Unbelievable Weifang Kite Square Hotel Deal: Hanting Hotel Taihua City!
Unbelievable Weifang Kite Square Hotel Deal: Hanting Hotel Taihua City! - A Review That Actually Feels Real (and Maybe Slightly Neurotic)
Alright, alright, buckle up buttercups. We're diving headfirst into the Hanting Hotel Taihua City in Weifang, a place that promised… well, something. I'm just back, still trying to un-wrinkle my brain after a long flight and a whole lot of… experiences. This review is gonna be messy, honest, and maybe a touch overdramatic. Consider yourselves warned.
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First Impressions (and the Existential Dread of Arrival):
Landing in Weifang felt like stepping into a giant, slightly dusty postcard. The air… well, let's just say it wasn't exactly the pristine mountain air I'd been dreaming of. Finding the hotel wasn't too bad (thank you, GPS), but that initial feeling of "Am I in the right place?" definitely crept in. The exterior? Functional, let's leave it at that. But hey, the price was right, and that was the siren's call that lured me. Expectations were… tempered.
Accessibility: Okay, here's where things get interesting. The hotel claims to be accessible. The elevator worked (a HUGE plus, honestly). However, navigating some tight corners with luggage… well, it wasn’t ideal. I wouldn’t exactly call it a breeze for someone with mobility issues, BUT, it's far better than some places I've stayed. They tried, and that’s something, right? Details like the elevator, the staff’s awareness, are important.
Wheelchair accessible: I saw ramps at entrance, more details needed: are the hallways wide enough? Is there a wheelchair-accessible bathroom? More info needed
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Hmmm… I didn't notice anything specifically designed for ease of access within the dining areas. More observation required.
The Room - A Tale of Two Lamps (and a Lack of Desk Space):
Look, the room was clean. That's a MASSIVE win these days. The air conditioning blasted like a hurricane (thank GOD, it was hot!), and the Wi-Fi actually worked. I even got the free Wi-Fi access, as claimed! The internet was good! I work and love internet! I had a real-life internet connection that worked!
But… desk space. Where art thou, desk space? A laptop workspace it claimed; however, there wasn't a lot of desk space. The room was functional, not fancy. Two lamps, though. Two! I found that oddly charming – a testament to symmetrical aesthetics in a world that constantly assaults ours.
Available in all rooms:
- Additional toilet: Didn't see it.
- Air conditioning: Yes, and it's a beast!
- Alarm clock: Yep.
- Bathrobes: Nope. (Bring your own, folks!).
- Bathroom phone: Ha! No, thank goodness.
- Bathtub: Had a shower, though!
- Blackout curtains: Yes! Essential for fending off jet lag.
- Carpeting: Yes.
- Closet: Sufficient.
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes.
- Complimentary tea: A nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping: Yup, and they did a good job.
- Desk: Limited, as mentioned.
- Extra-long bed: Bed was big.
- Free bottled water: Yes.
- Hair dryer: Yes.
- High floor: Not sure what floor I was on; however, it felt high!
- In-room safe box: Yes, I didn't trust it.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Didn't check, but probably.
- Internet access – LAN: Nope.
- Internet access – wireless: YES, and it worked!
- Ironing facilities: Yes.
- Laptop workspace: Limited.
- Linens: Clean, thankfully.
- Mini bar: Nah.
- Mirror: Present and accounted for.
- Non-smoking: Yes! Great!.
- On-demand movies: Nope.
- Private bathroom: Yes.
- Reading light: Yes.
- Refrigerator: Yes, thank you!
- Safety/security feature: Yes.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes.
- Scale: No.
- Seating area: Small.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Just a shower.
- Shower: Yes.
- Slippers: Nope. (Bring your own!).
- Smoke detector: Yes!
- Socket near the bed: Yes, a MUST.
- Sofa: No.
- Soundproofing: Adequate.
- Telephone: Yep.
- Toiletries: Basic, but okay.
- Towels: Clean.
- Umbrella: Nope (I always pack one anyway. Always.).
- Visual alarm: Probably available, but I didn't need it.
- Wake-up service: Yes.
- Wi-Fi [free]: YEEEESSS!
Cleanliness and Safety - The Pandemic Precaution Panic:
Alright, let’s get real about the COVID situation. They seemed to be trying. Hand sanitizer everywhere, and some of the staff wore masks. I saw “Anti-viral cleaning products.” The rooms were supposed to be sanitized between stays. Safe dining setup? Yes. The hotel had a Hygiene certification. They have a Safe dining setup. Safe dining setup was important to me. They also removed Shared stationery. They also said they do Daily disinfection in common areas. I saw Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. However, can you guarantee they got all the bases covered? Nope. That's life, and that's travel during a global pandemic. You have to decide your own comfort level because, at the end of the day, you can't just keep living locked in your house.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Where the Expectations Met the Ground (and Were Slightly Disappointed):
The hotel has a restaurant. Restaurant had Asian, international, and Western cuisines. They have Breakfast [buffet], which would be a good deal. Had a bad breakfast [buffet]. The coffee was… let’s say “robust.” The selection wasn’t huge, and the quality was… variable. One morning, I bravely sampled the soup. Let’s just say it was an… experience.
