Empark Grand Hotel Zhongguancun

This hotel deserves a fresh review. The lobby is grand, spacious and tastefully decorated. It was clean and bright with a number of cute robots busy at work. There is also a classy coffee shop on one side of the lobby. The regular room was a pleasant surprise. It was large, well equipped and very clean. Each bedside had a panel for all the lights as well as USB and power outlets. The room’s bathroom had two sinks (which is more typical for suites). Separate cubicles for the shower and toilet. All the fixtures were from top brands. The breakfast buffet spread offered a wide range of Chinese dishes as well as some western options. It was complete with a salad table, an egg station and a noodle soup and dimsum counter. The lobby bar was a good, quiet place to chill after dinner. The service is outstanding and the staff was eager to serve. And when language was a barrier, the staff would call an English speaking colleague on their phone so you can talk to them. Special mention goes to the English-speaking duty manager who helped my colleague retrieve his passport from the safe of the previous hotel we stayed in. The manager did all the communicating with the other hotel across town and made all the arrangements to get the passport delivered. My colleague was not charged for any expense and refused the tip. The only minus sign: the hotel tolerates smoking in the lobby, corridors and even the elevators. But overall, this hotel deserves a 5-star rating.