Jinjiang Inn Tianshui: Wanda Plaza Luxury Awaits! (Best Deal Inside!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Jinjiang Inn Tianshui: Wanda Plaza Luxury Awaits! (Best Deal Inside!), and let me tell you, it's a ride. SEO be damned, we're going for the gut feeling here. Let's get messy!
First Impressions & The Rundown (aka, the meandering pre-amble)
Okay, so, Tianshui. Didn't know where that was before, do now. Pretty sure it's in China. Wanda Plaza, huh? Sounds fancy. The "Luxury Awaits!" tagline? Bold. Let's see if it delivers, because honestly, "luxury" in a mid-range hotel can sometimes mean, you know, slightly less stained carpets.
Accessibility - Let's Get Started (And Make Sure Everyone Can Join!)
Right, accessibility. This is important, people! I'm digging to see if the lobby is, you know, actually accessible. Elevators are a must, obviously. (Phew, elevator confirmed! Thank goodness!) The hotel's inclusion of wheelchair accessibility? Good on them. The world needs more places people can actually get around in, whether using a wheelchair or not. We’ll give high marks if they've considered the little things – lowered counters, accessible toilet facilities, all that. The hotel website seems to be mum on the details, so we'll have to assume and hope for the best, though some mention of facilities for disabled guests feels like a must. The Internet: My Lifeblood (and yours too, probably)
Okay, internet. In this day and age, it’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Jinjiang Inn gets that, bless their hearts. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! 🙌 Big win. And Internet access – LAN too?! Old school, but hey, more options, less lag. Plus, Wi-Fi in public areas is standard, but appreciated. I mean, who hasn't needed a quick email check while waiting for the elevator? I have! It's crucial for work, entertainment and, you know, stalking that cute barista on Instagram so important.
Things to Do/Ways to Relax (Where's the Spa Queen?!)
This is where things get interesting. The "luxury" claim had better hold up, because a good hotel is all about those little indulgences, right? Let's face it, even if you're backpacking on a budget (which I am, okay?), the idea of a spa is always tantalizing.
- Gym/Fitness Center: Okay, we've got a fitness center. That's a good start. Cardio machines and free weights are a must, right? I hope it's not just a treadmill in a closet!
- Pool with view: Oooh, a pool with a view? Now we're talking. Hopefully, it's not just a plastic kiddie pool on the roof.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: Let's see if they actually have a sauna, steam room, or just tease us with the possibility!
- Massage, Foot bath: Massage AND a foot bath? Now you're speaking my language. After a long day of exploring, or let’s be honest, sitting in front of a computer, a simple foot bath can be a moment of pure bliss.
- Body scrub, Body wrap: Not the kind of bodies I’m used to having ;)
Cleanliness and Safety (Because, you know, COVID and Life)
Okay, real talk: Cleanliness is everything. Especially post-pandemic. I want this place sparkling!
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Yes!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Excellent!
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Reassuring.
- Hand sanitizer: Always a plus.
- Hygiene certification: Fingers crossed.
- Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: All important.
- Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: Needed now more than ever.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Individually-wrapped food options: Crucial!
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Ok cool.
- Shared stationery removed: Smart.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: We better hope!
I appreciate the Safe dining setup. It's the little things that show a hotel cares – are the tables spaced, is there airflow, is the staff wearing masks?
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Fuel for the Soul!)
Okay, food! The heart of any good hotel experience. I like eating!
- Restaurants: Plural? Good sign.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Variety is the spice of life!
- A la carte in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant, Breakfast service: Options, options, options. As long as it's not a buffet with sad, dried-out eggs.
- Coffee shop, Coffee/tea in restaurant: Caffeine! Crucial!
- Bar, Happy hour, Poolside bar: I’m imagining sipping a cocktail poolside. Dreams!
- Room service [24-hour]: A must-have.
- Snack bar: Perfect for midnight cravings.
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: Yes please!
- Bottle of water: Hydration is key!
- Alternative meal arrangement, Vegetarian restaurant: Showing some thought.
Services and Conveniences (Making Life Easier!)
This is where a hotel either shines or fails miserably. You want easy, you want convenience, you want to be pampered.
- Air conditioning in public area, Elevator: Essentials.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities: Okay for business travelers but not important for me.
- Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange: That's useful!
- Daily housekeeping, Doorman: nice to be pampered!
- Dry cleaning, Elevator, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage: The trifecta of convenience.
- Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop: Fun.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Important.
