Grand View Hotel Shenzhen (Nanshan Taoyuan Headquarters)

Houhai is a good location, but the hotel is very old. Some rooms have no windows, and the rooms smell of cigarette smoke. The old furniture and carpets don't help. The air conditioning was very loud and didn't work well. Breakfast was a poor selection, and the food was cold and low quality.

The breakfast had both Chinese and Western options, including cooked dishes, so you can choose what you like. Staff had the usual formal Chinese manner, without lots of smiles, but that's what I'd expect in China. I've stayed here a few times, and the location is excellent: the biggest shopping complex in Shenzhen is right outside. The hotel itself feels like a good four-star place, with very good rooms and extras such as bathrobes that Western hotels seem to have forgotten. I had a windowless room once, but it didn't bother me. It was quiet and relaxing.

I was there for about a month around when it opened in 2007. The place was spotless, which I notice since I run a cleaning business, and it has the lot. Service was fabulous, though communication could be a bit difficult. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

For three nights, two rooms came to 4000 yuan, so it was very good value. The bathrooms and showers were nice, and there was free wifi in the rooms.