Crowne Plaza Guangzhou City Centre

At one time the 63-floor Crowne Plaza Guangzhou City Centre was known as the tallest building in the city. It may not be the tallest skyscraper any longer, but the hotel offers great city views from rooms and many locals know the hotel as “63 floors” or “63.” Located smack in the middle of Guangzhou's high-rise jungle, the hotel looks every bit an office building from the outside, and once inside, the sheer size of things has the feeling of a shopping mall. The lighting scheme in the lobby creates a vibrant atmosphere with colorful changing light designs and leaf-shaped lights that are reflected onto walls. Clusters of gray armchairs and sofas are set about polished marble floors done in geometric patterns. It's all definitely modern, but the once-trendy lighting and decor gives the feeling that it's all on the verge of looking less fresh -- soon. The vast majority of guests here are business travelers, though international and Chinese couples pas through on vacation as well, drawn by the reliable brand name and extras like a pool and gym. 

This is a bustling location on a tree-lined street in Guangzhou that’s across from a large shopping mall with a Starbucks, AEON supermarket, and Poly Cinema theater. Inside the hotel is a McDonald’s and the neighborhood has some good Middle Eastern and Indian food options along with requisite fast food options. A free shuttle goes to the Tianhe Railway Station, which is 15 minutes away. There are two metro stations -- Xiaobei and Taojin -- within a 10-minute walk, and there's also a bus stop at Taojin. For those interested in traditional Chinese pottery and art, the small Guangzhou Art Museum is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. It will take 15 minutes to reach Guangzhou Opera House by car. The Canton Tower is 15 to 20 minutes away by car, or 35 minutes by metro. For a taste of old Guangzhou, Shamian Island -- home to Our Lady of Lourdes Church and lots of charming, leafy streets -- is a 20-minute drive, or 45 minutes away by metro. Baiyun Mountain -- a scenic local lookout point -- is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is a 45-minute car trip, or there’s an express airport shuttle bus outside the hotel. Parking is available for free, but most guests don't bring cars.

The look across all rooms is contemporary, but much like the hotel's common areas, the once-trendy look already appears a bit less fresh. Rooms are universally done in earth tones, with tan carpets and mid-tone wood veneer furniture and accents. Everything has clean, sleek lines, and the dominant element in every room is the accent wall behind the bed. These are the only hint that the rooms are in Guangzhou, with mural-size prints of Eastern Art -inspired flowers and tree branches in most rooms, though some rooms simply have a small carved wooden panel above the bed. The hotel's size in an advantage when it comes to views, with upper floor rooms having the best vistas of Guangzhou's impressive cityscape. River views are available in some one- and two-bedroom Serviced Apartments, which have 87 to 108 square meters of space (936 to 1163 square feet), including modern living rooms and dining areas. Deluxe Rooms have up to 58 square meters (624 square feet) of space and Superior Rooms have up to 48 square meters (517 square feet) of space with separate sitting areas. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, electric kettles, and minibars. Sleek marble bathrooms have separate showers and bathtubs; some with soaking bathtubs and inset TVs. Turndown service is provided. Bathrobes and slippers are placed in closets. The Presidential Suite features red Chinese-style paintings, a bar in the dining room, a stair stepper, an office, and a kitchen. Club Rooms and select other higher-category rooms are afforded a series of other perks in the hotel detailed below.

As a massive, city-center hotel, there are a number of expected and nice-to-have features at this high-rise hotel. The heated outdoor pool has views of the skyscrapers all around. It's not a party space, but is nice to cool off -- there are lounge chairs on the deck and the pool is staffed by a lifeguard. The hotel's gym is truly impressive. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide city views in the gym and it's packed with a large selection of modern cardio and weight equipment. It includes a yoga room and there are outdoor tennis courts as well. The gym is open to non-hotel guests with memberships as well as those staying here. Wellness facilities include a sauna, steam room, and massages. The hotel’s three restaurants are casual, yet modern. Fresh Asian Buffet Restaurant provides multiple buffet stands and booth seating by glass windows facing the city. Baiyuelou Chinese Restaurant serves traditional Chinese dishes, including a popular Peking duck. Hao Chi Restaurant has a Cantonese menu with dim sum and hand-made noodles. Breakfast isn't included in the room rate. The hotel also offers an independently owned McDonald’s on the second floor. Cocktails, wine, and beer are served in the bar, where there are two Apple desktop computers and a terrace. Those staying in Club Rooms and other higher-category rooms are afforded use of the Club Lounge, which serves free drinks and free breakfast as well.There are nine meeting rooms and two ballrooms that provide a total of 22,636 square feet of space. The free Wi-Fi that’s available throughout the hotel is also a nice feature for guests who can access Facebook and Google here -- something not available everywhere in the country.