- Invoice provided: Needed for business trips.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine: Perfect.
- Smoking area, Terrace: Niceties!
- Xerox/fax in business center: Really? Still?
For the Kids (Because, You Know, Sometimes You Bring Them)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Good to know if you're traveling with little ones.
Access & Security (Keeping Me Safe and Sound!)
- Front desk [24-hour]: Crucial. No one wants to be locked out at 2 AM.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Fire extinguisher, Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Proposal spot, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Smoking area, Exterior corridor: Standard.
Getting Around (Getting Me Everywhere!)
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Transportation options galore!
Available in All Rooms (Home Away From Home!)
Okay, the room itself. This is where the rubber meets the road.
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens
This is a solid list of in-room amenities. Free Wi-Fi again, because it's that important. Blackout curtains are a must for me (sleep is precious!). Coffee/tea maker? Yes, please. And free bottled water always gets a thumbs up. The bathrobes are a nice touch, too.
My Anecdote: The Accidental Spa Day
Back when I was traveling in… eh, let's just say "a foreign land
Amazonas Palace: Your Luxurious Belo Horizonte Escape (Avenida Amazonas)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the glorious, messy, and slightly questionable adventure that is my trip to Tianshui, China, specifically the hallowed halls of the Jinjiang Inn on Chunfeng Road, right next to the Wanda Plaza. Prepare yourself, because this is not your meticulously curated travel brochure. This is real.
Day 1: Arrival…and Existential Dread in a Hotel Room
- 14:00 – Arrival at Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport (LHW). Okay, so, the flight was…long. And slightly bumpy. Let's just say the complimentary peanuts were the highlight. Finding the shuttle bus to Tianshui was surprisingly straightforward, which immediately made me suspicious. China's always like that – lulls you into a false sense of security.
- 17:00 – Check-in at Jinjiang Inn, Tianshui Chunfeng Road Wanda Plaza. The lobby smelled faintly of disinfectant and…promise? The room? Small. But clean. And the view…well, it overlooked a construction site. Progress, baby! Progress. This is where the existential dread kicks in. Being utterly alone in a hotel room in a country where I speak approximately zero Mandarin – it hits you, you know? There's this sinking feeling of "What the hell am I doing here?" And then I realized I was hungry.
- 18:00 – Dinner at the Wanda Plaza: Ah, Wanda Plaza. The glorious, air-conditioned beacon of consumerism. This is where the real fun begins. Tried to order something at a little noodle place… the struggle was real. Pointing, miming, hoping for the best. Ended up with…well, I'm not entirely sure. But it was hot, it was filling, and it definitely involved chili oil, which, honestly, is the key to happiness in China. The noodles itself, a symphony of textures and flavors I can't quite translate into English. It was like a party in my mouth and everyone was invited.
- 19:30 – Wandering aimlessly through the Wanda Plaza: Let me tell you, people-watching in a Chinese shopping mall is a sport of Olympic proportions. The fashion is a glorious mashup of practical and outrageous. The sheer volume of people is overwhelming. I saw about five people taking selfies with the same display of inflatable ducks. That’s the kind of dedication to social media I can get behind. Also, I lost a button on my shirt. Things are already going to hell.
- 21:00 – Bedtime (and a desperate attempt to connect to the hotel Wi-Fi): The Wi-Fi password was a cryptic puzzle. I suspect the hotel staff found a picture me screaming at it on my phone to be hilarious. Finally, connected! Checked Facebook (guilty), and promptly fell asleep. The AC was surprisingly effective.
Day 2: Wheat Noodles and a Brush with Cultural Revolution History (Maybe)
- 08:00 – Wake up, contemplate life, and make a cup of instant coffee from a machine that sounds like it's about to explode. See, this is why I love/hate travel. Coffee is, was, and always will be a struggle.
- 09:00 – Breakfast: The Quest for the Perfect Noodles: This is where I went back. Back to the noodle place (it's literally the only place I could find that I could possibly order from). This time, I was armed with a picture translation app and sheer willpower. SUCCESS! Ordered the "beef noodle soup with the wide, flat noodles." Dear god, it was even better than the night before. The broth…the perfect symphony of savory and spices. I'm convinced this is what heaven tastes like. It’s the best part of the trip, hands down. I think I could live on just that soup. I almost cried.
