Unbelievable! This Baotou Hotel on Minzu Dong Road Blew Us Away! (Hanting Hotel Review)
Unbelievable! This Baotou Hotel on Minzu Dong Road Blew Us Away! (Hanting Hotel Review - For Real!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to unleash a FULL review of the Hanting Hotel in Baotou, China. And "full" doesn't even BEGIN to cover it. This wasn't just a hotel stay; it was an experience. I'm talking layers of clean sheets, unexpected thrills, and enough quirks to fill a Baotou-sized thermos. Prepare for a rollercoaster.
(Disclaimer: This IS NOT a sponsored review. I paid from my own pocket, and boy, am I glad I did.)
First Impressions (aka: The Arrival Chaos - and Joy!)
Landing in Baotou felt like stepping onto another planet. I remember, exhausted, dragging my suitcase through the dusty, sometimes-potholed streets. Finding the Hanting Hotel felt like a quest. Yes, the address was correct. Minzu Dong Road! Got it. But the feeling when you finally see the hotel front, lit up in a welcoming, if slightly bland, way, it’s a triumph. They have a 24-hour front desk, which is crucial after a long flight, but honestly, I’d paid extra for the "private" check-in/out. Turns out, there isn't a truly "private" space. A minor letdown, but hey, the excitement in the air was enough to make me overlook it.
Accessibility? Eh… Mostly, But…
- Wheelchair Accessible: Now, look, I'm not using a wheelchair, but I did take a good look. The elevator was, thankfully, present, and I think the lobby was okay. BUT, some of the signage was… well, not always the clearest. It was kind of a "figure it out" vibe. Let's just say it's a "work in progress."
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: I suspect they have rooms adapted for disabled guests. But no one on the staff offered any direct information. So, score a point for the "probably," but no bonus points for proactive.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Sigh of Relief (And a Little Bit of Anxiety!)
Okay, this is where Hanting shines. I was seriously impressed, especially considering the year (let's just say, the world had some health concerns).
- Sanitized Kitchen and Tableware Items: They clearly took hygiene seriously.
- Daily Disinfection in Common Areas: I saw staff constantly cleaning, and that gave me a good feeling.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good to know!
- Room Sanitization Opt-Out available: Very thoughtful.
- Rooms Sanitized Between Stays: Yes!
- Hand Sanitizer: Everywhere!
- Staff Trained in Safety Protocol: They looked the part!
- First aid kit: Essential.
- Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Security [24-hour]: Whew. Feels protected.
- Individually-wrapped food options, Safe dining setup: They really went the extra mile.
- Physical distancing: People tried, but its a bit of a free for all anyway so, ymmv.
The Room: A Sanctuary… Mostly.
My room was a comfortable… well, a box, but a clean, comfortable box.
- Air Conditioning: Crucial. Baotou gets hot.
- Blackout Curtains: Glorious. Slept like a baby.
- Complimentary Tea: Nice touch!
- Free Wi-Fi: And it WORKED! Which is a win in my book.
- High Floor: Yes, please! Felt a bit like I was soaring above the city.
- Safe Box: Because, you know, never trust anyone, even yourself.
- Refrigerator: Practical.
- Wake-up Service: Reliable.
- Non-smoking: Amen!
- Bathrobes & Slippers: The little things!
But here's the thing. Remember how I said it was a "box"? The decor was… beige. A LOT of beige. And the lighting was… bright. It wasn't exactly a design marvel. But it was CLEAN and cozy. Still, maybe some room decorations beyond a generic painting of a mountain would have been nice.
Bathroom Shenanigans (and the BEST Shower Ever!)
The bathroom… ah, the bathroom! It wasn't just functional; it was fantastic.
- Separate shower/bathtub: The best of both worlds.
- Shower: The water pressure was EPIC. Seriously, it was like getting blasted by a car wash – in a good way! My muscles thanked me after my long day of travel.
- Toiletries: They provided the essentials, which was great. Bonus points for providing a hair dryer.
- Mirror: Perfectly positioned for my selfie game.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure… or Not?
Okay, the food situation was… varied.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yeah okay, Asian buffet. Pretty typical.
- Breakfast [takeaway service]: Nice for those on the go.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes!
- Coffee shop: A small one, but it did the job.
- Room service [24-hour]: A lifesaver during late-night cravings.
- Restaurants, a la carte in restaurant, Western Cuisine, Asian Cusine: Options, options, options.
