Qingdao's BEST Hotel Near Zhanqiao Station? (Hanting Hotel Review!)
Okay, buckle up, because we’re diving headfirst into the Hanting Hotel near Zhanqiao Station in Qingdao. Forget the perfectly polished travel blog – this is the messy, authentic, and hopefully helpful experience. Let's get this rolling like a rickety old tourist bus!
Hanting Hotel near Zhanqiao Station, Qingdao: The Good, The Bad, and The Surprisingly-Good-Enough
First off, the name is a mouthful, isn’t it? "Hanting Hotel near Zhanqiao Station." Try saying that five times fast after a few Tsingtaos! But hey, it does exactly what it says on the tin (or, you know, probably the flashing sign): it's a Hanting Hotel, and it's near Zhanqiao Station. Location, location, location… and it's pretty damn good for exploring the heart of Qingdao.
Accessibility: (The Elevator Saga and My Sore Knees)
Okay, let’s get real. I’m not in a wheelchair, but I am acquainted with the woes of bad knees. And the accessibility… well, it’s “China-accessible,” which is to say, variable. The lobby and reception were fine, but sometimes those elevators… ugh. They were there, thankfully, but sometimes felt a little… sluggish. If you do need full wheelchair access? Double-check specific room details before you book. Don't just assume. That's a mistake I almost made. And I'd rate it a 6/10 in this area, with a potential for a 3 star (I'm on the fence about this). This needs some major improvements.
Cleanliness and Safety: (Hand Sanitizer is My New Best Friend)
Look, COVID has changed us all. I'm obsessed with hand sanitizer. And the Hanting? Pretty good! There was hand sanitizer everywhere (THANK GOD), and I saw staff cleaning regularly. The rooms seemed clean. The whole place has a 'trying really hard' kind of feel. But, honestly, after a long day of dodging scooters and eating questionable street food, a clean room is a blessing. I'd rate it an 8/10. I felt a little 'safer,' even though I felt a bit more 'under the weather' from the smells and smells of the nearby seafood market.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Okay, I'm not a chemical engineer, so I can't confirm this, but I saw cleaning happening all the time.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Yep, seemed to be a thing.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Probably.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. My hands are still thanking them.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to be, which made me happy they made the cut in this category.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (Buffets, Booze, and the Quest for Decent Coffee)
Breakfast was included. And, well, it was… adequate. Think buffet-style, with a mix of Asian and Western options. The bread was a little stale, the coffee tasted like brown water. But hey, there was rice porridge, some questionable (but edible!) sausages, and usually some sort of fruit. I survived. And that, my friends, is half the battle. If you’re a coffee snob, bring your own instant. Seriously. The coffee shop was a big letdown, in my humble opinion. I'd rate it a 5/10.
- Asian breakfast: Yup.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yep. Buffet.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant:: Yep. (See above. Bring your own.)
- Room service [24-hour]: Nope.
- Snack bar: Never saw one, not that I found.
Services and Conveniences: (The Elevator Again, and the Helpful Staff)
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes, and very welcome in that Qingdao humidity.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes.
- Concierge: Didn't use it.
- Dry cleaning: Didn't use it, but it's likely available.
- Elevator: (Ah, the elevator. See "Accessibility" above).
- Daily housekeeping: Yes!
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Wi-Fi for special events: didn't have any special events, so I couldn't tell.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: don't know.
For the Kids: (Not My Forte, But They Seemed Accommodating)
I have no kids, but I saw a family or two. This hotel seemed to cater to families okay. This did seem to be more for the budget conscious.
Available in all rooms: (The Essentials and the Questionable Extras)
- Air conditioning: YES.
- Alarm clock: Prob.
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes, but don't expect a gourmet experience.
- Free bottled water: Yes! Essential.
- Hair dryer: Yes.
- Internet access – wireless: Free.
- Refrigerator: Yes.
- Shower: Yes, and it worked.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes.
