Xilemei S Central is one of Chongqing’s new hotels, with 70 rooms, in the Chaotianmen area, on Jiefang-Shaanxi Road. This is a case where location speaks louder than a list of services: the hotel stands a few minutes’ walk from the metro, from the viewing square at the confluence of the rivers, from Hongyadong and from the Jiefangbei shopping street. There is little data on the rooms so far, and we will not invent what isn’t there: it is known that the hotel opened recently, that it has a gym, a lobby bar and a shopping centre nearby, and that guests rate the staff and cleanliness highly. If you need a clean base for getting to know Chongqing rather than a hotel that is an attraction, this is an option for a first trip.

Chaotianmen and Hongyadong: central Chongqing on foot

The Chaotianmen district lies on the tip of the Yuzhong city peninsula, where the Yangtze and Jialing meet. Chaotianmen metro station is 120 metres from the hotel, about three minutes’ walk. Nearby is all of Chongqing’s “classic”: Chaotianmen Square, the night façades of Hongyadong, the pedestrian Jiefangbei street with the Liberation Monument, Luohan Temple and the cable car across the Yangtze. From the hotel most places can be reached in twenty minutes, and the climbs are short but steep.

  • Hongyadong — wooden palazzo-style houses on a slope, with evening illumination.
  • Jiefangbei Street — a pedestrian centre with shops and cafés.
  • Chaotianmen Square — a view of the confluence of the rivers and ships.
  • Luohan Temple — a quiet corner in the noisy centre.

Tip for travellers: Come for the evening lights: Hongyadong is beautiful after sunset, and by day there is little to look at. For photographs it is better to stand nearer Qiansimen Bridge. If you plan to ride the cable car, take a ticket in advance: there are queues at weekends.

What is known about the hotel

There is little data on services, but it points to a basic and modern level. The hotel has a gym, a lobby bar, left luggage, a lift, a ventilation system, a garment steamer and vending machines. A document reader is used for check-in, and express check-in and check-out are supported. Services include a guest welcome and a shopping centre nearby.

  • A gym
  • A lobby bar
  • Left luggage
  • Express check-in and a document reader
  • Vending machines and a steamer

For families and children

The list of amenities includes children’s slippers and toothbrushes, which points to attention to young guests. We have no details of room sizes, so look at the exact layout in the offer for your chosen dates.

Safety

A fire alarm, an intrusion alarm and smoke detectors are listed. For a hotel in the centre of a big city this is an important though unobtrusive detail.

Where to eat nearby

The hotel does not state its own restaurant, so plan to eat outside its walls. Hongyadong and its surroundings are full of cafés and eateries: Chongqing xiaomian noodles, spicy chicken and hotpot are served here. Jiefangbei Street offers shopping centres with food courts, and on the embankment you can have dinner with a river view.

For the morning, there are shops near the hotel with buns and rice porridge. Start the day early: by ten in the morning the centre is already filling with tourists.

Pros and cons of the hotel

What the hotel is valued for

  • Three minutes’ walk to Chaotianmen metro, with Hongyadong and Jiefangbei nearby.
  • A new hotel with a modern finish and security system.
  • A gym and a lobby bar in the building.
  • A shopping centre nearby takes care of small things.
  • Guests note the cleanliness and location.

What to know in advance

  • There is little data on the rooms and restaurant, so it is better to check exact sizes and menus before booking.
  • Central Chongqing is noisy, especially in the evening at weekends.
  • There is no restaurant of its own in the hotel, so you will have to have breakfast outside the building.
  • Around are steep slopes and stairs; with a suitcase it is better to take a taxi.

What guests usually write

Guests most often praise the location, cleanliness and polite staff, and the fact that the metro and sights are close. Critical reviews are few so far.

How to book Xilemei S Central

Since the hotel opened recently and there is little data on rooms, check the room type and terms in the offer. Choose dates in the “Where to book” block and complete the booking; you will see the payment method at the last step.