Conrad Urumqi

As a Hilton Diamond member, I received an upgrade, executive lounge access, and breakfast. The stay had a rough start: none of the rooms have air conditioning, which seems odd for the highest-tier hotel in Urumqi. My first room was 30C (86F), so hot I was sweating on the couch. The front desk moved me to a 26C room, which still wasn't acceptable. I was close to asking for a refund when they upgraded me to the King Deluxe Suite. That was massive, with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, a hallway joining them, and another bathroom in the living room. It was way more space than I needed as a solo traveler, but it fixed the heat problem. Things improved once I settled in and went up to the 37th-floor executive lounge. Lucy, the hostess, greeted me right away. Unlike the self-serve buffets at the few US-based Hilton executive lounges still around, this Conrad lounge had made-to-order options: snapper, grilled sirloin steak, spaghetti bolognese, and seafood curry. There was also a self-serve snack and drink bar with garlic bread, pretzels, and fresh fruit. It felt like a fancy sit-down dinner, included with Diamond status. I tried all four entrees, ordering two on each of two days. Each came with a starter salad and small dessert cakes. The taste was decent, nothing to write home about, but it was free, so I had no complaints. Breakfast was similarly fantastic. There was a big buffet with eastern and western food, plus a made-to-order menu. I got beef wonton soup and a stack of mini mango pancakes. The service matched the restaurant's upscale feel. Service, amenities, and comfort were all top-notch once the room issue was sorted. I can't wait to come back to this Conrad next time I'm in Urumqi. Thanks to Lucy in the executive lounge and Billy at breakfast for making my stay incredible.

I wasn't a guest here. I couldn't find anyone who spoke English at my hotel or at other tourist spots around the city, so I stopped by to ask a few questions. Mark Bai, the manager, was gracious and helpful even after I explained I wasn't staying there. I really appreciated it.

The entrance to the swimming pool was a little hard to find, but the pool itself was great. I also enjoyed the sunrise views from the 37th-floor lobby, which had a business bar. Breakfast was generous and refined, with authentic local food. The braised pork belly with steamed buns was a local specialty, the fried dough sticks were delicious, and I liked the pan-fried steak with spinach too. The room was elegant, and the bed was well soundproofed from the bathroom.

With Meimei Department Store right across the street and lots of food and shopping nearby, this is my favorite hotel in Urumqi. It's clean and comfortable, and I'd stay here again on my next trip.