Getting Around: (The Taxi Hustle and the (Mostly) Free Parking)
- Airport transfer: Didn't use, but likely available.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes, which is a bonus.
- Taxi service: Readily available. Just be prepared for the hustle.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax, etc. (Basically, No Spa Day for Me)
This is a BUDGET hotel. Don’t expect fancy spa treatments or a pool with a view. This is a base camp for exploring Qingdao.
The Internet Situation (Yay, Free Wi-Fi!)
Internet access was simple, reliable, and, praise the travel gods, free. It's basic, but good for checking emails, planning your next move, and maybe streaming a movie or two. You won't be getting a dedicated LAN connection, so keep that in mind.
My Overall Verdict (The Bottom Line)
Would I stay at the Hanting near Zhanqiao Station again? Maybe. It's a decent, budget-friendly option in a great location. If you're looking for luxury, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a clean, convenient base for exploring Qingdao, and you're happy to trade a few creature comforts for a good price, then this hotel is a solid choice. It's not perfect. It's not fancy. But it gets the job done. And sometimes, that's all you need. I'd give it a 6.5/10.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hanting Hotel Taizhou West Bus Station!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my absolutely bonkers, probably-slightly-unrealistic, and definitely-not-Pinterest-perfect trip to Qingdao, China, centered around the Hanting Hotel near Zhanqiao Railway Station. This is more of a therapy session disguised as a travel itinerary. You’ve been warned.
Qingdao, China: The Slightly-Unhinged Adventure (Based at Hanting Hotel near Zhanqiao)
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (aka, "What Have I Done? I Can't Speak Mandarin!")
- 14:00 - Flight Lands at Qingdao Liuting International Airport (TAO). Oh boy. Here we go. Remember that feeling of pure, unadulterated terror when you land in a foreign country? Yep, that. I'm pretty sure my internal monologue was screaming, "Run! Run for your life!" The first thing I thought was, "Did I really pack enough snacks?" (Answer: No. I'm always under-snacked).
- Transportation: Taxi (pray for a good one!). The whole negotiation thing is already giving me the sweats. Pray for a driver who doesn't take me on a scenic tour of the entire province.
- Reality Check: My Mandarin skills: Zero. My confidence: Minus one. My stomach's already rumbling, probably from the sheer stress of it all.
- 15:00 - Check-in at Hanting Hotel Qingdao Zhanqiao Railway Station. Alright, moment of truth. Let's see if the pictures online actually reflect reality. Okay, okay, it's a Hanting…what did I expect? Probably clean enough. Pray for no bed bugs. More importantly, pray for WiFi that actually WORKS. Being cut off from the world? The horror!
- Anxiety Level: High. I'm convinced everyone secretly judges the type of traveler you are. I can only imagine what the hotel staff are thinking: “Another clueless tourist.”
- 16:00 - Attempt to find sustenance. Fail. Okay, this is where the wheels start to come off. I wander out, feeling like a lost puppy, and try to find a decent, non-suspicious-looking place to eat. But the language barrier hits me like a ton of bricks. Menu is all in Chinese. The pictures are unhelpful (because they look delicious, but I have NO idea what they are). Panic sets in. End up buying a sad-looking pastry from a convenience store that tastes vaguely of existential despair.
- Quirky Observation: The sheer number of people on scooters is astounding. They weave through traffic like it's a video game. I'm half-expecting one to take me out.
- Emotional Reaction: Hunger mixed with a hefty dose of culture shock = grumpy me.
- 18:00 - Stumble upon Zhanqiao Pier (again, a mistake). Okay, everyone says you HAVE TO see Zhanqiao Pier. But the crowds! The pushiness! It's like a mob scene. I managed to take like, one picture. It's blurry. I may or may not have stepped on someone's foot. I'm pretty sure I heard them grumble something that sounded like "stupid foreigner."
- Honest Moment: I'm already regretting choosing a "popular" destination. Why can't I just find some quiet nook, hidden away from the crowds?
