White Swan Hotel

I really love this classic State Guesthouse. The White Swan Hotel has a deep-rooted history, and the staff are all very professional and well-qualified. For dinner, we went to the Jade Garden restaurant on the third floor. We got a table right away without waiting, around 5:15 PM. There was a live guzheng performance for 45 minutes, and hotel guests get a 15% discount on food, plus a 15% service charge. Our meal for two cost 1075 yuan. We stayed in a river view room. The blackout curtains worked great, so no sunlight came through in the morning. The shower had excellent water pressure, making for a comfortable wash. What was unpleasant, however, was the service at the bakery on the first floor. A tall female staff member, upon hearing I wanted to buy a Napoleon cake to send home, immediately told me it couldn't be shipped. She claimed they'd had incidents where customers complained about expired food after shipping, blaming the delivery person. I told her that if I chose to ship it, I would accept the risk of spoilage and she needn't worry. She insisted I call SF Express to confirm if they would ship Napoleon cakes. I made the call, and the courier arrived quickly to pick up the package. Plus, SF Express offers next-day air delivery. It's not necessary for the bakery staff to play the role of a know-it-all when it comes to potential disputes with couriers later on. If I couldn't ship it, I'd just eat it myself. Why make a customer who has traveled so far so unhappy? Why create so many hurdles just to sell a cake? I really don't understand. Her well-intentioned advice, which crossed professional boundaries, was unnecessary. A simple reminder would have sufficed. If I couldn't ship it, would she have refused to sell it to me? It's such a simple process: the customer wants to buy bread, you scan the code and take payment. This was truly bizarre.

The lady who checked us in was very nice and upgraded us to a river-view room, which had a great view and scenery. The room was clean, and the hotel food was delicious. Everything was perfect, and we'll definitely come back again.

True to its reputation as a seasoned five-star hotel! The room was clean and tidy, with great attention to hygiene details. The facilities were well-maintained, and the service was warm and meticulous. The view from the window was also lovely. I'll definitely choose to stay at the White Swan Hotel again next time I'm in Guangzhou!

To make up for missing out on Yutang Chunnuan last time, I made sure to book both the hotel and restaurant well in advance this trip. Since there were three of us, I booked two rooms and asked for them to be on the same floor. All these requests were perfectly accommodated upon arrival. The rooms were right next to each other, fully equipped, and we had a wonderful day there. Yutang Chunnuan was a restaurant I'd been dreaming of for a long time, and I finally got to experience it. As a guest, not only could I get priority reservations, but I also received a 15% discount.

The White Swan Hotel was the first five-star hotel in China, and it has a very retro design. After the renovation, the overall stay experience is quite good. This time, I booked a city view room facing Shamian Old Street, with Huangsha Wharf nearby. It's convenient for exploring the surroundings and taking a Pearl River night cruise. The bakery on the first floor, perhaps because it wasn't a holiday, allowed me to directly buy their famous sachima.

The breakfast buffet was just so-so, but the service was excellent. The only drawback was that my elderly companion couldn't take a shower, only a sponge bath, because they couldn't get into the bathtub and might slip.

I booked an Executive Room, and it was unexpectedly perfect! Service: I was escorted from the front desk on the first floor to the Executive Lounge on the third floor for check-in. It was quiet and efficient; I just sat comfortably and waited. The staff on this floor were noticeably a cut above – all tall, beautiful, and with lovely voices. They could all provide service in three languages, and their Cantonese was perfectly modulated, soft and soothing, truly melting your heart. While I was in a blissful daze, the staff even arranged a room upgrade and late check-out for me – super happy! 🥳 On the night of check-in, they gave us a welcome gift and a handwritten card as a small anniversary present. 🥰🥰🥰 Perhaps due to the late check-out service, the room card's magnetic strip had a slight issue, but it was resolved quickly and smoothly – excellent job! Every staff member I encountered, at all levels, had genuinely radiant smiles, not forced at all. The entire team is well-trained, and the salaries and benefits must be good around here – truly living up to the 'White Swan' name. ☺️ Dual Executive Lounge Privileges: By the time we checked in, it was past afternoon tea, so we enjoyed the evening cocktail hour. There was a variety of basic mixes, and they could even make non-alcoholic versions for ladies and children. Besides small snacks, there were various Western appetizers, nuts, cookies, and cheese to pair with red wine. Vegetable salads and fruits were also available, along with Chinese dishes like chicken wings and braised ox tongue – you could easily have a full meal! 🤣 Unfortunately, we only had a little bite before heading to the pool. Cleanliness: All mirrors and metal surfaces in the room were sparkling clean, the bathtub was spotless, and the bedding was soft and comfortable. Facilities: The heated infinity pool has an accompanying hot tub and changing rooms with showers. The large towels were clean and soft. Right next to it is the spa, separated for men and women, with both dry and wet saunas. There are attendants to guide and introduce you, so you won't feel lost. What's particularly worth mentioning is the landscaping. The gardeners have meticulously trimmed and maintained all the flowers and trees. The plants are thriving and blooming, with no obvious signs of being haphazardly planted and replaced when they die. Especially those very old staghorn ferns – their blossoms smell wonderful, giving a full tropical vibe. The Koi pond's water quality is excellent, and the fish are healthy and lively! The White Swan finally showed me the true meaning of 'feeling at home.' When checking out, the staff member bid me farewell with 'see you next time,' and I genuinely look forward to it.

The room is spacious and well-equipped. It's the first time I've seen an air conditioner with so many fan speed settings, and the lighting also has a wide range of brightness levels, from bright to dim. The city view outside the window overlooks the buildings of Shamian, which I personally find more appealing than the river view.

It has to be our White Swan. When it comes to accommodation in Guangzhou, you can't talk about Guangzhou without mentioning dim sum, and you can't talk about dim sum without the White Swan. Staying here for a night truly lets you experience the charm of Shamian Island, and a pot of morning tea at Yu Tang Chun Nuan starts your day off right. The service here is excellent; on rainy days, staff open doors for guests, and the lobby service is very attentive, recommending rooms based on your needs. It's my most memorable experience in Guangzhou.