Hotel 4-Star di Gansu, China

When I booked the hotel, I was a bit worried seeing that the pick-up service was only from 8 AM to midnight. I specifically called to confirm that they could still pick me up even if my train arrived in Dunhuang around 7 AM. The hotel's location is excellent, very close to Shazhou Night Market, Dunhuang Bookstore, Dunhuang Print Bureau, and Mingsha Mountain. I'm very grateful to the kind lady at the front desk for upgrading my room and allowing me to check in early. The room was spacious and very comfortable. Oh, and the two cats at the front desk are absolutely adorable!

The hotel I chose for this trip far exceeded my expectations! From check-in to check-out, the entire experience was absolutely perfect. The location was incredibly convenient. It wasn't far from any of the attractions, and with plenty of malls and convenience stores nearby, it was super easy to go sightseeing or find places to eat. The front desk attendant during check-in was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. She not only processed everything quickly but also impressed me with her impeccable attention to detail. The room was spotlessly clean, which was very reassuring. The bedding was soft and comfortable, making it easy to drift off to sleep instantly. The bathroom had a well-designed wet/dry separation, and the toiletries had a subtle, pleasant herbal scent. Even essentials like a hairdryer and charging outlets were thoughtfully provided.

The service and breakfast were both good. I even forgot something, and the hotel called to thank me for it. However, the strange thing about this hotel is that the air conditioning only turns on at 6 PM. I came back from Maiji Mountain in the afternoon and was really cold, wanting to rest in the room. But I ended up having to wear my down jacket indoors. Air conditioning only starting at 6 PM? This is the first time I've encountered something like this in all my years of traveling!

We had a nice stay there. Hotel is located near drum tower. Convenient to walk around to the food area. The receptionists are helpful and courteous. Breakfast is quite good and healthy for people who don’t like local spicy food. Room is clean.

First time in Zhangye doing the Silk Road. We’re Australians and don’t speak Mandarin. The hotel is brand new and the facilities were great. Service was fantastic and even though the reception couldn’t speak English they were so helpful and we communicated using a translation app to recommend restaurants and help us book transport. The General Manager of the hotel is called Jeffery and he speaks fluent English and was very helpful as well. Definitely recommend this hotel for tourists.

The hotel's location is excellent; right outside, you can catch buses to destinations like Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, the airport, the train station, and Xuanquanzi Scenic Area. The hotel interior is also quite new, and the bedding is good. Downsides: The water wasn't hot enough. They required a 30 RMB deposit for each room key card, which is something I haven't seen in years. For such a large hotel, it felt really petty. The front desk service wasn't bad, but it felt a bit forced and uncomfortable. I don't know why, but they barely smiled, which made me wonder if the management was mistreating them? It just made for an uncomfortable experience. They offer a station drop-off service, which I initially thought was a nice perk. However, the communication was unclear, and I wasn't sure if the car was even there. When you're traveling in an unfamiliar place and have a train to catch, punctuality is crucial. No one could give me a clear answer. In the end, I had to repeatedly press the front desk in the morning before they could confirm. It left a very bad impression; the entire management seems to have issues.

The room is great, although this time we had an issue with the morning to the airport service. We arrived on time at 6:20am and there was no room in the shuttle that was scheduled. It’s very stressful to wake up early and make sure you don’t miss a flight, and they clearly overbooked the shuttle, even though we specifically arranged this the night before. A rude family pushed past us too and the hotel staff didn’t really communicate what was going on. I appreciate the hospitality during the stay, but guests shouldn’t have to worry about missing a flight from rude other guests and miss-counted shuttles.

This was the second Mercure hotel on our trip, and overall, the facilities were quite good. **Facilities:** The hotel is well-equipped. The lobby is clean and bright. As expected from an Accor property, the decor style and design elements are largely consistent. What truly stood out was that on each floor's common area, right outside the elevator, there was a row of complimentary bottled water. This is quite rare in other hotels and very convenient for guests to grab. Breakfast is served on the 21st floor, offering a panoramic view and a great sense of openness. On another note, staying on the 14th floor, the water pressure was a bit low, and the shower felt like it didn't have enough flow. **Hygiene:** The room's cleanliness was generally acceptable, but I found a long hair stuck to a tile in the bathroom. It felt like the cleaning wasn't thorough, which was a bit off-putting. Also, there was a small tear on the bed linen. I'm not sure if it was an oversight, but ideally, it should have been replaced. **Service:** The hotel's front desk manager took my feedback very seriously. Afterwards, they even proactively called us to inform us that the issues had been rectified. This was truly excellent.

From the airport pick-up, proactively helping with luggage, to always greeting guests and reminding them about the weather – every detail felt thoughtful. The room even had soda water and yogurt. Given the dry climate in the Northwest, a humidifier was provided, and there was a foot bath after hiking. The laundry room and drying pavilion were free to use. The hotel has a cat named Zhouzhou, who is truly the ”healing ambassador” of the lobby. Zhouzhou acts like a ”lobby manager,” often leisurely ”on duty,” sleeping on the lobby chairs. He's very friendly and not afraid of strangers. He has a naturally calming presence; petting him when you're tired from your journey is incredibly stress-relieving and became an unexpectedly warm memory of my Dunhuang trip.

Dunhuang is truly wonderful for off-season travel, so comfortable! The hotel is also great; the room was spotless, the mattress had just the right firmness, and everything was very clean. It's located in the core area, within walking distance to the famous night market and supermarket, and very convenient for getting to all the major attractions. All the staff are well-trained, the front desk is quick and professional, and housekeeping responds promptly. Everyone is genuinely friendly and helpful. I truly felt the warmth and professional service of the Northwest.