- Desserts in restaurant, Snacks Bar, Bottle of water: Always appreciate these.
- Poolside bar: Meh.
- Happy hour: Not my thing.
I tried the Asian cuisine for dinner one night. It was… edible. Not the most exciting meal I've ever had, but it filled my stomach. The breakfast buffet was the usual Hanting affair – pretty standard, but I did enjoy the coffee! The biggest win, I gotta say, was the 24-hour room service. After a long day of exploring, I ordered a simple noodle dish, and it hit the spot.
Things to Do/Relaxation: Where's the Spa?!
This is where the Hanting stumbled a bit.
- Fitness center: A tiny one, but it had the basics.
- Pool with view: A small outdoor pool (probably not for swimming), but it offered a nice photo opp.
- Sauna, Steamroom, Spa, Spa/sauna: Nope.
- Massage: Possible to get with one of those "out-call" things (not provided by the hotel).
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: No.
The lack of a proper spa was a bummer. I was really craving a massage, but it wasn't on offer. The gym was fine, but the equipment was a little… dated. Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
This is where Hanting really shined.
- Concierge: Super helpful!
- Elevator: Essential.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Perfect for travellers.
- Convenience store: Snacks!
- Currency exchange: Useful.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was spotless every day.
- Luggage storage: Convenient.
- Cash withdrawal: Easy.
- Meeting & Banquet facilities: if you need them.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Shrugs in who-knows.
I had a small issue with my laundry being delayed, but the concierge fixed it immediately. They were genuinely friendly and eager to help. I really appreciated this.
Internet: Connect or Perish!
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hooray!
- Internet access – LAN & Internet access – wireless: I needed it.
- Laptop workspace: Yup.
- Internet services: Adequate.
This was another win. The Wi-Fi was fast and reliable, which is essential in today's world. I had no problems connecting to the internet for work or just relaxing. For the Kids:
- Family-friendly: Yes.
- Babysitting service, Kids facilities: Not a thing.
- Kids meal: Not available, so, get ready to eat the noodles from room service.
Getting Around:
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Score!
- Airport transfer, Taxi service: All easily arranged.
- Bicycle parking: If you're into it.
- Car power charging station, Valet parking: No.
I took a taxi to the hotel, but it was easy to get around. Being able to park for free was another bonus.
Moments of Whimsy and Wanderlust:
- The View: Okay, the view from my room was… of the city. But it was still nice, high up and not particularly noisy.
- **The Staff's Smiles
Baotou Blues & Beef Noodles: My Hanting Hotel Hustle (A Messy Itinerary)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn’t your average, polished travelogue. This is the raw, unfiltered experience of me, against the backdrop of Baotou, China, and the surprisingly comfy (and often baffling) confines of the Hanting Hotel on Minzu Dong Road. Prepare for a glorious train wreck of cultural confusion, delicious food, and my own inherent clumsiness.
Day 1: Arrival & Noodle Nirvana (aka, "Lost in Translation, Found in Flavor")
14:00 - Land & Panic: Touchdown at Baotou Erliban Airport. Already sweating. Why is everything so… dusty? The taxi negotiation was a comedy of errors involving frantic gesturing, a phrasebook I’d barely glanced at, and a whole lot of “duo shao qian?” (which, as it turns out, I was mostly yelling). Finally, victory! We’re off to the Hanting.
- Anecdote: The driver seemed to think I was hilarious. Every time I pointed at something and said “Baotou?” he’d erupt in laughter. I have no idea why. Maybe my face? Maybe the fact I was clutching a map like a lifeline? Probably both.
15:00 - Hanting Hotel Havoc: Check-in. This is where I realized my Mandarin is… well, it exists. Kind of. The front desk lady was incredibly patient with my broken phrases and desperate smiles. Room key acquired! It's a surprisingly clean and efficient space, a real respite from the… dust.
16:00 - Noodle Quest: After a quick unpack (and a celebratory sigh of relief that the bed actually had clean sheets), I decided food was the priority. Found a tiny noodle shop right across the street. This is where things got good.
- Doubling Down on the Noodles: Okay, listen. These noodles were life-changing. I pointed frantically at a picture, said “Ni hao” and hoped for the best. What arrived was a steaming bowl of beef noodles, a symphony of flavor and texture. The broth… salty, spicy, savory, perfect. The noodles, hand-pulled and chewy. The beef, tender and falling apart. I slurped, I moaned (internally, of course, gotta be polite), and I considered never leaving Baotou. The only flaw? I think I might have accidentally ordered the extra-spicy version. My mouth was on fire, but I couldn't stop eating. It was a glorious, tear-inducing experience. This is what travel is supposed to be.
