Fuxin Hotel

Fuxin Hotel occupies the former Qingdao city government building right on May Fourth Square — some of the "sea view" rooms actually look out over the square itself. It's about a 10-minute walk to May 4th Square metro station and the MixC mall, and 8 km to Qingdao Railway Station. The Hisense Exploration Center and the Tsingtao Haitian View & Art promenade are both close by.

Rooms are spacious with large bathrooms that separate the shower and toilet. Breakfast is a big buffet with Chinese and Western dishes that gets restocked quickly. Staff happily accept deliveries on guests' behalf and provide baby supplies and laundry powder; some guests are even welcomed with a bottle of craft "Fuxin" beer.

Who it suits: travellers who care more about status and a dead-central location than a fresh renovation — the hotel still runs to the standards set back when it was a government residence, and keeps a benchmark level of service for the city.

The main downside is the building's age: some rooms and furniture are noticeably dated, and the "sea view" windows are often dirty or partly blocked by neighbouring buildings. A few guests reported stains in the bathroom and a clogged sink. Worth asking about the floor and room orientation in advance if a square view matters to you.