of a "walk around, marvel, and maybe read a sign or two" kind of person.
- Late Afternoon (5:00 PM -ish): Coffee Quest Part II. Needed another caffeine fix after the museum. Found a tiny café hidden down a side street. The barista spoke broken English, but the coffee was actually pretty decent. Victory!
- Evening (7:00 PM -ish): Dinner: Found a place serving Peking duck. Crispy skin, tender meat, perfect pancakes. I died and went to food heaven. This was a top-tier meal and the best dish of the day, no contest.
- Evening (9:00 PM -ish): Attempted to find a bar. Failed. Ended up back at the hotel, utterly exhausted, with a can of questionable local beer.
Day 3: More Dumplings, and the Beginning of the End
- Morning (9:00 AM -ish): Dumpling Raid! Went back to the dumpling place from Day 1. Ordered a mountain of dumplings. The owner recognised me, smiled, and I think he thought I was a bit crazy. I did not care.
- Morning (10:00 AM -ish): Walked aimlessly, yet again, trying to find a park, or any green space. I failed miserably.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM -ish): Lunch: Got daring and ate something I couldn't name. It involved a sticky sauce and some kind of offal. It was… interesting. That’s the best I can say.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM -ish): Trying to figure out how to get back to the airport. The train system looks complicated. Should have researched it. Sigh.
- Late Afternoon (4:00 PM -ish): Last-minute souvenir shopping. Ended up with a questionable tea set and a ridiculous panda hat. Regrets? Zero.
- Evening (6:00 PM -ish): A final, desperate attempt to enjoy a local drink. Found a little bar that seemed okay. It wasn't. Still, I am sure it made any Shanghai experience worth it.
- Evening (8:00 PM -ish): Head to the airport.
- Evening (10:00 PM -ish): Departure.
Final Thoughts:
Shanghai? Loud, chaotic, beautiful, frustrating, delicious, and absolutely unforgettable. This "itinerary" wasn't perfect, far from it. I got lost, I ate questionable food, I nearly got run over. But it was all part of the experience. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. I have a feeling I barely scratched the surface of this city. And next time, I'll bring a better phrasebook and a more adventurous stomach. Maybe.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Green Reef Beach House Awaits!
Hanting Hotel near Xinhua Hospital: You're Kidding Me, Right? (Maybe... But Hear Me Out)
Is "Best Kept Secret" code for "Place You'll Catch a Mild Case of the Shanghai Crud"?
What's the *actual* appeal, beyond just being relatively cheap?
Okay, convince me it's not a total dive. Describe the *actual* rooms. Are they…clean?
Is the noise level insane? It's near a hospital, after all...
What about the food? Is there even any?
Anything… memorable? Any specific moments that made you go, "Okay, this wasn't *totally* awful?"
Would you recommend it? Seriously, would you?