- 10:30 – Exploring the area (or, getting hopelessly lost): Armed with a slightly inaccurate map (thanks, Google Maps!), I set out to explore. The streets of Tianshui are a beautiful chaos of bicycles, scooters, and the occasional minivan playing obnoxiously loud pop music. This is great, I love not knowing where I’m going.
- 12:00 – Lunch: Trying to find a dumpling place, failing, and ending up at a bakery: Okay, so, the dumpling search was a disaster. Ended up in a bakery full of tempting, but wholly unidentifiable, pastries. Bought a thing shaped like a croissant, but clearly not a croissant. It was…sweet. And slightly oily. But hey, it filled the hole.
- 13:00 – The First Peoples' Palace of Tianshui: Okay, so this is where it got interesting. Found a building that might have been a museum. The sign was in Chinese, but the architecture looked…old. And imposing. Went inside. There were a lot of faded photographs and propaganda posters. And a distinct lack of English translations. I think I was witnessing some sort of exhibition about the Cultural Revolution? Or maybe not. It was fascinating and slightly terrifying. I felt like I was spying on history, or maybe just being a tourist who didn't understand anything.
- 15:00 – (More) Wanda Plaza: Needed a new button. And maybe another coffee (the tiny coffee from the hotel room did not satisfy). The Wanda Plaza is becoming my comfort zone. It's familiar and chaotic and full of people watching opportunities, something that I find utterly addictive. Watched two teenagers attempt to buy a phone. That was an absolute masterclass in negotiating.
- 17:00 – Back to the Hotel: Feeling a strange sense of accomplishment and a desperate need for a shower: Seriously, being a tourist is tiring.
- 19:00 – Dinner (You guessed it!): Back to the noodle place. Beef noodle soup. Again. No regrets.
- 20:00 – Attempting to read a Chinese dictionary and failing miserably. I now know how to say "hello" and "noodles." Progress!
- 21:00 – Falling asleep with the lights on. The construction noise outside is still going strong. I should probably look into earplugs.
Day 3: The Big Question: What Am I Really Doing Here?
- 08:00 - Woke up with a strange feeling that I was being watched. There was the vague outline of a person just at the edge of my vision, for a brief moment. Chalked it up to jet lag and the questionable lighting.
- 09:00 – Breakfast: Noodles. The One True Breakfast. Seriously, I think the noodle place is my calling. They seem to know me now? The woman made a little face while she helped me point, so I think I've definitely become a regular.
- 10:00 – Trying to book a train ticket to the Maijishan Grottoes, a decision I made in a moment of overly enthusiastic travel planning: The website was entirely in Chinese. The app was worse. I got about halfway before my brain decided to turn into a puddle. I might actually have to talk to a person.
- 11:00 – Wandering. This time, a bit farther. And getting even more lost. Found myself in the middle of a crowded market full of things I'd never seen before (and wouldn't know how to use even if I could identify them). This is the most confusing and amazing feeling - being completely, delightfully, utterly lost.
- 12:30 – Lunch in this market: Found a street food vendor selling something that looked like…deep-fried tofu? With chili sauce, naturally. It was spicy. And delicious. My tongue may or may not still be on fire.
- 14:00 – Attempting to use my translation app to understand the lyrics of the pop music blasting from a shop: Futile. But the music was catchy. Added to my ever-growing playlist of Chinese pop.
- 15:00 – Train ticket. The struggle is real (but so is the air conditioning): The ticket office was a zoo. But, with a combination of gesturing, pointing, and a smile, I managed to (I think) buy a ticket to the Maijishan Grottoes. Victory! I'm quite proud of myself.
- 16:00 - Back to the Hotel: Shower, nap, and existential dread. The construction continues, as does my internal monologue questioning every life choice.
- 19:00 – Dinner. Noodles. Can't stop. Won't stop. My love for these noodles is becoming unhealthy.
- 20:00 – Attempting (and failing) to understand the local dialect (while watching TV): Chinese television is a bizarre, and beautiful, experience. I'm pretty sure I watched a show about a family who keeps pigeons.
- 21:00 - Packing my bag for Maijishan. A flurry of last-minute panic. Did I
Jinjiang Inn Tianshui: Wanda Plaza – Let's Get Real (and Maybe a Little Lost)
Okay, so... "Luxury Awaits"? Is that the *real* story at the Jinjiang Inn Tianshui?