They Have:
- A la carte in restaurant
- Alternative meal arrangement
- Asian breakfast
- Asian cuisine in restaurant
- Bar
- Bottle of water
- Breakfast [buffet] – not a huge fan.
- Breakfast service
- Buffet in restaurant
- Coffee/tea in restaurant
- Coffee shop
- Desserts in restaurant
- Happy hour
- International cuisine in restaurant
- Poolside bar (I didn’t see it)
- Restaurants
- Room service [24-hour]: I didn’t dare
- Salad in restaurant
- Snack bar
- Soup in restaurant
- Vegetarian restaurant
- Western breakfast
- Western cuisine in restaurant
Things to Do, Ways to Relax, and the Elusive "Spa" (or Lack Thereof):
The website promised a spa. I found a… fitness center, that looked a bit sad. A sauna, a steam room. Didn’t check it out. I guess it would be considered Spa/sauna. Swimming pool [outdoor]? Didn’t look open. Pool with view? Doubtful. Body scrub? Body wrap? Foot bath? Massage? I didn’t see any.
- Body scrub
- Body wrap
- Fitness center
- Foot bath
- Gym/fitness
- Massage:
- Pool with view
- Sauna
- Spa
- Spa/sauna
- Steamroom
- Swimming pool
- Swimming pool [outdoor]
Services and Conveniences – The Good, The Bad, and the “Why is This Here?”:
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events
- Business facilities: Yes.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes.
- Concierge: Tried to be helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out
- Convenience store: Yes.
- Currency exchange: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Doorman
- Dry cleaning: Yes.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Essential condiments
- Facilities for disabled guests: Mixed bag, as mentioned above.
- Food delivery
- Gift/souvenir shop: Yes.
- Indoor venue for special events
- Invoice provided
- Ironing service
- Laundry service
- Luggage storage
- Meeting/banquet facilities
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your pristine, perfectly organized travel guide. This is my trip to Hanting Hotel Weifang Kite Square Taihua City Weifang China, and I’m taking you along for the messy ride. Expect typos, spontaneous tangents, and a healthy dose of existential dread.
Day 1: Arrival & The Quest for Noodles (AKA, Disaster in Translation)
- 14:00 (Give or take an hour): Flight lands in Weifang. Okay, first hurdle: surviving the flight. My seatmate, bless his heart, spent the entire flight trying to sell me Amway products. Eventually, I pretended to fall asleep. I probably snored. mortifying!
- 15:30: Arrive at Hanting Hotel Weifang Kite Square. (Okay, the 'Kite Square' part is actually pretty cool. Weifang is the Kite Capital of the World, apparently. who knew?) The hotel itself… is functional. The air con might be on, its possible. The room is clean-ish. I'm already judging the pillows. They seem… suspicious.
- 16:00: The hunt for food begins. I'm starving. Google Translate is my best friend (and possibly my worst enemy). My excellent plan : "Find delicious noodles." I point to the character for "noodles" in the menu presented by a street vendor.
- 16:30: I think I ordered noodles. What arrives is… a mystery. The noodles are definitely there, but accompanied by a slurry of… something. And some sort of crunchy, fried bits. I can't place the flavor. My stomach does a conflicted flip-flop. This could be amazing. This could be a biohazard. I take a cautious bite. Honestly? It’s… not bad. I finish the whole bowl, then begin questioning my life choices.
- 17:30: Stroll around Kite Square. The kits are HUGE! Like, GIANT. They're flying in the breeze, like colorful behemoths. I take approximately 500 pictures because, come on, kites the size of cars are just cool! I got caught in the wind from a particularly strong kite, I felt like I was being dragged across the square, a very bad feeling.
- 19:00: Back at the hotel. Crash. Jet lag is a bitch. And those pillows… I’m now convinced they're filled with rocks.
Day 2: Kite Museum & Deep Thoughts About Culture (and Where to Find Decent Coffee)
- 08:00: Wake up feeling like a sentient zombie. The rock pillows. I need coffee. Desperately. The hotel "breakfast" (a questionable assortment of congee and… more mystery meat) doesn't cut it. The search begins.
