Zhengzhou Yuehai Hotel

Rooms and decor

If you want to soak up Zhengzhou by actually being in it — not parked in the new CBD that could be any city — Zhengzhou Yuehai Hotel (Trip.com lists it as Zhengzhou GDH Hotel) is a clear answer. The tower stands 99 metres over 28 floors and was once one of the tallest buildings in 1990s Zhengzhou; it still reads as a landmark across Erqi Square. There are around 336 rooms, done in classic Chinese style mixed with modern touches and warm red-and-gold tones. Many have a sitting nook with big windows over the square and the old-town skyline. Bathrooms have clean stone floors and a standard hot-water shower, and rooms come with free Wi-Fi, a work desk, a fridge and a kettle — the essentials, no frills.

Food and amenities

The thing you won't find elsewhere in the city is the revolving restaurant on the top floor, which makes one slow turn every 90 minutes while serving good Chinese food, so every dinner gives you a shifting view of the city. There's also a regular Chinese restaurant, a lounge bar, a karaoke room, a sauna, spa massage, a gym, pool and billiards tables, ping-pong and mini-golf in the building — the most complete set of activities on this list. Real guests score it around 9.2 across 3,700+ reviews, with location at 9.7 (the highest here) and value at 9.3.

Location and getting there

It sits on Dehua Street, in the heart of Erqi Square, Erqi District — right on the Dehua pedestrian street, the busiest shopping and eating strip in Zhengzhou. It's just a 5-minute walk (about 400 m) to the Erqi Memorial Tower, the monument to the 1923 railway strike and the symbol of the city. You can reach Zhengzhou railway station on foot in 10-15 minutes (roughly 700-1,000 m), and Metro Line 1 is close for hopping to other districts. Xinzheng airport is about 35 km away, and the station is an easy launch point for a Shaolin Temple day trip by bus.

Things to know before booking

This is an older building, with a more traditional design than the city's newer hotels, so don't expect a fresh-build feel. Erqi Square is busy and noisy, sitting in the thick of the old-town district. And on public holidays the pedestrian street gets extremely crowded — fine if you like the buzz, less so if you want quiet.

Our take

Zhengzhou Yuehai Hotel suits the explorer who wants to live close to the old town and the city's history, the solo traveler who wants to walk over and catch an early train to Shaolin Temple, and culture-minded couples who want their photo of the Erqi Memorial Tower. For around $34 you get the best location on this list, a revolving restaurant you won't find anywhere else, and a genuine slice of old-town life in a city that's changing fast. We recommend it honestly for anyone who wants to travel on foot.