QQingyiyurenThe hotel is right next to the train station. The front desk staff was a Pakistani guy, and he was incredibly friendly. Seeing I was Chinese, he immediately upgraded my room, telling me, 'I must give you the best, everything is new, everything is fresh.' When I was filling out the form, I had only completed two lines and was about to ask him about the third, but he just said, 'It's fine,' and took the form away.
As soon as I entered the room, for the first time ever, the lights came on without me having to insert a card. It was also the first time I've seen a welcome message with my name on the TV. This was also the first time I've encountered air conditioning in any accommodation in the UK (be it hotels, B&Bs, or dorms). It was the first hotel that made me feel like it was a complete package (everything was well-equipped, except for the usual lack of toothbrushes and toothpaste). And it was the first time I played a game with a remote control (though I fell asleep after just a couple of tries).
By the time I settled in, it was already 9 PM. At this hour, finding a restaurant outside is tough, and walking around a strange city at night didn't feel very safe. But the hotel has its own restaurant. The prices were a bit steep, but the service and food were definitely worth it, especially the feeling of being able to have a hot meal after a long, tiring day. (The fries were genuinely freshly made, and they gave a whole jar of sauce!) It was a truly satisfying experience.
The staff here are genuinely great. Whether it was the Pakistani guy at the front desk, the Black gentleman at the restaurant, or anyone else, they all made an effort to say a few words in Chinese. It really felt like what they say in 'Blossoms Shanghai' – even though you can communicate in English, when someone speaks your language, you truly feel their sincerity. For that meal, I fully expected to pay a service charge (and I would have gladly paid it at this restaurant; normally, I'd remove it if I didn't feel the service was earned). But the bill came with clear pricing, no hidden fees. I didn't have any cash on me, otherwise, I definitely would have left a tip.
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