2-Starhotels in Jiangsu, China

I arrived in pouring rain. I thought I could walk to my hotel but it was impossible in the downpour. I didn’t want to bother any hotel owner.   I didn’t and still don’t  have an eSIM that can make local  call but thanks to Trip.com, there is a link that I could call the owner for free.  I didn’t advise the owners my arrival time so they were off running errands.  I called the owner to pick me up and thankfully he answered. He was busy but gracious enough to turn around and picked me up. It knew Zhouhuang requires a ticket but I didn’t know that no cars, nor motorcycles, nor bicycles are allowed. Without him I would have arrived the hotel easily.  I always like to meet the owners instead of employees . They were very helpful and answered all my questions. They are honest people who dedicate their  blood and sweat to their business. The owner even offered to walk me to the bus stop  to Suzhou which was my next destination.  This  operates two hotels with 9 in one and 6 in the other. The one that I stayed in with 9 rooms is in a  lively and busy area . Just outside the hotel is a restaurant and there are plenty of places to eat. Inside the hotel is a peaceful oasis where you won’t hear any noise. The location is the best. The other hotel is in a quieter neighborhood a few minutes away. Each of the 15 rooms has it’s own personality, is different and has its distinctive decoration. The owners said they decorated them themselves. I love the decoration and especially the lighting.  After you reserve a room, be sure to contact the owner for the exact address in case you want to arrive on your own. I think it is best to request the owner to take you there because he/she will lead you to the ticket booth to buy tickets. There are a number of bridges so heavy big luggages can be a bit of a challenge .  If you arrive after 5 pm, you can enter free of charge as no one is there to check your ticket. . But once you are inside, and if you choose to leave the area after 8 or 9 am until 5 pm, you have to pay to come back in. You can buy a one day or in my case 3 days pass.  Do check with the owner for up to date information.  The room was quite clean. There were hot water all the time. There were other guests during my stay but they were not noisy at all. I barely heard them. I slept very well during my 3 nights there.  Zhouhuang is really beautiful. There are many canals, bridges, boat rides, good food of all kinds. I had some of the best meals there. In fact , I ate in the same restaurant that serves dumpling twice. One night I had grill (BBQ) meat just outside the entrance for 4 yuans. .  There is decent size supermarket just outside the turnstile and not too far away is a much bigger supermarket. It was there where I bought half a Peking duck for only 32 yuans . The seller sliced the meat and separated the meat from  the bones. The bones he fried so it was crunchy.  It was delicious. There is a theater that offers performances. The night view is great. If you step out your room, you will be overwhelmed in a good sense by the exciting surroundings.  This hotel definitely is one of the best that I have ever stayed in. Look at the beautiful pictures and find one that you like.  I stayed only 3 nights and one of those days I went to Tongli. In my opinion, one should spend at least 2 to 3 full days in  Zhouhuang (and especially this hotel ) savor the ambience. I don’t think Tongli is worth the time because it was twice as expensive and there are not that many canals and boat rides. It is much quieter and has fewer things to see. . The worst is that the sightseeing places require you to show your ticket. After 2 places, I lost mine ticket and I  couldn’t get in the rest of the places. It is unnecessary to require proof of entrance because you can’t enter the area without a ticket. 

The front desk staff were incredibly kind and attentive. The room was spotless and meticulously cleaned – I'm really impressed! Highly recommend.

I arrived at night. So I missed the night view. Booking for family tour, couple tour, single person is a great option. In the morning I got complementory Americano !! I just discover they have separate coffee bar. Sitting space, Computer space. Outside Drinking bar is closed during the day but night view is beatifull. So proffessional. Also space for couple. My room is good and lighting vibes is so much fun.😍

Haha, I found a bargain. The check-in experience was great! The front desk staff is warm and thoughtful, the room is clean and tidy, the bedding is comfortable, the breakfast is rich in variety, and the location is very convenient. Highly recommended!

I had a fantastic stay at Sawmill Youth Hostel. The place was always clean, and the common areas never had any unpleasant smells. The bathrooms were spotless and dry, with no standing water. My bed was tidy, and all the bedding was brand new. The front desk staff were very friendly and patiently answered all my questions. They were quick to help with any issues. The lobby had a relaxed atmosphere, and I enjoyed participating in the games organized by the hostel in my free time. The location was convenient for getting around, and there were plenty of dining options nearby. The value for money was excellent, and the cleanliness and service far exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this hostel for short trips and will definitely choose to stay here again next time I'm in Nanjing.

