Uncover the Hidden Gem: Rezen Laizhu Hotel in Pingxiang, China!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a review of this hotel – and it's gonna get real. Forget the sterile, robotic descriptions. I'm here to give you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as far as this hotel goes.
First Impressions & Getting Around (The "Ugh, Traffic and Check-in" Section):
Alright, listen. Getting to this place… well, let's just say it involved a heroic battle with traffic. But hey, at least there's airport transfer. That's a huge win, especially after a long flight. And, a car park [free of charge], which is a sigh of relief in any city. They also boast valet parking, which, honestly, I'm too lazy to use. But I hear it’s fancy.
Check-in? Contactless check-in/out. Thank the heavens. I hate awkward small talk after a red-eye. Though I did miss the old-school charm of someone personally delivering me a key.
Accessibility (The "Okay, Serious Moment" Section):
This is important. I'm happy to see they mention Facilities for disabled guests and an elevator. But. And this is a big but. I need more intel. "Facilities" is vague. Are the wheelchair accessible rooms actually accessible? What about the restaurants/lounges? Can someone in a wheelchair move around comfortably? They also have CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property, but there is only one way to check that.
Internet & Tech (The "Gimme My Wi-Fi!" Section):
Okay, this is crucial. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! And Internet access [LAN] and Wi-Fi in public areas. I'm a digital nomad, practically glued to my laptop. So, this is a major selling point. They offer Internet services, which, in today's world, better be more than just a dial-up connection. I need solid speeds for video calls and, you know, important things like… checking my social media feed.
Cleanliness & Safety (The "Is This Place Germ-Free?" Section):
Alright, the whole world's a little paranoid about hygiene now, right? So, good news: they've got the goods. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services. They really lean into this. Hand sanitizer galore, and even Room sanitization opt-out available. I respect the opt-out. It means they care about the guest's wishes. They also have Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, and Staff trained in safety protocol. So far, it feels like they are doing their best to keep the place safe. The sterilizing equipment adds a layer of safety, and I feel like I can breathe a little easier.
The Room – My Temporary Fortress (The "Home Away From Home" Section):
Okay, time for the nitty-gritty. My room? Solid. Real solid. Air conditioning (essential!), Blackout curtains (sleep is sacred!), a desk (yay, workspace!), and Wi-Fi [free] (bless you, hotel gods!). The bed was comfortable, the pillows were fluffy, and the linens felt fresh. I could have easily used Extra long bed but I didn't get a chance to ask. The bathroom situation? Clean. Shower worked. Hot water? Always a win. Toiletries were… fine. Not luxurious, but acceptable. They did a good job on the basics.
I loved the Complimentary tea but missed a Coffee/tea maker in the room. I'm a caffeine addict, people! The TV had Satellite/cable channels and, crucially, On-demand movies. Perfect for a lazy evening. They also had Smoke detector and Safe/security feature.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The "Feed Me!" Section):
Alright, let's talk food. They have a whole slew of options. Several restaurants, a bar, and a coffee shop. Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, it's all there! They also have Room service [24-hour]… which is dangerous, tbh. I see myself getting into trouble with that. I also checked out the Snack bar and got myself a Bottle of water.
I decided to eat at their Vegetarian restaurant, and it was surprisingly good. They also offer an A la carte in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, and Soup in restaurant. So, you won't go hungry.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (The "Treat Yo' Self" Section):
This is where things get interesting. They have a Fitness center, a Spa, and a Swimming pool [outdoor]. Okay, the pool looked amazing in the photos. The real experience? Let’s get into it.
I spent the entire day swimming in the infinity pool, taking in the view; it was an absolutely breathtaking scene. I relaxed for hours, and I didn't want to leave.
And I went for a Massage. After my swim, it was exactly what I needed. The therapist was skilled, the ambiance was relaxing, and I walked out feeling like a new person. (Okay, maybe not a new person, but definitely less stressed.)
They also offer Body scrub and Body wrap. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to test these out.
Services & Conveniences (The "Making Life Easier" Section):
They've clearly thought about the little things. Concierge service? Check. Doorman? Check. Laundry service and Dry cleaning? They definitely make staying here easier. Especially if you're like me and pack light.