- Rambling Thoughts: The sea smells… well, like the sea. And the wind is a bit biting. I feel like I need a cup of tea…but could I even ask for that here?
Day 2: Tsingtao Time and Temple Tears (And Regrets, So Many Regrets)
- 09:00 - Breakfast (Hopefully better than yesterday). Let's try again. I found a restaurant with some, what looked like, steamed buns. They were pretty good. Maybe. Either way I started my day with some food and a little less anxiety.
- 10:00 - Tsingtao Beer Museum. This is what I came for. The holy grail. Beer. More specifically, Tsingtao beer. And the museum does not disappoint! The history, the brewing process, the interactive exhibits…and the tasting! Oh, the tasting! I may have sampled more beers than was strictly necessary. (Hey, I paid the price!)
- Opinionated Language: This is what travel is all about! Soaking up local culture…in a delicious, fermented, bubbly form. This is what I came for.
- Messy Truth: Okay, I may or may not have bought a Tsingtao branded hat. Don't judge.
- Rambling Thoughts: After the tasting, I'm feeling…uninhibited. How much did I drink? I've lost track.
- 13:00 - Badaguan Scenic Area: I walk around this area, with its European-style architecture, and it's actually quite beautiful. It's a stark contrast to the frantic energy of the city. I take photos of the buildings. They remind me of somewhere in Europe, or somewhere else entirely.
- 15:00-16:00 - Walking around the Temple: I go to a temple. I have no idea which one. I just wander in. Incense smoke, chanting, the whole shebang. It's incredibly calming, and, honestly, a little overwhelming. Suddenly I feel really small in the world. A wave of homesickness hits me. Tears well up. I probably look like an idiot, weeping in a Chinese temple.
- Stronger Emotional Reaction: Total emotional breakdown. Why am I so far from home? Why is everything so different? I miss my cat! I miss my bed!
- 16:30 - Regret and Reality. I decide to visit a market. This proves to be a terrible idea. Too many people, too many smells, too many things I don't understand. I buy a pair of socks. I end up feeling even more lost. Regret.
Day 3: Departure and Aftermath (aka, The Great Escape)
- 08:00 - Quick breakfast at the hotel. Scramble to pack. Gotta get out of here. I've got a train to catch. I have a headache…and a slight fear of ever eating anything again.
- 09:00 - Check out of Hanting Hotel. Goodbye, Hanting Hotel. You were functional, but mostly forgettable. Maybe I'll miss you. Probably not.
- 10:00 - Head to the Train Station. Did I say I'm not sure what I'm doing?
- 11:00 - Travel home (Thank god!).
Post-Trip Reflection (aka, The Breakdown After the Breakdown):
- Did I have a "good" trip? Honestly? No idea. It was messy, imperfect, and I felt like a fish out of water half the time.
- Would I do it again? Probably. But next time, I'm bringing a phrasebook, extra snacks, and a serious dose of "I don't care what anyone thinks of me."
- Final thought: Qingdao, you were…something. And I survived. That's gotta count for something, right?
Qingdao's Hanting Hotel Near Zhanqiao Station: The Honest Truth (and My Sanity, Maybe) - FAQs
Is the Hanting Hotel Near Zhanqiao Station ACTUALLY near Zhanqiao Station? (Because Google Maps Lies, Don't They?)
What's the Hanting Hotel like in terms of price? Is it Budget-Friendly or Will It Break the Bank?
Are the Rooms Clean? (This is Crucial, I Have Standards, Okay?)
How's the Staff? Do They Speak English? (Because My Mandarin Is… Let’s Just Say “Developing.”)
Is There Free Wi-Fi? (Because, Instagram, You Know?)
The Breakfast...Tell Me Everything! (Because, Breakfast is the Most Important Meal, Obviously!)
What's the Location REALLY Like? Is it Safe? (Because I'm a Nervous Nelly, Deep Down.)
Any Quirks or "WTF" Moments? (Because Every Hotel Has Them!)