GreenTree Inn, Jurong (Jiangsu Province) is an oldie but a goody! I stayed there for 5 nights in late August/early September (2025). At first glance I was a bit dubious, but it turned out to be a really great place to stay. I felt very safe there and in the neighbourhood (day and night) and would stay there again. Excellent customer service ..… the Reception and cleaning staff were all really friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. The first room I was allocated smelt of cigarette smoke (no thank you!), but I was immediately moved into a nicer smelling room, which was absolutely spotless, quite large, and had a nice new smart tv, air con, an opening window with a flyscreen and security bars (essential for a ground floor room), nice solid furniture, pure white linen (impressively imprinted with “GreenTree Inn”) and a clean, comfy doona and pillows. A standard hard’ish Chinese bed, but I find them quite comfy. The old carpet runner along the length of the long ground floor hallway (where my room was) is a relic from way back when, but it was clean and well maintained, as was the rest of the hotel that I could see. The shower head needed fixing, but that’s an annoyingly common problem in pretty much every budget ＞ mid range hotel I’ve ever stayed in, in China. The hotel is only about 20 metres from Jurong Chongming Subway Station. Local bus stop almost at the front door (& across the road). The entrance to the old cobbled road (no cars allowed) & all its little shops is across the road at the lights, and a large pharmacy at the entrance (near the “archway”). Electric scooters galore to hire (via the AliPay or WeChat apps) outside the subway. Plenty of restaurants in walking distance once you get past the trades shops (plumbing supplies etc). My only gripe about GreenTree Inn Jurong (& this is a gripe I have for many hotels etc throughout China) is that smoking is allowed on the premises. I think it’s the worst it’s been since 2002 when I first started travelling to China. It’s awful walking into foyers and lifts that reek of cigarette smoke, and copping wafts of the smoke along hallways from smokers in their rooms (& ashtrays at lift entrances), and horrible arriving tired after a long flight and long trek from airports etc, only to discover you then have to request a room change to escape the smoke, and start all over again. No matter how accommodating the staff are, I could easily do without that hassle and the horrible smell. In my opinion, hotels etc in China need to up their game where that’s concerned, and follow the lead of the many countries which have banned cigarette smoking in all public buildings (including hotels), all public indoor and outdoor spaces, anywhere near children and shopping centres, on and near public transport etc etc etc.

The environment is clean and tidy, the service is thoughtful and attentive, and the check-in experience was fantastic.

The guesthouse is placed in the middle of Suzhou ancient city, in a picturesque and silent street. The house is very beautiful, the furniture are elegant, there is also a smart toilet and disposable items. Unfortunately there were not bath towels but paper ones. There was no front desk at all, even if specified in the property description. We arrived at 13 (frontdesk time 8-19) but nobody was there and we didn't receive anything on the trip.com chat. When we called the property, they answered us only in Chinese and then sent us a weChat Qr code. They wrote us only in Chinese even if we were texting them in English. Fortunately weChat has a translation service, otherwise it would have been impossible for us to understand what to do. They gave then information about how to reach the property (even if we were already there) and gave us an access code that we were not able to use, since we didn't know the most important thing: the room number. Furthermore the access code changed anytime we go out (they said it's a problem related to non-chinese people) and was quite annoying to write them all the time on we chat. The room is very good though!

Location The hotel is near Dongliu Station, but you need to walk about 3 blocks (15 minutes). The walk is flat, but in July and August it can get very hot, so bring an umbrella. The area is quiet and feels isolated. Although the hotel is not far from Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, there is no direct train, you need to change lines and make an awkward turn. Shared bikes (Hello blue bikes) are convenient in Xianlin, but not around this hotel. A good option is to take the B3 shuttle bus from Sanyang Road, which goes to Nanjing University train station (walking distance to NJU). Around the hotel, you will find small eateries (like chicken and duck rice shops) and a few convenience stores, but no malls. Cleanliness The rooms are clean, but there is a smoke smell that stays for about a day. The staff suggested opening the window and using the aircon, but I also bought a reed diffuser from Miniso to make it smell fresher. Bedsheets were changed regularly (every 5 days). The toilet slippers looked dirty, so I did not use them. Also, the hotel does not provide floor towels. Staff & Service The staff were very kind and helpful. They upgraded me to a bigger double room with a sofa and work area, and also gave me a cheaper rate since I stayed for 40 nights. Cleaning staff came daily, bringing bottled water and keeping the toilet clean. The night-shift counter staff were also helpful. Facilities There is a washing machine that can wash and dry in one cycle. Do not overload it, or clothes won’t dry properly. Since the hotel is not very busy, I could use the machine anytime without queuing. Rooms have a hair dryer and a lighted mirror. The aircon makes a small dripping sound, but it is not a real problem. Noise The soundproofing is generally okay, but occasionally you can hear people talking loudly if there are guests next door. It’s not the hotel’s fault—just that people in China often speak very loudly, even inside their rooms or in the corridor. Nothing much you can do about it. Surroundings & Safety The area is safe, with big roads and many residential apartments. In the evenings, families with kids and dogs walk around, and I also jogged nearby. Food delivery is easy drivers can bring food to your room or the counter. Overall It is a quiet and safe place to stay, with helpful staff and decent facilities. The location is not very convenient for NJU Xianlin Campus, but manageable if you use the shuttle bus.

This hostel has a fantastic atmosphere, it's clean and tidy, and the common areas are cozy and comfortable. Most of the roommates are friendly young people, and everyone enjoys chatting and sharing travel stories. The location is super convenient for getting around and finding food, offering great value for money. Although the space isn't huge, it feels relaxed and easygoing. It's a great choice for solo travelers looking for a place to stay and meet like-minded people.