West Lake State Guesthouse

Everything was great, except for the air conditioning in West Building 3, which was a bit noisy when adjusting the temperature. The West Lake Vinegar Fish at the dinner buffet was tender and fresh, the Braised Pork Belly (Dongpo Pork) was rich but not greasy, the swimming crabs were plump and delicious, and the Arctic sweet shrimp were of excellent quality.

I traveled to Hangzhou alone after the National Day holiday and finally experienced the renowned West Lake State Guest House. I stayed in a 2nd-floor balcony king room in Building 8. Overall, the environment and location are top-notch, but the service and facilities fall a bit short. First, regarding the location and environment: it's right on Yanggong Causeway, close to Wuguitan. Exploring the Ten Scenes of West Lake and taking a manual wooden boat from Majiawan Pier are super convenient. The hotel has its own Dingjiashan Hill—not very high, but very serene. Walking up the steps after breakfast to overlook West Lake, following in the footsteps of great leaders and experiencing a glimpse of their daily lives, is a truly unique experience. The hotel gardens are massive and meticulously maintained. Taking a stroll by the lake with a distant view of the Su Causeway offers genuinely stunning scenery. Next, the facilities: based on travel guides, I chose Building 8, which is relatively new, yet I still found the facilities overly dated. Specifically, I encountered the following issues: 1. The gap under the room door is huge. People talking and walking in the hallway sounded as if they were right inside the room. Every time someone next door swiped their keycard, it gave me a start, making me think someone was accidentally trying to enter my room. 2. The TV is ancient—very, very small, with a terrible picture—and the remote control has poor responsiveness, which really detracts from the stay. 3. The balcony screen door was extremely hard to slide. After I managed to force it open the first time, I couldn't close it at all. 4. The exhaust fan switch in the toilet did nothing when pressed. 5. Overall cleanliness looked okay, but lacked attention to detail. Upon checking in, I found a live spider in the bathtub. After spending the day out sightseeing, I returned to find turndown service had been done and a bath mat placed in the shower area, but the spider was still there. 6. Only soft pillows were provided, with no latex pillows available; the support was abysmal. As for the service, the staff felt very robotic and lacked warmth. The young receptionists in the lobby rarely took the initiative to greet guests, though the older staff were relatively better. Regarding dining: Ziwei Hall, the hotel's Black Pearl-rated restaurant, was underwhelming. Given the price, the food offered no particular surprises, and most signature dishes had no discounts for in-house guests. Ordering food delivery (Waimai) is also quite inconvenient: delivery drivers must leave the orders at the main gate, where staff pick them up in a golf cart, bring them to the building, and then a delivery robot brings them up to your floor. One small detail: the complimentary evening fruit included fresh jujubes and yellow dragon fruit (pitahaya). Yellow dragon fruit is something that needs to be cut with a knife—how are guests supposed to eat it? I really don't understand the hotel's choice of amenities. To sum up, this state guest house is exceptionally well-suited for bringing your parents; older folks will likely love it. However, the overall comfort level of the facilities is quite poor, very dated, and fails to meet the habits and expectations of younger travelers.

I stayed here during the National Day holiday. The price was, shall we say, eye-watering, but to escape the crowds of West Lake, I decisively chose the State Guesthouse. On the first day, I stayed in Building 3. The room was small, but the facilities were updated, and the service was excellent, which made up for any shortcomings. Of course, the most stunning aspect was the garden; it's worth spending a whole day slowly appreciating and exploring it. The breakfast mainly featured Chinese-style dishes, and even an inconspicuous bread item was incredibly well-made. Overall, I was very satisfied and will definitely bring my parents next time.

The service at the State Guesthouse was absolutely fantastic! All the staff were incredibly responsible and patient. They even delivered takeout and packages right to my room. During my stay, I returned to my room in the middle of the day while the cleaning lady was tidying up. I just walked right in, and she politely apologized, saying that for security reasons, she needed to swipe my room card again to ensure the room's safety. When even the cleaning staff are this meticulous, you know the other services must be top-notch.

As a hotel steeped in history, the State Guest House excels not only in its comprehensive facilities but also in its exceptional management and attention to service details. I checked in at 1 AM, and the front desk still arranged for a shuttle to take me to my building. The staff were thoughtful and discreet, providing meticulous service while respecting guests' privacy. What truly impressed me was the food at the State Guest House. While their breakfast offerings might seem standard compared to other hotels, their choice of ingredients and mastery of cooking techniques surpassed many, even some hotels of similar caliber. Complimentary tea and snacks were available at the front desks of different buildings and the fitness center, with the impressive detail that no two front desks offered the same snacks. This really showcases the hotel's meticulous approach to service. The State Guest House boasts exclusive views of an inner lake of West Lake. Sitting at the Kuanyu Tea House, sipping tea in peaceful tranquility, with the distant mountains framing the Leifeng Pagoda and the serene West Lake and the narrow Su Causeway below – this, truly, is the best way to experience West Lake.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we found out we were assigned to Building 5, so we decided to pay a bit extra to upgrade to Building 8. While Building 5 has beautiful views outside, Building 8 is newer, more spacious, and features a small private courtyard. It's also where the front desk and the popular Ziwei Restaurant are located, making dining and check-in much more convenient. The entire hotel is practically a scenic spot in itself, with its own shoreline, gorgeous views, and even small hills you can hike. It's especially great for elderly family members and kids—no need to brave the crowds around West Lake. During the packed National Day holiday, staying here offered a rare, peaceful, and cozy retreat. As for breakfast, the Dingsheng cake (victory cake) was phenomenal—way better than the ones people wait in long lines for in Wuzhen!

Xihu State Guest House feels like a lakeside garden, boasting a private shoreline, fresh air, stunning scenery, and great tranquility—truly worth taking your time to explore. Upon check-in, the front desk upgraded us to a courtyard-view room in Building 7. Although Building 7 is a bit dated, the overall stay was quite pleasant. The room features a private little courtyard where you can sit outside and enjoy tea when the weather is nice. A special shout-out goes to the direct drinking water and the individual-sized L'Occitane toiletries, which really added a nice touch. The hotel's breakfast and wellness facilities are located in Building 8. The breakfast quality was good with a wide variety, but the pool closes at 9:30 PM, which is a bit early compared to other hotels. The property is quite large, and shuttle carts between the different buildings make getting around fairly convenient. The staff were warm, enthusiastic, and polite. Situated near Yanggongdi Causeway in the West Lake scenic area, the hotel is a short walk or bus ride away from various spots, and Yuhuwan is also within walking distance.

The room facilities were great, but the room we were assigned was the furthest one. It was quiet, but a bit inconvenient with a small baby. The service was exceptionally thoughtful; the complimentary fruit and snacks were lovely. Finally, the young man who helped us with our luggage to the car, Gao Qian (hope I got his name right), had a wonderful attitude. He saw our bag was broken and went to get two more for us, showing great patience. The dinner at the Ziwei Hall was indeed quite upscale; the fish head soup was excellent, and the service was top-notch, though it was a bit pricey. Lastly, we experienced the Liuzhuang Cruise, which was truly excellent value for money. Remember to book in advance; it departs promptly at 9:30 AM, once a day.