Overall: Extremely satisfied
Pros: The executive suite apartment truly stands apart from a luxury hotel. The moment you step in, the ambiance and feel aren't like, 'Mr. President, you've arrived at the hotel,' but rather, 'Mr. President, you've come home.' It's a lavishly decorated home with one bedroom and two living areas, complete with a washing machine, large refrigerator, spacious sofa, and a smart toilet. The kitchen, dining area, and living room are all perfectly appointed. The king-size bed is incredibly comfortable, and the soundproofing is excellent. There's an ample supply of amenities – drinking water, dental kits, bath towels, etc. – and they can be replenished anytime. The toilet paper quality is superb, possibly the best I've encountered in any hotel (including abroad), though the tissues are standard.
The service is incredibly attentive. Unlike a hotel where you'd call the front desk with an intercom, here the setup is: a butler responds to all your needs online. Upon check-in, the butler sends a lengthy welcome message on WeChat. I quickly discovered that messaging the butler on WeChat for assistance is much more convenient than calling the front desk at a traditional hotel.
The dining experience was a pleasant surprise. The restaurant isn't as grand or spacious as those in luxury hotels; it's about the size of a meeting room, so I didn't expect a wide variety for breakfast. However, I was pleasantly surprised! First, breakfast is served from 6:30 AM to a remarkable 12 PM! This is incredibly convenient for tourists who've enjoyed Chongqing's nightlife and wake up after 10 AM – no need to set an alarm for breakfast. Second, although the selection is limited, it's a case of quality over quantity; every dish is delicious. Unlike regular hotels where there might be many options, but few are worth trying. There are very few Western cold dishes just for show; instead, there's a focus on hot dishes, steamed dishes, and stir-fries. Plus, children's favorite cream cakes are available in unlimited supply for breakfast, which made the kids very happy.
The complimentary afternoon tea is also quite luxurious, with a rich variety that includes not only pastries and fruits but also vegetable salads, snacks, and various beverages. On a hot day, coming back to the hotel and enjoying an iced Chongqing beer and Tianfu Cola was just delightful.
The hotel's location is quite convenient, making it easy to get around. You can walk to Jiefangbei just around the corner, and a bit further to Hongyadong. There are also many bus stops nearby; bus 871 takes you directly to Chaotianmen in just 4 stops.
Regrets: There were a couple of minor disappointments. I initially chose this hotel primarily because of the glowing reviews about the night view from the window. I specifically booked a 'landmark night view suite,' imagining myself sitting by the window, admiring the 8D magical nightscape. In reality, there was no 'landmark-level night view' to be seen, just a surrounding urban landscape. Jiefangbei, Hongyadong, the Great Hall of the People, Raffles City, Chongqing Grand Theatre, and Qianmen Bridge were all out of sight. This is because Shanxi is located on lower floors, below the 20th, so the surrounding tall buildings obstruct the view. To stay in a room on around the 40th floor, you'd likely need to choose a different hotel. But even from the 45th floor, Chaotianmen is still blocked from view; Chongqing is just a city of skyscrapers.
For 'night view enthusiasts,' I'd suggest staying in Jiangbei District if you want to see Chongqing's night view. That way, you'll see Yuzhong District across the river, especially the Chaotianmen area, which will give you the city panorama you're looking for. Staying within Yuzhong District itself feels a bit like 'not seeing the mountain clearly because you're in it.'
Another minor disappointment was that while the bathtub has massage jets, they're purely decorative and don't actually function for a real spa experience.
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