Tianhao Hotel - Chengdu

We spent one night here while stopping over between Hong Kong and Lhasa. The room was comfortable and had the amenities we expected, and breakfast offered the usual mix of Western and Chinese dishes. There are two shopping malls nearby, including one with a large supermarket. The decor felt more Tibetan than what we saw at the hotels we stayed in Tibet.

This is about the Tibet buffet restaurant. I’ve been to Chrngdu twice, and both times I ate here. The setting, food, and staff have all been outstanding. I’d strongly recommend a meal here.

The breakfast choices were among the better ones I’ve seen at hotels in this price range in China. We had a spacious, clean superior twin room, too, with a big bathroom and separate shower and bathtub. There’s a light incense scent throughout the hotel, which was a welcome break from the strong Sichuan pepper smell around the city. The only downside was the heating being on in the colder months with no air conditioning option. It got a bit stuffy for us, so the hotel brought up a stand fan.

Jack Peng, Chinese nameXiao Peng, kept checking in to see how we were doing, and his service was a big part of why we enjoyed our stay. When we arrived at Tibet Hotel looking for a new base after being unhappy with the hotel arranged for us, he quickly arranged a look at the available rooms and personally showed us around. He was warm and accommodating despite our short notice, and asked about our trip and what we thought of his hometown, Chengdu. We were impressed enough to choose an Executive floor room. Floors 15 and 16 came with breakfast and access to a nicely decorated library and tea room, where complimentary tea was served during open hours. The room had a Western-style mattress bed, refrigerator, TV, free Wi-Fi, work desk, and complimentary bottled water. I also liked the bathroom, with its Chengdu skyline view, vanity table, separate toilet and shower, and large tub. The breakfast buffet had plenty to choose from: juices, Chinese noodles, stir-fry, and a hot noodle bar where you could make all sorts of combinations. There were European breads and pastries, plus seasonal fruits that changed each day. We used the on-site spa twice. There’s a separate spa menu in the room with discounted rates for hotel guests, and booking from that menu saved us a lot on the hot stone massage, black jade bath, and Tianti massage. We loved all three, and they were unlike massages we’ve had at home. It felt like good value for the money. The hotel itself is striking, with polished marble from floor to ceiling and lots of chandeliers. Tibetan touches show up throughout in an elegant way, and there are shops on the lobby floor selling souvenirs and Tibetan healing jewelry. The subtle Tibetan incense scent and complimentary sweet Tibetan tea at check-in helped us relax right away. I’d recommend asking for Jack if you stay at the Tibetan Hotel. The place feels world class, and his service does too.