- 08:30: Walk around the neighborhood. It's a mix of modern buildings and older, more traditional ones. I can't stop staring at the differences in architecture. The buildings are so cool looking. I want one. The nearest coffee shop is… a mystery. I try another google translate: "Where is Starbucks?" I get directions to a place that might be a Starbucks.
- 09:30: Success! I found the blessed coffee. (And maybe a decent pastry.) Coffee is amazing. I feel like a new person.
- 10:00: Kite Museum time! Okay, this is actually fascinating. The museum. The history of kite-making, different kite designs from across the world, the sheer artistry … it's awesome. I learn about the legends and symbolism attached to the kites. There’s one kite that is shaped like a phoenix with fire coming out of its mouth. This is where I wish I got a kite to bring back.
- 12:00: Lunch. I’m feeling adventurous (and slightly less terrified of food poisoning). This time, I try to point at the picture of a noodle dish. I might be in a soup instead. Turns out to be a hot pot. The soup is a spicy delight.
- 14:00: Re-visit Kite Square. This time, the kites seem even more magical. I see an elderly woman gracefully flying a beautiful kite, her face etched with serenity. My brain explodes with a desire to find my own kite, some sort of phoenix kite.
- 16:00: wandering around the city, I am lost. I see the shopping mall. I go in. I spend my entire afternoon in this mall. I see the beautiful items, and buy some. I also see the world within this mall. It is interesting.
- 19:00: More noodles. This time, I think I managed to order something edible AND recognizable. I fall asleep in the bed so fast.
Day 3: Taihua City & The Existential Crisis of Souvenir Shopping
- 09:00: Sleep, glorious sleep. The rock pillows haven’t defeated me. (Yet.) Breakfast at the hotel. Congee. More mystery meat. I swear, I'm pretty sure I saw a pigeon make eye contact with me and start chewing. I'm now craving a good old bacon and egg.
- 10:00: Head to Taihua City. It's a HUGE shopping mall. One of the biggest I've seen. The selection is dizzying, I feel like a confused rat in a wheel. Electronics, clothing, food. It’s sensory overload.
- 11:00: The soul-crushing search for souvenirs begins. What do you get the people back home? I start asking. I want something that says, "I went to China and survived." My answer for my family is not available. I will not be able to find anything.
- 13:00: Panic mode. I circle a particularly crowded souvenir shop, everything seems to be cheap versions of the real deal.
- 14:00: The kite store! I finally find a kite! A phoenix with flames shooting out of its mouth. It's glorious! The store owner is very kind, and somehow, even though we can't understand each other through language, we bond over the shared love of the kite.
- 15:00: I become obsessed. I'm buying souvenirs for everyone. I get a cool dragon statue for my friend, a silk scarf for my mom, and even have the nerve to find a ceramic cat.
- 17:00: The weight of all my acquired goods hits me. My suitcase groans in protest. Packing is a nightmare. I’m pretty sure my carry-on is now over the weight limit.
- 19:00: Dinner. I eat some spicy noodles. They are delicious (or I am developing the taste). I want to go home more. But, I'm so happy that I'm here.
Day 4: Departure & The Lingering Taste of Adventure (and Mystery Meat)
- 07:00: Wake up. The rock pillows still exist. I eat the same breakfast. I pack. I check out of the hotel. I am sad to go.
- 07:30: The taxi ride to the airport. The driver almost hits a bicycle. My heart rate increases. I try to remain calm.
- 09:00: Airport chaos. Check-in. Security. The usual travel stuff. More pigeons (I swear, those birds are everywhere).
- 10:00: Departure. I look back at Weifang through the plane window. I’m covered in goosebumps as I gaze at the city. The journey went, maybe a little weird, but also so good. I had some scary times and I was happy to have them.
- 13:00: Once I land, I start to think. I'm already planning my return. Maybe I'll learn more Chinese. And definitely more about cooking. My phoenix kite is safely stowed away. I need to start researching the culinary delights of China, and planning for my return.
- 13:30: I can't wait to come back.
So, there you have it. My messy, imperfect, incredibly human travel log. Weifang wasn't always perfect, but it was an adventure. And isn't that what travel is all about? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a nap. And maybe a good, strong coffee.
Unbelievable HOTEL R9 The Yard: Togane, Choshi's Hidden Gem!
Unbelievable Weifang Kite Square Hotel Deal: Hanting Hotel Taihua City! (And My Rollercoaster Experience)
Alright, buckle up. I'm about to spill the tea on the Hanting Hotel in Taihua City, or at least, the deal I *thought* was a dream. And let me tell you, it was...an experience.
1. Okay, so...what's the "unbelievable deal" everyone's talking about? Did I actually stumble onto the Holy Grail of bargain travel?
