Ningxia Yuehai Hotel

The Yuehai is part of China's state hotel chain. The check-in counter is at the side of a large, imposing circular atrium. The hotel is situated in a large, meticulously maintained woodland complete with a large pond/lake with five ducks and innumerable fish. We were there for three weeks and took daily walks around the lake. The window for breakfasts is 0700-0900, offering an elaborate assortment of soups, dumplings, and vegetables, with everything is carefully labeled in English and Chinese. For the three weeks of our stay. English at the Yuehai was virtually nonexistent. However, staff used the translation tools built into their smartphones for communication, and everyone was unremittingly courteous and helpful. There are more modest places to stay—although our host got a substantial discount off the posted rates—but few as elegant and satisfactory. My guests balked at the price of the afternoon tea/coffee just off the entry atrium, 68 Yuan (US$9.84), was seen as high, but it came with a buffet of fruits and pastries that made it a bargain. My plea to my guests—that this was a "special" occasion unlikely to be repreated—won them over and gave us uncrowded space for substantive discussions. In sum, the Yuehai is a high-end hotel, occasionally filled with conference guests and participants, that does not neglect individual travelers lacking Chinese.