- Quirky Observation: The chopstick skills of the locals were insane. They effortlessly twirled noodles and scooped them up like pros. Meanwhile, I looked like a baby trying to eat spaghetti for the first time.
18:00 - Hotel Huddle & Initial Panic: Back at the Hanting. Realized I hadn't actually planned anything. Zero. Nada. Blank slate. Panic level: mild. Started browsing some generic travel blogs. Everything seemed a little… sterile. Okay, time for a nap.
Evening: Fell asleep. Woke up hungry. Ate the questionable (but free!) instant noodles from the vending machine in the hotel lobby. Regretted it instantly.
Day 2: Desert Dreams & Cultural Clashes (and more noodles!)
09:00 - Breakfast Blandness: The Hanting's breakfast (included) was edible, but mostly beige. Lots of starchy things and… well, beige. Gave the congee (rice porridge) a try. Texture: gluey. Taste:… interesting.
- Emotional Reaction: I miss my coffee. Desperately.
10:00 - Desert Safari (Attempted): Okay, I decided to try and explore the Mu Us Desert. Sounds epic, right? Wrong. The taxi situation was even worse than yesterday. Eventually, through a combination of pointing, miming, and sheer dumb luck, I managed to arrange a ride (with a driver who seemed to think I was a walking joke).
- Messy Structure Alert: The day got REALLY messy at this point. The drive to the desert was long, and the driver didn’t speak ANY English. We saw some camels. I fell in the sand. I took a ton of photos of… sand. It was beautiful, but also… hot. And lonely. And I started to miss my apartment, and…
- Imperfection Alert: I got horribly sunburnt. Seriously, wear sunscreen, you idiot.
15:00 - Noodle Redemption: Back in Baotou, defeated (and crispy). Needed comfort. Needed noodles. Found a different noodle shop. This time, no spicy mistake. Delight. Absolute, pure, noodle bliss.
17:00 - Wander Lost (and Slightly Frustrated): Wandered around the city center. Everything looked different from the photos. Where was the ancient charm? The bustling markets? Mostly, I saw… buildings. And people. And the overwhelming feeling of being lost in a place where I didn't understand anything.
- Opinionated Language: This is the point where the novelty wore off. Everything started to feel a little… bland. This city needs more personality! More excitement! More something!
Evening: Ordered Room service (delicious fried rice) and watched a terrible Chinese TV show (didn't understand a word). Wondering when I can leave the Hanting for another day.
Day 3: Tomb of Nothing & Departure (and lingering noodle dreams)
09:00 - Breakfast, the Beige Buffet Returns: Still beige. Still congee. Still no coffee. Need to find the Starbucks.
10:00 - The Uninspiring Tomb: Decided to be "cultured" and visit the Zhao Temple. It was okay. Not bad. Not great. Really, just a quiet building with some interesting historical information in Chinese.
- Emotional Reaction: Honestly? A little disappointing. I was expecting something… more.
12:00 - Lunch & Regret: Last meal of Chinese food. This was… okay. I was losing my appetite and missing home.
14:00 - Airport Bound & Reflection: Taxi back to the airport. Looking at the dusty streets, I felt a weird mix of relief and… sadness? Baotou wasn't the romantic adventure I'd envisioned, but it was… an experience. And those noodles… oh, those noodles…
- Stream-of-Consciousness: Baotou. Dusty. Noodles. Lost. Found (in flavor). Hanting. Beige. Sunburn. Mandarin struggles. The kindness of strangers. The feeling of being utterly, wonderfully, alone. Did I like it? I don't know. Maybe. Probably. Definitely the noodles. Always the noodles.
16:00 - Departure: Goodbye Baotou. Goodbye Hanting. Goodbye noodles (for now). I'll be back. Maybe. Probably just for the noodles, though.
Hanting Hotel, Baotou: Blew Us Away? (Or Did It?) - A Hot Mess of a Review
Okay, spill the tea! Did this Hanting Hotel in Baotou actually "blow you away" like the title screams?
