A family trip to Suzhou: this cruise ship hotel by Jinji Lake is amazing

Taking advantage of the summer vacation, I took Yunbao to Suzhou for two days. This time, I discovered a family-friendly hidden gem hotel—the Crowne Plaza Suzhou Zhongyin! Unique cruise ship design + prime location next to the Gate of the Orient + stunning executive lake view rooms + abundant buffet options + a brand-new children’s playground rivaling shopping malls, it’s simply the best choice for traveling with kids‼️ 🌟 Design & Location: The hotel literally "sails" a luxury cruise ship right onto the shore of Jinji Lake—bow-shaped design + 360° lakeside glass walls, with a grand lobby spiral staircase perfect for photos📸 📍 The location is unbeatable: a 5-minute walk to Suzhou Center Mall, 10 minutes to the Gate of the Orient, and a 10-minute taxi ride to Ligongdi, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre, Moonlight Wharf, and Eslite Bookstore. There are plenty of great food and entertainment options nearby, making traveling with kids super convenient! 🛏️ Executive Lake View King Room When booking, I saw reviews praising the executive lake view room’s incredible scenery, so we decisively chose this room type—and it really was beautiful! The entire room is very new, likely recently renovated. ✅ Special nautical-themed room: from the wallpaper to the tissue box, everything follows a nautical theme. Equipped with Dyson hairdryer, smart toilet, capsule coffee machine, and more (a delight for detail lovers) ✅ Balcony view is stunning: you can see the Gate of the Orient right from the room, and the balcony overlooks Jinji Lake and the Ferris wheel, creating a dreamy night scene. 🥘 Shengxi Buffet Dinner: a paradise for dessert lovers! 👇 The hotel’s Shengxi buffet dinner deserves high praise! The restaurant is located at the "bow of the cruise ship" with a 270° lake view. The window seats have fantastic views, and it’s even better to sit outside when the weather is nice. The dishes are incredibly diverse: colorful desserts, four seasonal flavors of crayfish🦞, marinated seafood, barbecue skewers, Southeast Asian cuisine, Cantonese roasted meats, Peking duck, Japanese sushi🍣 and sashimi... it’s a gathering of delicacies from all over. Special shoutout to the restaurant staff for their prompt clearing of plates‼️ 🎠 Little Captain Club Children’s Playground The newly renovated children’s playground kept Yunbao entertained for two days. The playground has two floors, and the PSP game at the entrance really surprised me🫢 It’s the first time I’ve seen this in a hotel kids’ area, and both parents and older kids can have a great time here. There’s also a building block area, picture book reading corner, painting zone, mini kitchen, cartoon area, plus a ball pit on the second floor and a giant slide spanning one floor🛝 ✨ The attention to detail here is impressive: a monitor screen is placed at the slide entrance on the second floor so parents can watch the slide exit on the first floor in real time. ✅ Other Highlights 1️⃣ The hotel has an indoor heated swimming pool and gym 2️⃣ Outdoor pool with dolphin fountain water play area, a must for summer 3️⃣ Executive privileges are great value: lounge happy hour