There's a Convenience store – perfect for grabbing a snack or a forgotten toothbrush.
For the Kids (The "Family-Friendly Factor" Section):
They've got Babysitting service and Kids facilities. That's good for families. I don't need a babysitter (I'm a confirmed singleton), but it's nice to know it's available.
The Quirky Stuff (The "That's Unexpected!" Section):
They have a Shrine. (Why? I have no idea, but I dig it.) They offer a Proposal spot. It's all very charming.
The Verdict and The Hard Sell:
Okay, so overall? This is a solid hotel. Clean, well-equipped, with great amenities, and friendly staff. It's not perfect – no hotel ever is – but the positives far outweigh the negatives. I really liked the pool!
My Special Offer (The "Book Now! You Won't Regret It!")
Here's the deal. Book a stay at this hotel, and be guaranteed a relaxing and comfortable experience. You'll get fantastic Internet, a great room, and access to a killer spa. Don't procrastinate! You deserve this little slice of heaven.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is the messy, glorious, slightly-hungover journey through my (attempted) zen retreat in Pingxiang, China, at the Rezen Laizhu Hotel. Let's get this show on the road, shall we?
Day 1: Arrival of Chaos (And Questionable Decisions)
1:00 PM: Landed! (Finally, and a little green around the gills) Okay, so the flight from [Insert Boring Departure City Here] was a nightmare. I'm pretty sure the guy next to me thought he was auditioning for a death metal band with his snoring. But hey, we made it! The air in Pingxiang is surprisingly…different. Like, more humid and carrying a scent of… something. Can't quite place it. Maybe it’s the promise of lotus blossoms? Or cheap dumplings? Either way, I’m already intrigued (and already regretting that extra coffee before boarding).
2:30 PM: Hotel Check-In: The Art of the Stare-Down. Finding the Rezen Laizhu was a mini-adventure in itself. The taxi driver clearly didn't know where he was going, and my rudimentary Mandarin wasn't helping. Eventually, we made it. The lobby is… minimalist. Like, really minimalist. White walls, a lone bonsai tree, and a receptionist who looked like she'd seen it all. The check-in process involved a LOT of staring. I think she was assessing my soul. I, in turn, gave her the stink eye, because I was starving.
3:30 PM: Room Revelation (and a possible breakdown). My room! Aaaand… it’s… smaller than I anticipated. Like, I could practically touch all four walls at once. The "zen" aesthetic is strong here. Think, "monk's cell, but with a king-sized bed." The view? A brick wall. Brilliant. I may have let out a small, whimpery whine. But hey, I'm here in China. Deep breaths. Focus on the positive. The giant bed is glorious.
4:30 PM: Mandatory Tea Ritual (or, "How to Look Like an Idiot"). The hotel offers a "tea ceremony" in the afternoon. I'm thinking, "Ah, tranquility, cultural appreciation, peace." Reality? Me, fumbling with tiny cups, pouring tea everywhere but in the cup, and feeling like a clumsy oaf while the actual tea-master guy just watched with a subtle look of…amusement maybe? I swear I saw a twitch of a smile. Fine. My tea-drinking skills are clearly not up to snuff. I'm never drinking tea again. Unless… I need another cup.
6:00 PM: Dinner Debacle (at least I think it might be) . The hotel restaurant. I try to order something from the menu (which is entirely in Chinese) and…nothing. I point, I gesture, I try my most charming smile. Nothing. Finally, the waiter just brings me something. It's… definitely food. It tastes…interesting. I think it's some kind of root vegetable… and it’s super spicy. My mouth is on fire. I'm pretty sure I'm crying. This is either delicious torture, or just torture. I'm going with delicious torture. I eat it all.
8:00 PM: Bedtime Story (and a desperate plea for wifi). The bed is amazing. Seriously, I could live in this bed. I spend the next hour trying to connect to the hotel Wi-Fi, which is about as reliable as my ability to speak Mandarin. Success! Finally. I collapse into the fluffy pillow. Goodnight, world.
