5-Star Hotels in Qingyuan

"At the tail end of the summer vacation, we took our kids to Qingyuan Chimelong Forest Kingdom and chose to stay at Deer Castle Hotel. The resort is conveniently located not far from the highway exit, with clear signage. The roads, which appear to have been recently built, are wide and clean. As it was a weekend and the end of the holiday, there were quite a few guests checking in. The underground parking was full, so we had to park in an adjacent lot, which was a bit of a walk. This alternative parking area also seemed unfinished, with a gravel/stone surface rather than being properly paved – definitely something that could be improved. Due to the crowd, check-in involved a rather long wait, suggesting that efficiency and service could be enhanced. The hotel kindly offered a complimentary upgrade to a hot spring room. The main advantages were its larger size and the convenience of having a private hot spring tub right in the room. However, I felt it lacked some 'family-friendly' touches in terms of decor or patterns. But since our kids are older, they weren't too bothered by this. The hotel boasts a dedicated direct passage to the Forest Kingdom, allowing guests to enter 30 minutes earlier, which is quite convenient. However, due to the high occupancy rate, despite the numerous elevators, we often experienced long waits. Our package included a buffet dinner and access to the hot springs. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, and the restaurant itself was spacious. With ample time allocated, we could truly savor the food and relax! The hot spring area featured a large number and wide variety of pools, along with many water play facilities, which our children absolutely loved. The Forest Kingdom houses a significant number of animals. While some can be seen in other zoos, Qingyuan Chimelong truly stands out for the sheer quantity, with most animals appearing in large herds or groups. The variety of species was also quite impressive, far exceeding the online rumors of 'only Qingyuan chickens.' The steam train ride is definitely worth the wait; it lasts about 30 minutes and offers a fantastic opportunity for close encounters with various wild animals – truly great value for money! The 5 PM parade is also a must-see. It has a fantastic atmosphere with lots of interactive performers who effectively get everyone immersed in the joyful celebration, creating a wonderfully relaxed holiday vibe! In contrast, the so-called 'Great Animal Migration' felt a bit of a misnomer and somewhat underwhelming. It mostly consisted of flocks of birds flying back and forth and zebras moving around, which was a tad disappointing. The Forest Kingdom also has a large self-driving loop that is yet to open; I hope it will add even more excitement! Our butler, Zhiyin, was very responsive and professional in answering our questions, truly showcasing the hotel's attentive service! Overall, it was a very satisfying trip!"