EZ Boomtel Yiyi Courtyard Hotel (Ningbo Old Bund Tianyi Square Store)

The hotel is handy for getting around: there’s a large mall a short walk away, the metro is about 10 minutes on foot, and the high-speed rail station is a short taxi ride. Breakfast has the usual Chinese staples, plus toast, eggs, pastries and fresh fruit. I stayed at Ningbo CITIC International in April 2023 on a business trip. Although it’s officially non-smoking, people smoked in the lobby, elevators, restaurant and rooms, so stale smoke was hard to escape. My first room smelled so strongly that even with the windows open as far as they would go, I woke up feeling as if I’d smoked half a pack. Reception was helpful when I raised it. They moved me to another room and brought an air purifier, which made a world of difference and made the rest of my stay much more pleasant.