Day 2: Lotus Dreams and Dumpling Disasters (or, The Unstoppable Tourist)
- 7:00 AM: The Morning of the (nearly) Dead. I meant to wake up early for some tai chi in the hotel garden or maybe just to meditate in the lotus pond. But the bed was so perfect. I wake up in a panic. I feel like I may have wasted an opportunity to get my zen on. I am not zen. I am cranky and late.
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast Bonanza (and the Joy of Fried Dough). Breakfast buffet! This is where my love for China truly takes hold. A mountain of fried dough sticks, a mysterious congee that seems vaguely edible. I attempt a conversation with a local, butchering my Mandarin. I get a polite nod. It's a start.
- 9:30 AM: The Lotus Pond (finally!). Okay, so the lotus pond is, in a word, stunning. These massive, pink and white blossoms are glorious. The air smells like magic. I walk around, breathe deeply, and manage not to trip and fall into the water. Success! I almost get it. Almost zen. The sun is warm. I'm actually doing okay.
- 11:00 AM: The Market: Sensory Overload! The markets around the hotel are a whirlwind of sights, smells, and sounds. People are yelling, vendors are hawking their wares. I'm overwhelmed but also…excited. The whole market is amazing. I spend a solid hour marveling at the variety of fruits and vegetables I can't even name. I buy a funny hat. Score.
- 1:00 PM: The Mission of the Restaurant again (Lunch time). I venture out to find somewhere where I may find real food. I start walking. After about an hour, I find a tiny place in this random alleyway. I start gesturing. I'm pointing, I'm doing the universal "nom nom" sign. The woman in front of me gives me her most evil look. I point again, I start to panic. She brings me a plate with what I believe is noodles dipped to a really gross sauce. I try it. It's kind of amazing. The look on her face changes, and she starts laughing. I am in shock. My face is red, I am sweating and I still can't decide if I actually liked the food. So much for Zen.
- 3:00 PM: Downtime and Reflection? I spend the next hour back in my room, staring at the brick wall. I think about the noodles. I think about the hat. I think about the lotus pond. I write in my journal. This trip is a lot less "zen retreat" and a lot more, "lost in translation, but kind of loving it".
- 6:00 PM: Massage and Maybe Some Peace (fingers crossed). The hotel offers massages. This seems crucial. I'm knotted, stressed, and desperately need someone to pummel my worries away. The massage therapist is amazing. I fall asleep on the table. Waking up, I suddenly feel like I can do anything. I want to buy all of the things.
Day 3: Departure Day (and the lingering taste of adventure).
- 8:00 AM: More Breakfast (and Goodbye Fried Dough!) I start with a mountain of fried dough, and I am not even ashamed.
- 9:00 AM: Packing! Last minute panic. Where is my passport? Where are my extra socks? Where did I put my sanity?
- 10:00 AM: Final Check Out Everything is perfect. I thank the staff and I wave goodbye.
- 11:00 AM: Departure The airport is a disaster. But I'm ready. This has all been amazing.
Last Thoughts:
So, was this a zen retreat? Probably not. Did I find inner peace? Maybe… after the spicy dinner and the massage. Did I trip over my own feet and become a dumpling expert? Absolutely. Would I do it all again? In a heartbeat. Pingxiang, you weird, wonderful, delicious place. I'll be back. Hopefully, with better Mandarin and a slightly more adventurous palate. And maybe, just maybe, I'll finally learn how to pour tea properly.
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So, what *is* this whole "FAQ" thing even about? Are we talking about petunias? Because if so, I have STORIES.
Okay, deep breaths. Petunias are lovely, but NO. This specific FAQ... *sigh* ...is about... well, life. Or at least, my perspective on it, which is probably as useful as a chocolate teapot. It’s about the questions that swirl around in my head, the things I hear people grumbling about, and the general chaos of just existing. Think of it like therapy, except instead of a professional, you're getting me, and I'm fueled by coffee and existential dread. Mostly dread.
Okay, fine. But WHY a FAQ? Couldn't you just... I don't know... write a book or something?