Okay, deep breath... The title's a little *much*, yeah. "Blew us away" might be a slight exaggeration. But, honestly, *for the price* and considering we were in Baotou (let's be real, it's not the Shangri-La), it was surprisingly... decent. Let's call it "mildly impressed." My expectations were subterranean, you know? Hanting's reputation isn't exactly five-star, globally. But the room was clean-ish, the staff (sometimes) understood my attempts at Mandarin, and the location was… well, it wasn't *awful*. So, yeah, blown away? Nope. Pleasantly surprised? Maybe. We survived and that's a win!
Location, location, location! Minzu Dong Road – how's the vibe around the hotel?
Minzu Dong Road… hmmm. Think bustling, loud, and definitely not picturesque. You've got shops, noodle stalls screaming for your attention, and a general sense of organized chaos. Honestly, it's a great place to *experience* Baotou. There was that noodle place, "Noodle Nirvana" (my name for it, obviously), and the dumplings *chef's kiss*! Okay, maybe I'm getting distracted. The point is, the location is *functional*. Easy to reach the main drag, but be prepared for some serious sidewalk shuffle. My wife nearly got run over by an electric scooter, so keep your eyes peeled -- seriously!
The actual *room*… what was it like? Did you find any mysterious stains? (We're hoping not!)
Alright, the room. This is where it got interesting. Clean-ish? Yes, the sheets *seemed* clean, though I did a quick 'sniff test' just to be sure (judge me, I dare you!). The bathroom was... functional. Let's just say the water pressure was a tad anemic, and I’m pretty sure I saw a ghost of a hair clinging to the shower wall. (Kidding. Maybe.) The bed? Surprisingly comfortable! I actually slept like a baby. Which is saying something, given the jet lag and the sheer *amount* of baijiu I was drinking (research, you know?). There was a weird smell, I think. Maybe the cleaning product? Kinda reminded me of my grandma's mothballs. So, overall, I'd give it a solid...B-? It wasn't luxury, but it wasn't a biohazard either. Which, again, for the price, is a win!
What about the staff? Were they helpful? Did they speak any English? (Pray for us!)
The staff… Ah, yes. This is where it gets...patchy. English? Spotty at best. I could butcher the Mandarin to the point where I think I was actually *confusing* them. There was one woman at reception, bless her heart, who tried her best. She probably hated me. I was constantly losing my room key! It was a whole ordeal. They did manage to help me book a taxi, which was a miracle. My Mandarin vocabulary is limited to "Ni hao," "Xie Xie," and "Wo yao pijiu" (I want beer, clearly). So that was a struggle, honestly haha! But they were polite, which I appreciate even if there was a *slight* communication barrier.
Breakfast! What was the breakfast situation like? Free? Delicious? A culinary crime scene?
Breakfast… included, thankfully. And… well, let’s just say it wasn't the gourmet experience I was hoping for. Think "buffet," but with the emphasis on "budget." There were steamed buns, congee (which, to be fair, I love), and some sort of mystery meat product. I bravely tried everything...once. The coffee? Let’s just say it could strip paint. But you know what? It filled a hole. I ate enough to get me through the day, and in the grand scheme of things, that’s the most important. And I definitely developed a fondness for the mysterious meat. Don't judge me.
Okay, let's talk about the *one* thing that really stuck with you. Spill!
Okay, here it is: the *sound*. Specifically, the sound of the karaoke bar, "Happy Tunes," or whatever it was called, blasting away until 3 AM. It wasn't just a background hum, it was a *full-blown concert*. Think ear-splitting renditions of Chinese pop ballads. The walls of the hotel weren't exactly soundproof, so my peaceful slumber was replaced with a symphony of off-key singing. Honestly, at first, I was livid. I was ready to march down there and demand they turn it down (though, let's be honest, my Mandarin wouldn't get me very far). But then, after a couple of hours of tossing and turning, I kind of… embraced it. It became part of the whole Baotou experience. I even started trying to sing along (badly, obviously). So while the karaoke was a nightmare, it was memorable. and, in its own weird way, it added a certain… charm? Maybe it's Stockholm Syndrome. but it definitely influenced my overall view of the whole place. The karaoke: the *defining* experience.
Would you recommend this Hanting Hotel? Be honest!
So, would I recommend it? If you're on a budget, and you're not expecting five-star luxury… yeah, probably. If you can handle a little chaos, some bad karaoke, and questionable coffee, then absolutely. It's clean *enough*, the location is decent, and Hey, if they're still offering breakfast, and the staff is at least trying to be helpful, it's a win. Just pack some earplugs. And a strong stomach. and maybe a phrasebook. I would stay again, totally, I already miss it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go look up "how to block out karaoke" in Mandarin…