"Luxury Awaits" feels a *bit* dramatic, doesn't it? Let's just say, if your definition of luxury is "clean sheets and a hot shower," then yeah, you're in luck. I mean, it's Jinjiang Inn. You're not getting the Ritz, people. I went in expecting… well, exactly what I got. A functional hotel, strategically plopped right next to the Wanda Plaza. Which, *that* part is actually pretty darn luxurious. Seriously, the Wanda Plaza... it's its own little world. Okay, maybe not *luxury*, maybe *convenience* is a better word. And after a long haul flight, convenience is definitely my friend. Though, I recall a tiny, *tiny* crack in the bathroom tile that was giving me the side-eye the whole time. Minor, but it's the little things, right?!
The "Best Deal Inside!" – What does THAT even mean? Is the price worth it?
Alright, "Best Deal Inside!"... Yeah, it's a deal. Like, a definitely-won't-break-the-bank kind of deal. It's a budget hotel, period. You're not getting tricked. I saw it as a basecamp. somewhere to crash before really exploring the city. And for that, it *is* actually a decent deal. Think of it this way: You're paying for location, location, location (Wanda Plaza, remember?). And for Tianshui, that location is GOLD. You're next to everything – restaurants, shops, even a cinema if you're feeling particularly adventurous. Just… don't go expecting a Michelin-starred meal inside the hotel. You'll be disappointed. But the noodles *outside* are a different story...
Is the location *really* that good, tucked next to Wanda Plaza? I've heard those things are… HUGE.
HUGE doesn't even cover it. The Wanda Plaza is a beast. It's like a mini-city. And yeah, you are *right next to it*. Forget popping out for a quick snack and heading back to the hotel - it's more like *entering* another dimension. Think of it as your own personal portal to… well, everything. Food? Check. Shopping? Double check. Entertainment… tripe-check. I got a little lost in there on more than one occasion. It's easy to… *get lost*. But! You will *never* be bored.
What's the actual room like? Spacious? Cramped? And the wifi? Is it bearable?
Okay, the room... okay. Think practical, not palatial. It's functional. Definitely not the kind of place you'd spend all day luxuriating. Space is at a premium, but hey, you're not there to hang out in your room all day, right? I found the wifi… let's say it's sufficient. Don't expect lightning speeds for uploading those vacation photos, but it did the job of *checking* emails and catching up on some news. It’s better than when I was in the countryside, where the wifi was practically a myth.
Any advice for first-timers in Tianshui, staying at the Jinjiang Inn? What are the MUST-DOs?
Okay, first-timer tips! First, embrace the Wanda Plaza. Seriously. Get lost in it. Explore the food court, the shops, just *experience* it. Second, learn a few basic Mandarin phrases. You'll get further than you think. Third, the local noodles are *divine*. Find any little hole-in-the-wall place and go for it. Ask the staff at the hotel, I did, one of them even took me to their family restaurant, which was super nice. Fourth, be prepared for a little culture shock! Tianshui is a fascinating place. Finally, manage expectations. Don’t expect the ultimate luxurious experience. The Jinjiang Inn is your base camp, not your destination.
Were there any downsides? Things you'd warn people about?
Hmm, downsides... Well, maybe the noise? Depends on your room. If you get one facing the street, be prepared for some traffic sounds. And sometimes, the hall sounded a little… lively. But really, it's a budget hotel. I'm not expecting soundproof walls! I *will* admit, I found the breakfast to be... well, let's just say I skipped it on most days. I preferred to venture out and discover some local eats. But overall, it's a solid choice. Don't expect perfection, and you'll be fine. But you may not become best friends with your neighbors.
The one thing you'll always remember about your stay?
Okay, this is the embarrassing part… I'm not exactly graceful. There was this tiny, *tiny* incident with a rogue piece of fruit in the hotel lobby. I'm not proud, but I slipped. Right in front of the reception desk. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated slapstick. And the staff? They were *so* nice. They helped me up, made sure I was okay, and even brought me a (free!) cup of tea while I recovered my dignity. So, yeah. The Jinjiang Inn Tianshui? A place where you might eat your words, or maybe a piece of fruit, but you'll (probably) be okay in the end. And the kindness of the staff... that's actually something that *is* luxurious, in a way.
Would you stay there again?
Honestly? Yeah, I probably would. It's a good value for the price, and the location is unbeatable. Especially for the Wanda Plaza! Plus, the staff. Even if I ended up on the floor. Okay, *especially* because of the staff. So yeah, if I find myself back in Tianshui? Jinjiang Inn Tianshui: Wanda Plaza will probably be my base camp again. Maybe I won't eat any fruit in the lobby this time.
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