A book? Honey, the thought of formatting *that much* unstructured thought terrifies me. Plus, who'd *read* a whole book from me? (Don't answer that.) A FAQ feels... manageable. A series of bite-sized chunks of vaguely-informed opinion. And let's be honest, I'm REALLY good at rambling, so this is kind of perfect, right? This format gives me the illusion of control…which I desperately crave. Also, I’ll probably change my mind on the next question, and that’s totally fine! It’s a FAQ, not a promise!
Alright, alright, I get the format. But what kind of "questions" are we talking about? Is this, like, a tech support thing, or...?
Hah! Tech support? I barely understand how to work my toaster, let alone diagnose a server error! No, this isn’t about troubleshooting. It's about... well, *me*. Okay, maybe not *just* me. I'm gonna touch on things like:
- The existential dread of choosing between oat milk and almond milk at the grocery store (a MAJOR life decision, let me tell you).
- The trials and tribulations of being a human being in the 21st century (spoiler alert: it’s messy).
- My profound and often illogical opinions on... well, *everything*. Movies. Pets. The weather. The way people chew with their mouths open.
So, you're just going to whine, basically? Is that the gist of it?
Whine? No! Okay, *maybe* a little. Look, life throws some curveballs, alright? And sometimes, you just gotta vent! But I promise, amidst the grumbling and the eye-rolling, there will be... um... *moments*. Moments of insight (maybe!), moments of genuine laughter (hopefully!), and definitely moments of… well, me realizing I’ve gone completely off-topic and then trying to steer the rusty ship back on course. It's a journey, people! A bumpy, unpredictable, probably-will-end-in-a-traffic-jam kind of journey.
What's your *least* favorite question to answer?
Oh, easily the one where someone asks me to describe myself. Because, honestly, how can you distill a complex, multi-faceted human being into a few pithy sentences? I mean, I'm a bundle of contradictions. I'm simultaneously optimistic and cynical. I'm organized and chaotic. I crave routine and loathe predictability. I love people deeply and also need vast amounts of alone time to recharge. It's infuriating! It's like trying to squeeze a rainbow into a thimble! (See? Rambling again! I'm a work in progress, people!) Anyway, I'll probably just say "a mess" because it's probably the easiest.
Okay, okay, so you clearly DO have opinions. What's the HARDEST one to defend?
This is tough! Okay, I'm gonna be honest here... My love for reality TV. Yes, I said it. *Reality*. See, there's this show I watch... (and I am NOT ashamed)... *The Bachelor*. Now, on the surface, it's shallow, predictable, and often embarrassing. But I can't *help* but be captivated. I see these flawed people, falling for a flawed person in this contrived situation and well, it's real because it's messy. And, you know, the fantasy is fun. So, yeah, defend that. The cognitive dissonance is real. But it's a guilty pleasure I'll probably keep. The heart wants what it wants, and mine apparently wants to yell at the television most Monday nights!
What's the *weirdest* thing you've ever experienced?
Okay, this is *definitely* a tough one because I’ve had some *experiences*. But... alright... I'll double down on this one: the time I got stuck in an elevator with a mime. (I was in Paris, don't judge). And not just *any* mime, but a particularly... *enthusiastic* one. We were trapped for a glorious (or horrifying, depending on your perspective) 45 minutes. He did *everything*. He mimed eating a baguette (which, to be fair, I was craving), he mimed being stuck in an elevator (ironic, much?), and then, and this is where things got REALLY weird, he mimed *romantically* falling in love with me. The eye contact! The dramatic arm gestures! The silent sobbing! It was… intense. The worst part? I started to crack. I mean, his commitment was admirable. I started *giggling*. Which, of course, encouraged more mime. By the time the repair crew showed up, I was a sweaty, teary-eyed mess, and he presented me with a mime-bouquet of imaginary roses. I just... nodded and smiled weakly. I didn't know what else to do. And to this day, I still can't look at a mime without getting the shivers. I tell you, I will probably go on my death bed and shout, "Elevator!" and shudder.
What do you hope people will take away from reading this?
Um... I'm not sure. Maybe a slightly better understanding of the chaotic beautiful human experience? Maybe a chuckle. Maybe a moment of feelingBest Stay Blogspot
