LN Garden Hotel Guangzhou

For the past three Christmases, my family and I have enjoyed a hotel vacation at Garden Hotel, and this year was no exception. We used a pre-purchased room voucher, and this year's special included dinner at the Summit Revolving Restaurant – once one of the city's most popular buffets, a must-visit when staying here. What truly stood out this time was the exceptional service from the staff. Their professionalism was top-notch, from the front desk to the guest services center and the buffet restaurant. Everyone was incredibly thoughtful and attentive, ensuring my twins had a fantastic weekend. Regarding the room, we were upgraded to an executive room, our first time staying in one here. The biggest difference from a standard suite was the significantly larger space, especially the bathroom. The view from the window directly overlooked Friendship Shopping Mall, and the evening lights truly gave it a 'city that never sleeps' vibe. Of course, there was one minor disappointment: their famous waterfall began renovations on December 7th and won't reopen until January 1st, 2026. We missed the chance to take photos at this popular spot, haha.

I initially just thought, 'I won't come back,' but due to my sentimental attachment to the Garden Hotel, I've decided to give my most honest and responsible review. 😵💫 **Ambiance**: The lobby and corridors are resplendent, but the rooms are dilapidated. The room doors are rusty, the walls have severe mold stains, and the nails on the curtain rod are sticking out. This is absolutely not the experience one should have for a 1500-yuan-a-night executive suite. The window was incredibly dirty, making it impossible to capture any of Guangzhou's beautiful sunset. The bedding was soft, but there were hairs on the bed, and the 1.1-meter bed in a double room was too small! My 1.8-meter, slightly overweight husband couldn't sleep well. It might have been considered luxurious 20 years ago, but then I'd have to go back 20 years. The central air conditioning would automatically turn on and off, and it was loud. The fabric chairs had stains, making the room feel generally unkempt. The phone in the living room was broken, and the volume control for the TV in the bathroom was also broken. 😥 **Front Desk**: It was very busy on Saturday, so checking in required queuing and waiting. The front desk staff didn't proactively inform me of the benefits included with my booking. I was very clear on each item and had to ask about them myself. For guests who aren't aware, this undoubtedly means missing out on a lot of the hotel's added value. The Garden Hotel hosts many foreign tourists, and I've seen comments about differential treatment. I overheard the front desk staff proactively informing a foreigner next to me about breakfast times. I wonder if my experience would have been better if I had communicated in English throughout. 🙁 **Executive Lounge**: Previously, entering the executive lounge or the waterfall area required swiping a room card. The back garden used to have tennis courts and felt quiet and comfortable, offering guests a distinguished and premium experience. Now, they say no card swipe is needed, but oddly, someone at the door still asks where you're going. When I went in, I saw many young women with all their gear posing for photos, which felt off. The executive lounge was messy, crowded, and the drink cabinet only had three cans of drinks. I had to ask for a Coke twice before getting it. The food was mediocre, and replenishment was not timely, making the whole chaotic situation unappetizing. However, the lounge staff were polite, which is a plus. 🤯 **Museum**: The experience was extremely poor. The front desk specifically recommended visiting the museum and told me I didn't need a reservation when I asked. I went to check it out by myself. The first time I entered, a young man only asked for my room number, and I specifically asked if I needed to register. He very politely invited me in to visit. The museum was very well-maintained. Less than an hour later, I took my husband in for a second visit. This time, the attendant, Ms. Cai, insisted that we register. When I explained that I had just come out, she still questioned how I got in and insisted on registration! Registration! Registration! Ms. Cai's deliberate obstruction, whether because she didn't want to back down or suspected my guest status, was completely unnecessary. Coincidentally, my parents had just stayed and visited the museum a month prior and were told guests didn't need to register! Afterwards, I received an apology from Hotel Manager Liu, so the big hotel did handle it. However, I found that Ms. Cai from the museum distorted the facts, saying the previous male attendant hadn't followed the rules by not registering me, and claimed it was due to understaffing. On a crowded Saturday, I was the only person in the entire museum, so it seems I was really difficult to deal with. My ID was already registered during check-in. As a private company, I don't understand how they can so confidently ask for private information multiple times, adding unnecessary hassle for guests. My family said the hotel is still good and not to let one 'bad apple' spoil the whole impression. Young people nowadays are really great, open-minded and straightforward. This middle-aged local aunt, who was originally speaking the same language as me, ended up showing a 'rigid, petty, and harsh' side, which was truly off-putting. 🙂 **30th Floor Revolving Restaurant Buffet**: Reopened this year after the pandemic, it's only been six months, and this was my second visit, after years of anticipation. The 2 choices from 6 à la carte hot dishes were delicious! Thumbs up. But not being able to provide ice glasses is incomprehensible. The quality of the sashimi and salmon was mediocre, and the tiger prawns were the cheap, online-bought kind – completely unacceptable. Before the pandemic, the most amazing thing was the fish soup, but now it's increasingly bland. Crab porridge was also a highlight, but it's gone this time… what a pity. 🙂↔️ **Executive Privileges**: No welcome fruit whatsoever. I've visited the Garden Hotel countless times, celebrating every holiday at its restaurants. Because of dining, the hotel gave me a complimentary room, and for Chinese New Year, they gave my child a plush toy. The value wasn't immense, but it felt like home. I follow every hotel promotion and book immediately when suitable. Undoubtedly, I feel incredibly regretful and disappointed this time. Manager Liu told me: "The hotel cherishes every guest." I feel the same way; I cherish the memories I have of the Garden Hotel. Every small detail adds to the experience, but unfortunately, there were no small details to move me this time. The Garden Hotel hosts the most foreign tourists, yet in comparison, it feels disconnected from international standards and out of sync. All that's left now is 'living off past glory,' perhaps due to management issues, who knows. My first stay at the Garden Hotel was in 1995 when I was just a few years old. The waiter's bilingual 'Good morning' in both Chinese and English became my benchmark for hotels. Now that I'm at an age where I can afford to 'splurge' on nostalgia, I always recommend the distinctly Guangzhou-style White Swan and Garden Hotel to outsiders. It seems the Garden Hotel will have to be removed from that list. I cherish this memory, so I dare not come again and spoil what little good remains.

I booked the Garden Hotel to entertain my good friends who came to visit Guangzhou, and they absolutely loved it here! The group purchase voucher included a golden guide service, and our guide was wonderful! We were twenty minutes late, and I was a bit nervous when we went to the back garden, but once we got there, the conversation atmosphere was so harmonious that I naturally joined in. A big thank you to our guide! Later, she even took us back to the spots we had missed at the beginning and explained everything again. It really warmed my heart.

Had a small issue during check-in, but it was resolved promptly after feedback. The 'golden' tour guide, Sunny, was incredibly professional and beautiful. If you're sensitive to noise, definitely ask for a room on the other side, away from the subway construction. The hotel's breakfast pastries were excellent; everything else was decent.

The service was excellent, and the package was a great value. The breakfast buffet was just okay, but the variety at the happy hour and the breakfast buffet was fantastic. The hotel's location is great, and the room facilities are very good, though the hairdryer wasn't very powerful.