Hualuxe Suzhou Bay Hot Spring Resort By Ihg

“Fine family hotel in a modern Chinese tradition”

My children were immediately in love with this hotel. The grand lobby was their first step into China and an impressive one. The room was a family room, with huge solid bunk beds for the children, a tent to play in, and lots of large soft toys to enjoy - including a huge, heavy yellow horse-shape… more

My children were immediately in love with this hotel. The grand lobby was their first step into China and an impressive one. The room was a family room, with huge solid bunk beds for the children, a tent to play in, and lots of large soft toys to enjoy - including a huge, heavy yellow horse-shaped blob! The walls were painted in pleasant children’s style, with hand-painted animals. Clean, fresh, bright, and very large, the room was excellent. On the balcony, a seriously deep stone hot tub awaits, which was a good way to wind down at the end of the day. It’s China in the summer and so the mosquitoes are an unavoidable fact of life - come with some repellant. Also, request a standard mosquito-repellant system to plug into the electrical outlets; they are available on request (and allegedly should have been in the room already). “Six Gods” (Liu Shen) is the local favourite repellant, which has a charming traditional scent and keeps the mosquitoes away. Excellent buffet breakfasts each day - fine local noodles, decent selection, fresh fruits and well-seasoned dishes aplenty. Waffle / pancake station, egg chef, etc. are all present. It takes a little negotiation to obtain a real teapot (not cup) with actual tea leaves (not teabag), and green tea (lucha) seems in short supply, but you’ll get there eventually with persistence - ask for a jasmine tea (molihuacha). The hot springs resort next door is also part of the same property, and guests take an electric cart between hotel and springs. Hotel guests have a discount in the springs, which is currently an awesome RMB100 / person. The springs are modern, varied, and hugely fun and so this price is a real bargain. (We were told that it would double soon, as the existing price is low due to the recent opening of the place.) Of course, take mosquito repellant, as always, but then enjoy some creative, charming, well-maintained, and fun springs. Some have fountains, infinity pools looking over the river at sunset, and even a massive whirlpool filled with rubber ducks! The highlight is a pool in which shoals of little fish nibble the dead skin from one’s feet, legs, and body (for an additional fee of some RMB 45 each, which is certainly worth it). It sounds terrifying, but is great fun and leaves the skin smooth - it is a traditional “remedy” and works wonders. We will almost certainly be back again! The hotel is on the east coast of Lake Tai (aka Taihu), and thus is situated a fairly long drive (45 minutes) away from most attractions in town, but this is understandable given the nature of the hot springs.

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