Pagoda SSAW Hotel Bao'an Shenzhen

The rooms are soundproof, and there’s plenty here: breakfast you can eat as much as you like, laundry, smoke-free rooms, water and minibar, a small gym, and work spaces. Really great hotel, go if you get the chance.

The main drawback is that it doesn’t seem set up for foreign guests. The room, staff, and facilities can be hard to work out, and while it’s near a metro stop with easy pick-up and drop-off access, it feels far from most of the places you might be exploring in Shenzhen. That said, it’s a very nice, modern hotel with great facilities. Robots bring deliveries to the room, and it has more than enough essentials for a comfortable stay.

I stayed here for overnight stops on both my outbound and inbound trips through China. Check-in was quick and smooth, and the staff spoke a little English. The Japanese-style and deluxe rooms were both lovely and modern, with a really good shower, and breakfast had a good selection. It’s around 20 minutes from the airport and a 40-minute drive to Lohou district. I’d highly recommend it.

The room was spotless and came with snacks and drinks in the fridge, plus a projector. The hairdryer, for anyone interested, was a Dyson competitor and seemed just as good, maybe better. There are also soundproof little rooms with retro arcade machines and separate study rooms. I liked the Japanese-style room from the start, and the building is easy to spot. Staff were friendly and helpful. Shops and restaurants are right by the entrance, including Starbucks and a 7-11, though that 7-11 isn’t open all night. On weekends they offered free beer, and breakfast had a nice range, from standard English options to local Chinese food. I’d definitely recommend the hotel. I forgot to take a room photo.