Our travel agency booked us at the Nanlin Hotel. It was one of three hotels we stayed at in the Jiangsu province in China. Upon arriving at the hotel, the exterior was nothing special, and gives no indication as to the well designed and immaculate interior. The first thing you'll notice when checking in is the small spiral staircase just inside the main entrance. The lobby area is very roomy and there is also a small business center where guests can access the internet for a nominal fee. The guest rooms are average sized, but stunning in detail and decor. Our room had these huge wood panels on the wall with Chinese characters. The bathrooms looked to be recently remodeled and are quite nice. The only thing we were not thrilled with was the actual bed. Just like the other two hotels that we stayed at, the bed consisted of what appeared to be just a box springs. The beds are extremely hard. I'm not sure if this is common in most Chinese hotels, but Westerners may have a hard time adjusting to them. Outside, just off the main lobby, is a nice courtyard area with tables and chairs, a pagoda style gazebo and a pond. Nanlin offers an expansive menu for breakfast and it is served in a very large dining room located next to the lobby. The breakfast had an assortment of traditional Chinese food items, as well as several Western choices, such as cereal, eggs, sausage, waffles, french toast and pancakes. I would give this hotel a FIVE STAR rating, particularly if you consider the overall value. The room rates range from $55-$85 USD! For this price, you'll be hard pressed to find a cleaner, more impressive hotel in the area that has the charm and appeal as the Nanlin Hotel. I am returning to Suzhou in April 2009 and have told my travel agent that I insist on staying at the Nanlin again!

Agreed with other hotel patrons that this hotel is a true gem. The buffet breakfast includes traditional Chinese hot items, European pastries, omelete station, Japanese cold starters, fruits, cereal, just to name a few...

Walk on the main street for some local shopping or a great tea house (turn right from the hotel's main entrance) just 5 minutes away. OR stroll along the back alleys to peak into everyday life!

This was the best hotel on our recent tour with China Spree. Apparently the rooms have been recently upgraded to match the incredibly gorgeous public rooms. It is located so that you can easily stroll downtown to catch the local nightlife, or shop local shops. The included breakfast buffet offered something for every nationality, and served good coffee. The lobby bar in the evening was a fun place to grab a beer or an ice cream with friends.

Be aware that beds in Chinese hotels are EXTREMELY firm. To be honest though, after a couple nights we got used to it and found ourselves sleeping easily through the night with no muscle aches or pains. The ammenities here include toothbrushes, slippers, robes, bottled water and an inexpensive internet center in the main lobby.