Well, the headline was a doozy: "Hanting Hotel Taihua City! Unbelievable Kite Square Location! X Yuan a Night!" (X being a number, of course, which fluctuated like my blood pressure). The pitch? Prime Weifang location – supposedly, right by Kite Square – for the price of, well, practically nothing. I'm talking *significantly* cheaper than the other places. My inner bargain hunter did a little jig. My *inner cynic* whispered, "Too good to be true..." But the deal was so shiny... I couldn't resist. Turns out, often the cynic is right. Prepare yourself.
2. Where *exactly* is this Hanting Hotel? I’m picturing myself practically tripping over the kites on arrival.
Ah, the location. The *advertised* location. They say it's near Kite Square. Let's just say "near" is doing some *serious* heavy lifting here. It's... within walking distance, sure, if you're training for the Weifang Marathon (which, side note, I briefly considered after the trek). My advice? Uber. Definitely Uber. Or maybe a rickshaw if you’re feeling… adventurous. Bring good walking shoes. My poor feet barely recovered. The "kite-adjacent" claim is... stretchy. I'd peg it as "kite-aware" from the location, but with a good view of a road.
3. The room? Was it a minimalist zen oasis or something more... questionable?
Okay, so the room. My expectations? Low. I'd read the reviews (after I booked, naturally. Always a good strategy). The reality? Well, it was a room. Let's put it that way. The decor was… a choice. Think "functional." Maybe "efficient." Definitely not "Instagrammable." The bed? Okay. The bathroom? Surprisingly clean, which I was relieved about. But the real showstopper? The *noise*. Oh, the noise! I swear, I heard every single car horn, motorcycle rev, and local gossip session from the street outside. It's like living in a symphony orchestra of urban chaos. Bring earplugs. Seriously, bring industrial-grade earplugs. I didn't, and I now have tinnitus. Thank you, Hanting Hotel Taihua City!
4. Food and beverage situation? Breakfast included? Or was it a "grab a convenience store egg tart" kind of vibe?
Breakfast? (deep sigh). The website *hinted* at breakfast. The reality? It was a “go find your own breakfast” situation. Which, honestly? Wasn't the end of the world. There were plenty of street food options nearby. Delicious street food. But, if you're like me and need your morning coffee and a safe place to poop, you'll have to find it elsewhere (and bring wet wipes). The lack of hotel breakfast was a dealbreaker for some, as I read the reviews. So, heed the warnings. You're on your own, soldier.
5. The staff? Were they helpful, indifferent, or actively trying to sabotage your vacation?
The staff... Well, they were *there*. The language barrier was real. My Mandarin is… let’s say, rudimentary. Their English was... also rudimentary, shall we say. Trying to explain a broken hairdryer? An experience. I eventually gave up and just let my hair air-dry. (Which, given the city’s air quality, might’ve been a blessing in disguise, depending on how you look at it). They tried their best, bless them, but helpful? Indifferent? A little bit of both, I guess. My biggest complaint? The lack of urgency when I ran out of toilet paper. I mean, come on!
6. The best thing about the hotel? Anything redeemable?
Honestly? The price. And the location, once you're in an Uber or a very enthusiastic walking-shoes guy. I mean, it was cheap. Like, *really* cheap. Which, let's be honest, is what lured me in in the first place. The location, once you're actually out and about, is pretty good for exploring Weifang. Close enough to everything, once you've survived the walk/Uber ride to get to things. Also, the lack of a breakfast buffet meant I got to explore the local food scene, which was actually a massive highlight. Street food rocks! So, a mixed bag. A messy, slightly frustrating bag, but a bag with a few silver linings.
7. Would you stay there again? Dish the real truth!
(Deep, thoughtful pause). Okay, here's the unvarnished truth. If I *absolutely had to* and the price was still that tempting, yes, I *probably* would. But this time, I'm bringing: earplugs, a phrasebook, wet wipes aplenty, and *definitely* pre-booking a reliable taxi service. And I'd adjust my expectations. Way down. Like, underground-cave-dwelling-level low. Honestly? The experience was so hilariously messy, slightly terrifying, and ultimately... character-building, a bit. I'm not even sure I'd call it a "holiday;" it was more like a budget travel *adventure*. So, yeah... maybe. But don't blame me if you go, and your own adventure leaves you a little… traumatized.
8. Any advice for other brave souls considering this "deal"?
Prepare yourself. That's my main bit of advice. Download a translation app. Bring a pillow, because the pillows are dubious. Embrace the chaos. Lower your standards. And remember, it's an adventure. And sometimes, the crappiest adventures make the best stories. Also, stock up on snacks. Always stock up on snacks. And maybe pack a hazmat suit, just in case the air quality is particularly…special…that day. Oh, and definitely research alternative, potentially pricier options *before* you book.
