Yicheng Pazhou Poly World Trade Centre Apartment

LOCATION   Situated within the mega complex of Canton Convention Centre, this building D compound is one of many towers to cater for thousands of potential visitors with different pocket sizes attending activities at the conference centre.    There is a food court with massive seating hall in the basement area (Subway) with metro access and some shops including a convenient store (Family Mart). However, despite being an international facility, these stores do not accept overseas credit cards, which made services unaccessible and inconvenient. Alipay or Wechat is the general currency. Unsure about English as communication medium.   There is a nearby tea mall across the road outside the community access zone (roads within closed to general public), with starbucks and KFC.     SERVICE   The facility houses multiple accommodation companies, with several different agents at reception attending to different clientele. Therefore, one needs to find the “correct” agent for assistance. The others will generally ignore you.    LOBBY   The high-ceiling of the lobby area is impressive, as are the splendid birdseye view from the apartment above the 40thfloor with river/canal view.     As we visited at a time when the conference center was not in use, the premises were not crowded and the waiting time for the elevator was bearable. The basement restuarants were relatively quiet.    On exit from the elevator on our apartment level, we noticed 2 fold-up beds against the wall, which was still evident on check-out. It appeared untidy and unprofessional in full view of guests and at such a public location.      ROOMS   Rooms were decent but not luxury. The design seems to reflect a refined service apartment for the upper market, but the maintenance does not reflect this. There was no internet initially, so we had to go back downstairs to inform reception as there was no phone in the room.    There was no teabags or coffee provided, which was a disappointment. The bathroom was clean but darker than anticipated. The desk chair was worn away and the fake pot plants did little to cheer guests up. The bathroom towels and linen appeared hard and could use with some fabric softener.   We had no fussy issues about housekeeping, although ours was just a one night stay. Other reviews remark on the dust in the rooms, which on close inspection, is still evident in the finer details (such as the wooden panels below the TV, under the bed ect.). The wooden floors are stained and scraped dirty from use.   The building compound has potential for more TLC, maintenance and upgrading to the high-level expected of high-level buildings and high-level apartments.    SUMMARY   Overall, would give good positive review for the infrastructure and hardware, but not software. As author has experienced more problematic issues at other accommodations in China, this apartment would come above average.  Further from Canton city centre with limited options, but well-appointed business accommodation for trade fair purposes only.